Do you find it difficult to break in a new pair of shoes? When the back of shoe rubs the ankle, they cause pain. Are you concerned that they will cause blisters or harm your heels? If you want to know how to stop your shoes from rubbing on the back of your ankle, keep reading.
It’s one of those things you just know: if your shoes start rubbing, you’ll have blisters. What else can you do to keep them from hurting the back of your foot except take them off? Then there’s the discomfort in your Achilles tendon, heels, or ankle, which can occur.
Let’s have a look at some things that can help you avoid this and make your shoes comfy.
What can be caused by shoes rubbing your ankles?
Shoes touching the back of your ankle can lead to a number of issues. These are some of them:
- Friction blisters are a painful, fluid-filled elevated patch of skin that develops as a result of friction. Shoes rubbing on your heels and ankles are one of the most prominent causes of them.
- Achilles Tendonitis: This inflammatory ailment has numerous causes, one of which is a shoe that rubs against the heel or top of the foot frequently.
- Achilles Tendonosis: A lump on the base of the heel or at the ankle might be caused by a strain on the Achilles tendon. Tissue deterioration due to usage can cause it, and rubbing shoes won’t help.
- Bursitis is a condition in which the bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones and tendons of the ankle, become inflamed. Inflammation and soreness can be caused by ill-fitting shoes or high heels.
7 Tricks To Stop Shoes From Hurting The Back Of Your Ankle
1. During the shoe purchasing process
When you’re looking for a new pair of shoes, keep the following in mind:
- When trying on shoes, make sure the socks you’re wearing are identical to the ones you’ll be wearing on a regular basis. Many individuals make the mistake of rushing in to try on shoes while wearing stockings, only to put on much thicker cotton socks when they put them on, limiting available space, tightening the shoe, and increasing friction at the back of the heel and anywhere else around the shoe.
- Purchase shoes late in the day for a better fit that isn’t overly tight. Because our feet swell by up to half a size over the day, shoes that fit well in the morning may not fit as well in the afternoon. Avoid wearing shoes that are excessively loose since they might cause irritation.
- Determine which foot is longer. Most individuals have a little bigger one foot than the other, but they just measure one foot for exact measurement, assuming that if it fits well on one, it would also fit well on the other. If you don’t make sure your shoes fit your longest foot, you’ll end up rubbing at the back of your heel.
2. Choose the right socks
When your socks don’t provide adequate cushioning between your feet and your shoes, blisters and friction might occur. While some ‘fashion’ socks appear beautiful, they don’t always put your feet’s safety or comfort first. Choose socks with some natural cushioning (so they aren’t too thin) and materials that wick moisture away from the skin, such as merino wool. Cotton, on the other hand, has a tendency to retain moisture between your skin and your sock.
Remember that as we become older, our skin thins down and becomes more delicate, with less natural cushioning and protection. So, if the bones in your feet have become more ‘prominent’ in recent years, choosing socks with a high level of cushioning and support will assist improve general foot health and comfort while also reducing friction.
3. Use high-quality insoles
Pre-made orthotics that are slipped into shoes without being properly fitted or verifying that they are suitable for your foot and shoes can also cause friction against the back of your heel. Your heel may wind up sitting exactly at the top of the rear of your shoe if you don’t regulate the height, shape, or fit of the insoles you place inside your shoes, which can cause irritation, especially if you have a prominent heel or Achilles tendon. These orthotics may also require more space than you have available, resulting in a snug fit that is prone to friction.
If your profession demands you to stand or walk for long periods of time, orthotics are not something you want to take chances with and risk how they will influence your foot function and comfort. If your work boots are pressing on your toes, orthotics – when properly fitted and manufactured – can help to alleviate the rubbing and friction.
4. Pay attention to the materials used in your shoes.
Shoes consisting of mesh, coarse cloth, and other synthetic fabrics are more prone than shoes made of natural materials to create friction and heel blisters. While it’s usually a good idea to wear shoes indoors, don’t expect them to stretch. Choose shoes made of high-quality materials that are both comfortable and well-fitting from the start.
