Wednesday, 31 December 2025
While many people associate podiatric care in Singapore solely with sports-related injuries or rehabilitation of the athlete through chronic overuse injuries, you may envision a runner with shin splints, a football player with an ankle sprain from playing in an intense game, or a weightlifter trying to recover after working out too hard.
Therefore, you may assume that you do not need the services of a podiatrist unless you participate in vigorous activity or play sports. However, this is false. People from any part of society, including seniors, desk occupants, homemakers, and retail employees, can visit a podiatrist and can be treated.
Read this article to understand how regular foot care can help provide comfort and improve mobility for people who do not participate in sports.
Everyday Movement Creates Load on Your Feet
Your feet really do a lot of work without you even realising it. For instance, walking to the MRT station, standing on crowded trains, climbing the stairs at home or work, parks, grocery and what not. Most of the time, you're walking on hard concrete surfaces or tiled floors, or uneven pavements. Every step you take puts pressure on your feet and your lower legs and increases the load on your feet and legs.
Retail employees spend most of the day on their feet, and so do office workers who walk long distances to get to/from work as part of their commute. Parents will carry their children and/or bags that are heavy. Seniors may be more careful with their movements, but they will still accumulate steps over the day, so this places a heavy load on their feet.
When your feet and legs are moving well, they are able to handle the load well. Poor posture, weak muscles, and misalignment of the legs or feet can lead to discomfort and hinder daily tasks due to the impact of everyday stress.
Why 'Low Impact' Does Not Mean 'Low Risk'
Strained feet can occur from a variety of causes: working for long periods while standing on a hard surface, returning to an active lifestyle after being inactive for a long time, and using inappropriate footwear, such as flip-flops or shoes with no or little support. All daily repetitive movements can cause muscle and joint fatigue if you don't stretch out the muscles in your feet and lower legs.
Over a period of time, these nagging habits lead to the body becoming fatigued and having small tears in the tissues or tendons, and the body becomes more inflamed when a person does not take care of their body correctly.
Common Foot Issues from Daily Life in Singapore
The following is a list of different types of non-sport conditions that podiatrists in Singapore may treat:
- Plantar Fasciitis is when you experience significant heel pain shortly after waking from sleep or sitting for extended periods of time, and after performing repetitive motions (like walking or standing) for long periods of time. Visiting a podiatrist may be a way to relieve the associated symptoms.
- Flat feet (low arches) put excess strain on the tendons of your foot, which leads to pain in your foot's arch and unsteadiness when standing or walking.
- Corns and Calluses develop as a protective response to continual rubbing or pressure on parts of the foot that bear the most weight. While dry skin can make the feet more prone to cracking, these hardened layers are primarily caused by ill-fitting footwear or repetitive friction.
- The weight of your body is not balanced across the 5 metatarsal bones (long bones of the foot). Therefore, you will feel discomfort if this condition exists in your feet (this is called metatarsalgia).
- Bunions and other Toe Injury could occur from either improperly sized shoes or genetically inherited conditions.
This can affect your ability to walk comfortably and perform your everyday activities.
The Slow Build of Overuse Injuries
Overuse injuries occur as a result of continuous pressure on the body, which causes pain; however, the pain usually goes unrecognised as it generally isn't severe. With continued use, the discomfort and inflammation will worsen until it limits your ability to carry out basic daily functions.
The podiatrist will evaluate your gait pattern, footwear, and the strength of your feet to be able to detect and treat these types of injuries earlier rather than later, when they become more problematic.
Quality of Movement Matters More Than Intensity
You don't need to run marathons for your feet to benefit from better movement. Podiatry focuses on quality:
- How does your weight spread across your foot with each step?
- How well your joints and muscles work together.
- How your body adapts to daily demands like uneven ground or long hours on your feet.
Improving these things helps everyone. For example, custom insoles (orthotics) can support arches and redistribute pressure. Simple exercises can strengthen calves or improve balance. Advice on shoes can prevent rubbing. These small changes reduce strain and keep you active longer, whether you're 25 or 75.
Podiatry isn't just fixing pain; it's about preventing it so you stay independent and enjoy life.
Preventing Problems Before They Limit You
Starting foot care early is vital because it has a long-lasting effect. A great way to start is wearing well-fitting shoes, stretching your feet regularly, resting when you're uncomfortable, changing positions frequently and maintaining an ideal weight. If you're experiencing any chronic pain, you should see a podiatrist. Contact East Coast Podiatry in Singapore for additional information on maintaining an active lifestyle and comfort while being active.