With so many options of fabrics and brands out there it can be hard to choose a pair of socks. As nearly everyone wears a pair on a daily basis it is extremely important to pick the right pair for you, as some can cause foot pain (if you make the wrong choice).
Here Are 3 Ways Socks Can Cause Foot Pain:
Socks can cause foot pain for the below reasons:
Being too tight over your feet (getting the incorrect size for your foot)
The fabric is too thin (with not enough padding)
Types of materials used (keep away from cheap fabrics).
In this article we have written about these three ways socks can cause pain, and given you some excellent methods you can try to find better socks to wear on a daily basis. Thanks for reading.
Ways Socks Can Cause Foot Pain
Tight Socks
Stocking thickness can make a big difference to the comfort of your feet, but it is not just the padding that makes them so comfortable.
Thick socks usually have a higher thread count, meaning they will be more dense and breathable than thinner socks. Socks typically include an elastic band that pulls at the top of your foot, and this helps increase blood flow to your toes.
A problem arises when thick socks are too tight against the bottom of your foot, causing pressure right on top of where bones rest on muscles. As a result, it becomes difficult for your foot to move, leading to pain and discomfort.
Further, when you wear a thick sock, it won’t stretch out or move with the foot as well as a thinner one would; specifically, the toes can get trapped in the side of the shoe. You might have seen this happen when someone accidentally stepped into a crack in the sidewalk or at their workplace.
The extra pressure might cause friction, leading to blisters on your toes and discomfort over time. Given how your toes are connected to your foot, the pain could further up the leg – and even contribute to a growing list of foot problems.
Thin Socks
Today, many people are wearing the latest fashion and trend: the thin sock. This type of socks has become a relatively new fashion trend that is seen on feet everywhere these days and has been said to be the healthy alternative to wearing things like stilettos and strappy sandals.
However, doctors claim that thin socks may cause foot pain in areas like your heel, ball of your foot, or arch of your foot. That is one of the dangers of wearing thin socks.
One reason that thin socks cause foot pain is due to the lack of cushioning it provides. Thin socks should be worn for the proper occasions to avoid foot pain later on. Wearing them all day and during physical activities will likely cause foot pain later. Thin socks are perfect for people who don’t experience excessive foot sweating.
They’re perfect for warmer weather periods when it’s unnecessary to wear another type of sock with thicker material. Thin socks are a great way to keep your feet warm and comfortable, as long as you choose a pair of thin socks made of suitable materials.
Type of Material Used
You may be wearing the latest chic, stylish socks and think your foot pain is just in your head.
However, it’s not uncommon for differently designed socks to cause discomfort or another sensation like a tingling or burning feeling. There are two main types of sock materials that can make your feet feel uncomfortable: synthetic fibers and natural fibers.
Synthetic fibers are made from materials that do not occur naturally. The main cause of this type of sock material causing discomfort is its tightness on the foot. Since synthetics do not have a similar texture to the skin and feet, your foot must adapt to its new properties. That means your feet may end up with soreness and blisters because of the tightness of the skin.
Natural fibers refer to materials that come from plants or animals. These fabrics have a softer texture than synthetic fibers, and they breathe better than synthetics giving them less chance of causing blisters or other uncomfortable situations.
Ways To Help Stop Pain From Wearing Socks
Compression Socks
Do you know how wearing socks can feel like you are breaking your toes at the end of the day? Well, it turns out that compression socks are designed to prevent this and help relieve swelling in your feet.
In particular, compression socks work by applying constant pressure on a person’s legs. That is because the purpose of compression socks is to improve blood flow to your lower legs and feet.
Your veins carry less blood because there are too many valves in them. The tightness of compression socks forces the valves closed, making it easier for fluid to flow up your body and down again.
Swelling and fatigue can result from poor circulation. That can affect your brain, too, as a lack of oxygen can lead to dizziness and confusion. If your feet are swelling, you may also feel tired and have less energy.
When used correctly, compression socks can improve comfort in the following ways:
Reduces swelling and soreness (particularly after exercise)
It can help relieve varicose or spider veins in the legs by delivering more blood to those areas where it is needed most. Pressure on those veins could be causing them to swell.
Improves the flow of blood to the lowest leg spot and feet since the valves are usually blocked or narrowed in people with lower leg swelling.
Reduces pain. That is something that most people notice when wearing compression socks.
Improves circulation, thus improving general performance and athletic ability.
The one aspect you need to remember when looking for compression socks is that they need to fit your legs like a glove so that the socks are not too tight or loose. Your feet should be able to move about completely in them without sliding up or down your legs. That is important because too tight of a sock will cause pain, while too loose a sock can feel awkward.
You should also look for socks designed of a high-quality material that is comfortable against your skin and has enough compression to compress the legs and keep them feeling refreshed.
Using Natural Fibre Socks
Having feet that are constantly cold and wet can cause pain, in a way similar to the pain of chapped lips. Natural fiber socks can combat the potential for pain because they are made of materials like cotton, wool, and silk – all materials that supply natural insulation without squeezing.
These materials make for more comfortable wearing than popular synthetic options like nylon which do not provide insulation and may cause a poor fit around your heel or toes due to their clingy nature.
The benefits of wearing natural fiber socks can be felt immediately. When you first try them on, your feet might feel like they are being squeezed into a warm sock. This uncomfortable feeling is because these materials cannot insulate your feet as synthetic materials do.
Eventually, however, your feet will begin to feel normal when wearing these socks – a feeling of comfort and warmth that could have been invisible.
Aside from providing warmth and comfort, natural cotton socks also present many health benefits. These include improved blood circulation and better oxygenation because they wick moisture away from the skin, providing an enriched comfort level for those with stiff or painful joints.
Natural fiber socks are also a barrier against bacteria and germs, especially when they are made of natural fibers that do not retain moisture like synthetic materials. Wool, for example, has been said to be the ideal material for socks because it has been shown to hold up well against bacteria and anti-bacterial agents.
Natural fibers are also much more comfortable than synthetics – even if you do not have painful conditions. Wool is one material with an unusual texture that is much more comfortable than most other types of socks and can make your feet feel like they are being enveloped in a soft cushion rather than a clumpy sock.
The best part is that natural fiber socks are also great for preserving healthy foot skin! Because they are made from plant fibers instead of synthetic ones such as cotton, these socks do not retain water or cause odors like other types.
Arch Support Socks
Wearing socks can be very painful for a lot of people. That is often because the socks are tight and cause a lot of pressure on the feet. To stop this pain, you should wear arch support socks made with soft fabric.
Arch support socks also offer your foot extra padding and cushioning, which eliminates pressure points and allows for more stability in cases where your toes may be getting caught on the back of heels or rounded front of shoes.
The main thing that makes arch support socks different from other socks is the level of cushioning. The denser the padding, the more support you will get. When you wear them, your toes and the back of your foot will be supported by a dense foam layer with a little shock absorption to help prevent rubbing.
Arch support socks can be bought in packs of men’s or women’s, and they come in medium to high-density styles in terms of padding to offer that extra arch support without compressing over time and causing discomfort.
People who wear socks not made with arch support can often experience several problems. These include blisters, other foot pains, and even swollen feet. The first aspect to know is that it should never hurt to wear socks.
If it does, this could indicate that your socks are too tight. It is also best to wash your clothes every week or two and have them dry cleaned when you have the right products to use on them. Your shoes should also be cleaned regularly, so they do not start getting moldy and smell terrible too.
