CINCINNATI (WKRC) — As summer activities ramp up, the right footwear can play a crucial role in preventing common foot injuries. Ron Rawe recently discovered this when he developed plantar fasciitis, a prevalent summer foot issue.
“Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of your plantar fascia. It can become very tight, and a lot of times people notice when they walk, they feel the tightness in your heel,” said Dr. Ayesha Yahya, a foot and ankle surgeon at OrthoCincy.
To reduce the risk of plantar fasciitis, Dr. Yahya recommends stretching your feet and calf muscles before engaging in activities such as walking, running, or racquet sports like tennis.
Foot trauma, including strains, sprains, and fractures, is another common summer foot problem. Dr. Yahya advises wearing sport-specific shoes to mitigate these risks.
“There’s a lot of cutting activities, there’s a lot of planting, there’s a lot of jumping, so you want to make sure your shoes support,” she said.
Even for those not participating in sports, choosing the right walking shoes can help prevent foot and toe pain, the third common summer foot issue.
“Shoes have to fit you right, they have to have a good arch support, and they have to have good padding on the ball of the foot, so that’s the area between your toes and the arch. You have to have good padding there, and your sole should be supportive,” said Dr. Yahya.
