(WSEE) -- The Coronavirus pandemic has halted many of life's daily activities, which means many people have more free time. Using that extra time to exercise, walk the dog, or  do anything else can be beneficial for improving overall health. However, if a person is wearing the wrong shoes, they could cause themselves chronic pain.

Doctor of Podiatry with UPMC, Dr. Anthony Colonna, said there is a simple way to tell if your shoes are supportive enough. "We’ll take the shoe in our hand and try to bend it side to side and up and down. A more stable shoe with less flex in that area is much much better,” he said.

Typically, problems like joint pain in the ankles, knees and hips will occur after repeatedly wearing improper footwear. If having a hard time finding a supportive shoe, go to a podiatrist for an evaluation. "We’ll look at the way they walk, at the way they stand, high arch, low arch, normal arch, some people have extra musculature in their legs that’s a little tight,” Dr. Colonna said.

Dr. Colonna said most people do not need custom inserts or shoes and can get the support they need from a good running shoe. However, if they do get custom inserts or shoes they might be uncomfortable at first.

“I always tell people I think that if you’re going from one shoe to another, it doesn’t need to be wear it for 8 to 10 hours the first day. You really should wear it for one or two hours see how you like it, if you’re doing great continue, but if not maybe go back to your normal shoe and slowly break it in,” he said.

For more tips on selecting the right shoes, click here.