# Feet used to hurt, now they don't: why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-used-to-hurt-now-they-dont-why/508232 "2009-08-30T05:09:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-used-to-hurt-now-they-dont-why/508232/1 "2009-08-30T05:09:09Z")
About six months ago I started a new job that moved me from sitting on my butt in front of a computer for 8 hours a day to walking on concrete 8 hours a day. I bought good boots, and haven’t had any blisters or other friction problems, but for the first few months my feet hurt. They started to hurt about two hours into the first day, and kept hurting all week, worse every day. By the end of the day, I had no interest in standing anymore. Gradually, I began to hurt less by the end of the day, and I’m now at the point where I don’t hurt any more on Friday night than I did on Monday night, and if I sit for an hour when I get home I can work in the garage for four or five hours without feeling it. My question is: what’s changed? I’ve lost a few pounds from the exercise, but not more than 7% of my body weight, which I don’t think can account for the affect. You’d still complain if I stood on you for 8 hours. I am pretty sure it’s not psychological either. I’m familiar with muscular adaptation to stress, but I want to know what, physiologically, has changed to let me adapt to this. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-used-to-hurt-now-they-dont-why/508232/2 "2009-08-30T06:38:46Z")
Maybe you’re just getting used to the pain, and your body isn’t focusing on it anymore? [Habituation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habituation). Why do you think it’s not psychological/Neural Adaption (which is a physiological response)? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-used-to-hurt-now-they-dont-why/508232/3 "2009-08-30T06:56:59Z")
Perhaps it was just all those tiny little muscles in your feet getting sore from all the walking. The exercise would have made them bigger, and better able to withstand the strain. ---
**Author:** ![Countrypolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@Countrypolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Countrypolitan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-used-to-hurt-now-they-dont-why/508232/4 "2009-08-31T00:00:17Z")
You’re getting used to it. I used to work on pavement/concrete 8-16 hours a day, and it does take a while to get used to it. Get the best boots money can buy (I like Red Wings), and you’ll need to replace/resole them regularly. You feet will likely change size and/or width due to the standing, so make sure you have them remeasured when you get new shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-used-to-hurt-now-they-dont-why/508232/5 "2009-08-31T12:43:14Z")
I’m a bank teller and my feet used to hurt a lot when I started… then not so much… and now the pain is back. My doctor said I have plantar fascitis, which is damaged tendons in my heel. That’s how important it is to wear good shoes. Keep your feet healthy and they’ll keep you pain free. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-used-to-hurt-now-they-dont-why/508232/6 "2009-08-31T16:10:54Z")
I think **friedo** pegged it.