Do You Have Foot Pain? Find Out Why We See This Issue So Much During Summer.

Every year as the weather improves, we notice a significant increase in people attending the clinic with foot, ankle, shin and even knee pain that seems to have come on "out of the blue."

The reality is that there is often a very clear reason behind it.

One of the biggest factors is a change in footwear habits. During the colder months, most people spend their days in supportive shoes such as trainers, boots, or work shoes that provide cushioning, stability and protection. As soon as summer arrives, many of us switch to sandals, flip-flops, sliders, or spend more time barefoot around the house, garden, or beach.

Whilst these options are cooler and more comfortable in the heat, they often provide far less support and shock absorption than the footwear your feet have become accustomed to.

At the same time, activity levels often increase. Summer holidays, days out, festivals, sightseeing, gardening and longer evening walks all mean we tend to spend much more time on our feet. You may suddenly find yourself walking several miles a day in footwear that isn't designed for prolonged walking.

The result? Structures in the feet and lower limbs can become overloaded.

Common problems we see include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon pain, ankle tendon irritation, shin pain and even knee discomfort. In many cases, the issue isn't that anything is seriously wrong; it's simply that the feet, muscles and tendons haven't had time to adapt to the change in load and footwear.

The good news is that many of these problems can be prevented.

If you're planning to wear sandals or flip-flops more regularly,

1. try to increase your time in them gradually.

2. Alternate with supportive footwear where possible and build up your walking distances over several days rather than jumping straight into a full day of sightseeing.

3. Strengthening exercises for the feet and calves can also help improve resilience.

If pain has already started, don't ignore it. Early assessment and treatment can often prevent a minor irritation from becoming a longer-term problem.

After all, summer is for enjoying the sunshine—not limping through it.

By Emma Klijn

Chartered Physiotherapist

Checked over by AI for spelling - Emma is Welsh and dyslexic!