- Suede is a form of leather that is manufactured from the underside of an animal’s skin. When it comes to suede, you want to make sure you start with the appropriate fit and don’t compromise it with the socks you choose.
- Leather – leather can be rough and inflexible, with sharp edges, so try them on about the home before wearing them for long periods of time. Cleaning and conditioning your leather will make it softer and more flexible as well.
- Canvas – while soft and comfy, the canvas is a major source of friction, especially since these shoes are frequently worn without socks. Wear them about the house, bend them backward and forwards, and tighten the lacing as needed if your shoes are too tight or loose.
- Rubber – has a higher proclivity for rubbing and trapping moisture, which can irritate the skin and expose you to skin breaks. Make sure you’re wearing excellent, cushioned socks that drain moisture away from your feet if your shoes are mostly rubber.
- Check the lining of your shoes as well; although some shoes have a softer, seamless lining, others contain stitching and connections that can cause friction and discomfort.
5. Decrease the amount of dampness in your shoes
Rubbing and blister development are more likely in wet or damp feet. Moisture softens the skin and increases the risks of harming the outer skin layers, in addition to the friction caused by slipping inside a wet shoe. Unlike waterproof shoes, which can promote perspiration, breathable, water-resistant shoes try to keep as much external moisture out of the shoe as possible and prevent sweating. Remember that your feet have over 250,000 sweat glands, and anybody may have in-shoe moisture in our Australian climate.
Change your socks to a material that breathes better and wicks moisture away from your feet, or use an absorbent powder like talcum to help keep the environment in your shoe dry. Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which your feet sweat excessively. If you feel this is the case, make an appointment with your podiatrist.
6. Take into account extending your shoes.
While we always advocate starting with the appropriate fit, there are a few things you can do to stretch out or break in a new pair of shoes to reduce the danger of unpleasant rubbing:
- Put on two pairs of thick socks and your shoes at home. Don’t overdo it or wear these shoes for lengthy periods of time, and remove them if you have foot discomfort or cramps. However, increasing your sock thickness can aid in swiftly expanding your shoes and has been employed by many dedicated hikers for years when purchasing new hiking boots. The socks also aid in the prevention of blisters. This is very effective with leather.
- If you want to save the difficulty, take your shoes to a local bootmaker or shoe repair shop, where they should be able to stretch them with expert equipment. There are sprays on the market that claim to help shoe stretch, but you should use caution and patch-test them first to ensure they don’t affect the color of your shoes.
7. Look for any rough edges.
The seams and layers of materials at the rear of the heels can sometimes become scratchy, the stitching can fall out, or they may be uneven or unsuited to your foot features from the start. Don’t submit yourself to wearing a bandage at the back of your heel every time rough edges dig in, rubbing, or hurt your skin — repair the shoe instead. You may either sew moleskin cushions over the rough places on the rear of your shoes or take them in for repairs to fix any seams or stitching that has come apart.
Pro Tips:
Cover an area that is greater than the areas that may rub; this will help it cling better.
To assist keep the moleskin in place, wear thin socks over it.
Cover existing blisters
If you were too late to stop your shoes from rubbing and blisters have formed, make sure they are covered. This will protect them from infection and additional injury.
You may use something like these Band-Aid heel bandages. They’re cushioned and waterproof, so blisters won’t become worse and the healing process will be sped up.
Tips for caring for your feet
It’s just as vital to look after your feet’ overall health as it is to have well-fitting shoes. Here are a few basic steps you can do to maintain your feet in good shape:
- To keep germs at bay, wash and dry your feet on a regular basis.
- To exfoliate tough dead skin, soak your feet in hot water and use a pumice stone. Make sure you do this softly so you don’t harm your skin.
- To keep your feet and ankles from getting dry and damaged, moisturize them.
- Make sure your toenails are well-trimmed. They can harm your whole foot and ankles if they grow too lengthy.
- So that moisture does not accumulate in the heel and ankle area, change your socks on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Now, you know some of the things you can stop shoes from rubbing the back of your ankle.
Shoestorenyc hope you found our advice on preventing shoes from irritating the back of your ankle useful. Leave your ideas and experiences in the comments below, and don’t forget to share.
