Why do my feet hurt so much?

• You’ve been buying the same shoe size since college.
If you haven’t gotten your feet measured recently, there’s a chance you’re squeezing into the wrong size. Feet can increase in size with age, so a proper shoe fitting is always important. When 5 you’re standing – not sitting – in your shoes, you should have a half-inch between your big toe and the front of the shoe.

• You’ve gained a few pounds.
Your feet bear two to three times your body weight when walking and up to five times your body weight when running. A few extra pounds can affect your posture, your core, and your running gait, all of which make a huge difference in how your feet hit the ground.

• You went shoe shopping in the morning.
Not only do your feet grow over the years, but they also swell throughout the day — so a pair that fits perfectly in the morning may be uncomfortably tight by the time you leave work. Try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are most swollen.”

• Your everyday shoes are from 1980.
Be aware of the shoes you wear around the house, to cut the grass, and to run errands. Life is a sport, and shoes matter. Old, not supportive shoes can lead to callus formation, bone spurs, inflamed nerves, or even knee and hip problems.

• You wear the same shoes for every workout.
Running shoes, walking shoes, cross-training shoes — it may seem like a clever ploy to sell more shoes, but different types of workouts really do require different types of supportive shoes to avoid injuries.

• You hurt your back (or knee or hip).
If you’re treating an injury, your feet will pick up the slack. Your body will naturally guard an injured area, and the resultant limp will place added pressure on the feet.