Is it just plantar fasciitis? Diverse causes of foot pain... Foot care methods for walking

Episode 1007 Mysteries of the Human Body>

Autumn Health Check - Part 1: Feet that Walk and Run

Foot pain isn't just 'plantar fasciitis'?! A massive release of types of foot pain and foot care methods

Broadcast: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10 PM on KBS 1TV

The heel hurts when taking the first steps in the morning, and the soles of the feet burn at night. Sometimes, a stinging pain like electricity flowing between the toes occurs. Everyone says, "My soles hurt," but the causes are not all the same.

While people often first think of 'plantar fasciitis' when it comes to sole pain, the diseases to be examined change depending on the location, timing, and sensation of the pain. Sometimes, even though the feet hurt, the cause may lie in the waist. Then, where did my foot pain start?

KBS 1TV Mysteries of the Human Body has prepared a two-part series to check foot and knee health for the autumn season. In the first session, 'Part 1 - Feet that Walk and Run,' various causes of sole pain are examined, and management methods necessary for walking and moving healthily for a long time are explored.

The feet hurt, but is the cause only in the feet?

81-year-old Jeong Jong-mok has worn boots and raised cattle for over 50 years. Having started experiencing heel pain a few years ago, his feet now feel cold and numb as if they were dipped in ice. The symptoms extend to the calves and thighs, making it difficult to walk for even five minutes. Tests revealed findings suggesting 'plantar fasciitis.' However, the numbness extending to the feet and legs was also being influenced by nerve issues descending from the waist.

74-year-old Neulbo, who has worked in delivery for nearly 30 years, finds it difficult to sleep every night because the soles of his feet burn. He tried salt water foot baths and applying medicated patches, but the pain recurred. Specialists say that if the burning and numbness that intensify at night persist, one should not dismiss it as light fatigue but also examine causes related to the nerves.

Stinging in the front of the foot... The reason it hurts even after changing shoes

65-year-old Shim Hee-su feels pain in the front of the sole and the toes even after walking a little. After the pain started, she tried changing into several pairs of shoes said to be good, but it was difficult to walk comfortably. What was confirmed at the hospital was 'Morton's neuroma.' It is a condition where the nerves between the toes are repeatedly compressed, which can cause burning pain, stinging, and numbness in the front of the foot.

In particular, shoes that compress the front of the foot can affect the symptoms. The broadcast will examine how to distinguish between 'plantar fasciitis' and 'Morton's neuroma,' and in what cases shoes and insoles can be helpful.

What is the secret to feet that walk and run for a long time?

Park Seul-gi is a ballerina who has been performing on stage with the Korea National Ballet for 20 years. For her, who lifts her body on her toes and jumps and lands countless times, stretching is a daily routine. Before and after practice, she loosens the area around her ankles and steadily trains the toe and sole muscles using bands. Soccer players also steadily manage their soles and calves after matches and training.

Specialists also emphasize stretching as the basis for managing plantar fasciitis. It is important to use shoes and insoles that fit one's own foot condition and to appropriately adjust exercise intensity. To walk and run for a long time, managing well is as necessary as moving well.

Walking is not mere movement. To go where you want to go, to do what you like, and to live an ordinary day, the two feet are at the beginning of every moment. Rather than blindly enduring pain, properly understanding the signals your feet are sending may be the first step toward walking and running healthily again. As walking and running increase with the arrival of autumn, what signals are your feet sending?

Everything you need to know about foot health to walk and run healthily again can be found on September 9, 2026, on KBS 1TV Mysteries of the Human Body 'Autumn Health Check - Part 1: Feet that Walk and Run.'

(Photo provided = KBS 1TV 'Mysteries of the Human Body')

◆ At a Glance

· Publishing Institution: KBS

· Category: Mysteries of the Human Body

· Distribution: September 8, 09:53

Source: KBS Press Release

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