There are two foot conditions that cause the majority of pain, the first is called Plantar fasciitis.  Plantar refers to the bottom of the foot, fascia refers to the connective tissue and itis means inflammation.  So Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the connective tissues in the bottom of you foot.  If you have recently increased your activity, this could result in a mild case of inflammation.  Simply rest the foot, use ice to reduce inflammation and gently stretch the bottom of your foot.

The key to avoiding problems such as this while walking or running is to ensure you have proper arch support in your shoes.  If your shoes do not offer good support, you should consider taking out the current insoles and replace them with an orthotic inserts.

According to Australian Podiatrist Phillip Vasyli foot pain from walking on hard surfaces can be an indication of excess pronation.  Heel pain is usually caused by rolling over of the foot (Excess Pronation). As the foot pronates, the arch collapses and the muscles (plantar fascia) and supporting structure are forced to stretch and elongate. This puts traction and strain on the ligaments running from the heel to the toes. Left untreated, the heel bone often responds by developing a calcium growth right in the center of the heel, this is referred to as a heel spur.  In this Heel Pain Video  he demonstrates how this process takes place and how to correct it with proper othotic support.

In cases where this is the issue a good Orthotic insert or Orthotic sandal can dramatically reduce the stress on your feet, reducing painful symptoms.  If orthotics are going to work, customers will usually notice results within the first few weeks of wearing them.  The initial break in period is about a week to 10 days where your feet adjust to wearing them.  During this time you may want to start out wearing them for only a few hours at a time.  D-Med Inc. offers a full 90 day satisfaction guarantee, so that will give you more than enough time to see if orthotics will help with your foot problems.

There are several different types of orthotic inserts to choose from as well as several sandals and flip flops.  Each is designed to work best with whatever shoe or activity for which you want to use them.