Can your running shoes be the source of your foot injuries?

"But once I removed my running shoes, the pain in my toes and feet disappeared." If that sounds familiar, you may have Morton's Neuroma. The pain can be experienced as a burning sensation in the ball of your foot, or toe numbness caused by running shoes injuries. Often the pain is located between the third & fourth toe.

Here's a test to see if your running shoes might be the problem. The next time you lace your trainer shoes, keep the laces loose over the widest part of the foot. If the running injury pain is lessened, then your athletic shoes could be the problem.

This running shoe injury occurs when the toe box is too tight. You begin to run, your feet swell, and the nerves in your foot become pinched.

So what can the runner do? Take off your running shoes and massage the foot. Try metatarsal pads to relieve pressure on the pinched nerve. Should you also try padded insoles in your trainer shoes for more cushion?

This last option is a common approach to this running injury, but can actually make the runner's foot pain worse. If the toe box in the running shoe is already too tight, then additional insoles will create more pressure in the running footwear. The outcome ... more foot pain.

The real solution would be to get the best running shoes fit possible. Find a quality pair of running shoes that distributes the weight and pressure evenly across your foot. Make sure the trainer is not too tight across the wide part of your foot. One more tip -- try on your new running footwear late in the day when your foot is more swollen. You'll get a more accurate fit this way.

For more running information, take a look at the following menu topics:

Running Shoes | Trail Running Shoes| Women's Running Shoes | Running Shoes FAQ | Running Shoes - Terms