Is Foot Pain Stopping You from Walking Your Dog?
Walk Your Dog & Relieve Foot Pain with PowerStep®
Many of us pet owners feel guilty about not walking our dog regularly. We often come up with excuses like poor weather conditions, aching foot pain, or a busy schedule. While reasons like chronic foot pain are understandable, skipping your dog’s walk could be bad for their health.
PowerStep walking insoles help prevent and relieve foot, knee, and back pain when walking so you can walk your dog more often, doing what’s right for their health and yours. Find out how you and your dog can benefit from daily walks with PowerStep.
Why do my feet hurt when I walk?
Coming home to walk your dog is difficult when you have tired, achy feet after you’ve been standing all day at work. People who have sedentary lifestyles or health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or type 2 diabetes might also experience foot pain when walking.
Foot pain can stem from common foot ailments that happen when:
- Your feet and body are not used to the new stress of exercising.
- The bones or joints in your feet become injured or misaligned.
- The protective padding on the bottoms of your feet deteriorates.
If your feet hurt when walking, it’s likely because your shoes lack the proper support and cushioning to prevent unnecessary strain, support alignment, and absorb shock. This can lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, or back, knee and hip pain. Adding arch support insoles to your shoes can significantly improve foot discomfort.
What happens if you don’t walk your dog?
About 41 percent of dog owners do not walk their dog regularly. Not only does failing to walk your pet create feelings of guilt for you, but it can affect your dog’s emotional and physical wellbeing, according to veterinary medicine experts.
Dogs need physical and mental stimulation throughout their day. Without it, they can suffer the same effects of long-term stress as humans including depression, anxiety, worsened immune systems, and poor joint and muscle health.
Letting your dog out in the backyard to run around does not offer enough stimulation. Because of the familiar setting, they are more likely to lay down. A structured walk or playtime with your dog is far more beneficial to their health.
How do I stop my feet from hurting when I walk?
Clinically proven to prevent and relieve pain, PowerStep Pinnacle orthotic insoles are the best insoles for walking when your feet hurt. With built-in arch support, dual-layer cushioning, and a deep heel cradle, they help take pressure off your feet while improving comfort and stability.
With PowerStep, you can relieve the pain that makes it hard to stay active and enjoy tasks like walking your dog. Our signature arch shape supports healthy alignment of the feet and lower body with 90 percent of users reporting less foot, knee, and back pain within just 2 weeks of wearing PowerStep insoles.
Those looking for a comfort walk insole should consider PowerStep Memory Foam insoles for added cushioning. Meanwhile, PowerStep PULSE® insoles fit tennis shoes perfectly if you wear running shoes to walk your dog. Love to take your pet hiking? PowerStep Hiker insoles have a firmer shell designed to support your feet on uneven terrain.
The Benefits of Walking Your Dog
Taking your dog for a walk is a great way to be more active while spending quality time with your four-legged family member. Walking your pet daily, or at least five times a week, has the following benefits for both you:
- Supports healthy muscles and joints – Daily exercise keeps the joints mobile and flexible while strengthening the muscles, which can be good for people and pets as they get older.
- Helps maintain weight – A 2008 study found that adults who regularly walked their dogs had a lesser risk of being overweight than those who did not. Obese dogs, on the other hand, have more heart and joint problems, so keeping them at a healthy weight may help them live longer.
- Improves mental health – Daily walks help clear your mind and prevent boredom in your dog. Keeping their mind busy with new sights and smells prevents destructive behaviors like chewing on couch cushions and getting into the trash.
- Reduces stress – Being around your dog contributes to lower cortisol levels while the mental and physical stimulation of a walk helps your pet work off pent up energy.
- Strengthens your bond – Companionship and trust is important for dogs and their owners. One-on-one activities with your dog help deepen your relationship, build trust, and increase the effectiveness of any training you may be working on.
Before starting a new exercise routine with your dog, talk to your doctor and your veterinarian to ensure each of you is healthy enough for regular activity.
How often and how long should you walk your dog?
For maximum benefits, you should aim to walk your dog about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. You can break the half hour up between the morning and evening. Keep in mind, how much exercise a dog needs varies based on their age, breed, and tolerance level.
Healthy dogs should be able to walk for 20 to 30 minutes a day, but dogs that are overweight or elderly might only withstand a 10-minute walk. Monitor your dog throughout the walk to ensure you and your pet are not overdoing it.
Remember, it is OK not to walk your dog every day so long as you find time to walk them throughout the week. For people with busy schedules, try to walk your dog at least 3 times a week for about 15 minutes.
Take Your Dog for a Walk with PowerStep Insoles
Regular walks are important for your dog’s long-term health, significantly improving their quality of life. Don’t let foot pain stop you from spending quality time with a member of your family. Add PowerStep walking insoles to your shoes and get the most out of every day with your dog.
References:
Coren, S. (2019, April 3) How Many People Don't Walk Their Dogs? Psychology Today.
Hunter, T. et all. (n.d.) The Benefits of Walking Your Dog. VCA Animal Hospitals.
The Benefits of Walking Your Pet. (2019, January 10). ASPCA.
