Most people get excited when they buy new shoes, and they can’t delay another moment without taking them for a test run or walk. But the big smile can turn into a frown the moment you realize your latest acquisitions are cutting to the back of your ankle and heel.
New shoes can sometimes bring you days of pain and agony, especially if they don’t fit you. Shoes that don’t fit cause friction, and with every step you take, the pressure on your feet can lead to injury and pain.
Often you will get blisters that eventually break the skin, leaving you susceptible to infections. In some cases, it might lead to Haglund’s deformity, which is identifiable by bony bumps that develop on your heels over time.
In severe cases, continuous rubbing against your Achilles tendon might lead to bursitis and other complicated conditions.
Here are the common causes of shoes cutting the back of the ankle.
If you buy or wear new shoes often, then you have probably faced some of these problems.
- Breaking into a new pair of shoes
- Buying shoes that are too tight (too small)
- Buying shoes that are loose fitting (too large)
If you have one or a combination of these conditions, it will help to stop wearing the shoes and find a solution immediately.
Prolonged wear of such shoes will irritate the skin leading to injuries and pain.
Five Ways to Stop Shoes from Rubbing the Back of Your Ankle
Heels are thicker and broader than the ankles. It means that if you wear shoes with the back closer to the heel, they are less likely to move.
Lose-fitting shoes slide and rub against the ankle leading to unwanted blisters. Adding an insole gives your foot better cushioning and support, taking away the extra room.
Insoles also raise the foot preventing contact between your ankle and the shoes.
Additionally, insoles give a lift to your feet, making the collar of your shoes go lower. It helps keep the shoe in place when walking or running in them.
Insoles can improve shoe comfort regardless of whether they rub your ankles or not.
Wearing Thick Socks
Breaking into new shoes is a process that you can’t forego. Shoe materials that are thick and stiff may take more time and stringent measures.
Wearing thick socks creates a necessary barrier between your skin and the shoes. If you don’t own a pair of thick socks, you can double up on the regular socks.
The idea is to get more protection between your ankles/heels and the shoe collar by preventing shoe movement.
Moleskin is a fabric soft to touch and gentle on the skin. It’s also durable and will last you many years of regular use.
Moleskin is thin, and the material is primarily cotton. They have adhesives on one side to stick it on the inside of your shoe or your feet.
Before sticking the moleskin, ensure that the surface is dry and clean so that it doesn’t come off easily. Even if the shoe rubs and you have a moleskin in place, your feet will still be comfortable and won’t get hurt.
The extra padding of the moleskin prevents friction keeping away blisters.
It’s possible to buy new shoes that don’t take much effort to break into. It’s because shoes are made from different materials.
Buying shoes with synthetic textiles, coarse and mesh fabric causes more friction than natural materials like leather. It’s essential that you purchase shoes that require less stretching from the get-go.
Here are some of the materials available
- Leather – Leather shoes may take some time to break into. The material is stiff, hard, and can be rough on the edges.
Before wearing new leather shoes, consider conditioning them to make them soft and flexible. Also, ease into them gradually by wearing them a few hours a day.
- Suede – Suede is also a leather material from the underside of animal skins. The treatment process is similar to that of leather shoes. With suede shoes, it’s important that you buy a fitting pair from the get-go.
- Rubber – When buying rubber shoes, you must consider the event that you will use them for. They tend to trap moisture, rub and eventually irritate your skin. Rubber shoes are also not temperamental, and wearing a pair that rubs on the ankle will break the skin, causing injuries and pain. You can protect your feet by wearing socks as it drains moisture from the shoes.
- Canvas – Canvas shoes feel comfortable because they are soft and often light. But they are prone to rubbing that may eventually lead to injuries. You can wear canvas shoes without socks because it doesn’t take long to break into them. However, ensure that they fit you. If canvas shoes are uncomfortable, consider adjusting the laces or bending them forward and backward.
Shoes have inner linings that make them soft and comfortable. Sometimes if your new shoes bring pain to your feet, check that the linings have seamless stitching to prevent rubbing and irritation.
Take Your Shoes to a Cobbler
Some of these steps might seem precarious and even risky that you may damage your shoes instead of elevating their comfort. Cobblers are professionals and will know what to do to make the shoes fit while keeping them new.
Also, cobblers have specialized tools that aren’t readily available to you.
Buying new shoes means that you have to consider the size and material besides the price. While everyone looks to find a perfect fit, sometimes this isn’t the case, and you might need to customize your shoes to fit.
You can get away with using temporary band-aids and pads to get some relief when shoes cut at the back of your ankle. However, the goal should be to find a permanent solution to make them comfortable to wear and pain-free.
Remember, we buy shoes to protect our feet, and therefore, they should be comfortable, supportive, and relaxing.