When I was in high school, I was on the rowing team. It was extreme daily exercise and a lot of the training (especially in the winter) revolved around running.

Now that I'm out of high school, I'm obviously not on the team anymore. However, I recently tried running again and I could only go for about ten minutes or so before I felt a stabbing pain in my inner left foot, where it arches. Okay, fine, running didn't work. Next, I tried a brisk walk. Ouch, same thing.

So this morning, I break out the DDR pad and set it to workout mode. Ten minutes later, pain. I'm getting really annoyed with my feet.

Before I go to a podiatrist and shell out money that I don't have, I'd like to get some feedback on what you guys think it might be. Since it's super hot where I live (think desert), I don't really bother with sneakers or tennis shoes; I opt for more comfortable choices like flip-flops or sandals. Do you think maybe this could be the cause? Thanks in advance. :D

The pain could be a lot of things - from a stress fracture to tendinitis to a restriction of motion in the foot bones. Flip flops and sandals are HORRIBLE for your feet. You really should find a good shoe to fit your foot type - especially for running/excercise. Your best bet for footwear is to find a shoe store or running store with employees who are trained to understand the right shoe for the right type of foot. They should watch you run and/or walk when trying on shoes to see if your gait mechanics synch with the shoe. Most major chains do not give their employees this kind of knowledge (though there are exceptions). A good hint is to ask an employee to help you pick out the right shoe and ask if they will watch you run/walk. If they look at you like you are speaking gibberish, find another store, and remember shoe fit is far more important than how it looks or its brand.

Outside of that I would recommend the traditional RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Make sure not to apply the ice directly to the foot (use a towel or something) and only leave it on for about 20 min or so at a time. You can ice up to 4-5 times per day. When you return to exercise make sure you start slow. Don't go all out. One alternative to a podiatrist is an osteopathic physician (D.O.) particularly one who specializes in musculoskeletal problems or manipulation (often referred to as OMT or OMM). D.O's are fully liscensed medical doctors and minipulation services are often covered by insurance. However, if you are comfortable with and like your podiatrist I would definitely stay with him.

(I am only a medical student and not authorized to give medical advice, so please ask a licensed healthcare professional before you use any of these suggestion

By the way, I lost a LOT of weight through DDR

Thank you so much for the advice.  I didn't know that flip-flops were terrible for your feet, otherwise I wouldn't have worn them for so long, but they're just so dang convenient.  I'm definitely going to stay away from them from now on, though, 'cause this whole thing really hurts.

And DDR rocks.  XD