5 Foot Health Misconceptions You Should Stop Believing

Short answer: A few common foot beliefs are simply wrong, and some can lead to chronic pain or avoidable infections. You can have a fracture and still walk on it. Bunions are mainly genetic, not caused by shoes alone. Cutting a notch in a toenail does not prevent ingrown nails. Foot pain is not a normal part of aging. And store-bought insoles are not the same as custom orthotics. Here is what is actually true about each.

We tend to ignore our feet until they start complaining. Because they are out of sight for most of the day, it is easy to hold onto ideas about them that are not accurate. Some of these foot health misconceptions are harmless, but others can steer you toward chronic pain or infection. These are five of the most common.

1. If I can move it, it is not broken

You can have a fracture, especially a stress fracture or a break in a smaller toe, and still walk through the pain. Being able to wiggle your toes or limp across the room does not mean the bone is intact. Walking on a fracture can lead to improper healing and lasting alignment problems, so persistent pain after an injury is worth an evaluation.

2. Shoes cause bunions

You may have heard that pointy heels gave you your bunions. In reality, bunions are largely genetic: you inherit a foot structure that is prone to them. Tight, narrow shoes can make a bunion worse and speed up its progression, but they are not the root cause. If bunions run in your family, you are at higher risk regardless of footwear.

3. Cutting a V in your nail prevents ingrown nails

This is a classic bathroom myth. The idea is that notching the center of the nail pulls the edges inward, but nails grow from the base forward, not from the sides in. Cutting a V does nothing useful and can weaken the nail and set up a painful snag or ingrown nail instead. Trimming straight across is the better habit.

4. Foot pain is just part of getting older

Many people accept foot pain as inevitable with age. It is true that the fat pads on the soles thin over time, but constant pain is not normal at any age. A lot of later-life foot pain comes from decades of inadequate support or untreated conditions like plantar fasciitis, and those can usually be managed with the right care.

5. Store-bought insoles are the same as custom orthotics

Drugstore inserts add cushion, which can feel good for a while, but they are mass-produced foam made for an average foot. Custom orthotics are prescription devices built to your foot to change how you bear weight and move. Comparing the two is a bit like comparing reading glasses off a rack to a prescription made for your eyes. Both have a place; they are not the same thing.

When to see a podiatrist

See a podiatrist if you have foot pain that lingers after an injury, a bunion that is getting worse or painful, a nail that keeps becoming ingrown, or ongoing foot pain you have been writing off as age.

Frequently Asked Questions

At CarePlus Foot and Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, we can sort fact from myth for your specific feet and recommend what actually helps. Call (425) 455-0936 or schedule an appointment online.

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you have foot pain or an injury that is not improving, see a qualified clinician for an evaluation.