Finding the perfect pair of shoes is a quest for many women. But most of the times, the mantra is: Style is "essential" and Comfortable is "good". However, wearing these non supportive shoes can be more damaging than most women realize. Many studies have found that women often are ignoring the result of buying wrong fitting shoes for the sake of fashion.
Some experts believe that wearing any shoes is unhealthy because they change the way you walk. Human feet are perfectly well-suited to walk barefoot because they are evolved to do so. But we live in a society where shoes complete the attire and walking barefoot is considered absurd.
So Yes! We have to wear shoes. But we can make a right choice of shoes that will help us comfort our feet. So what is the other way round? What types of shoes are worst for your feet?
High Heels
A high heeled shoe may make you feel taller and fashionable, but wearing them over a long period of time can cause foot problems or aggravate foot problems you already have. Wearing high heels puts your foot in a plantarflexed position (foot pointed downward) such that the weight of your body is disproportionately resting on the ball of your foot. This causes you to adjust your normal standing posture as well as gait, leading to increased stress on your knees, hips and back. Also, the increased pressure on the balls of your foot can lead to a condition called metatarsalgia, an acute pain in the ball of the foot that can become chronic. Additionally, when you wear high heels, the position of the ankle may cause a shortening (contraction) of the achilles tendon, leading to a condition called Achilles tendonitis.
It is, therefore, recommended to only wear high heels for special occasions and keep them two inches or under in height.
Pointed Toes
Pointed toe shoes can be equally bad as high heels when it comes to foot problems, and when the shoe is both high and pointy, it can be a nightmare for your foot. Pointy-toe shoes squeeze the toes together into a too narrow space, causing uncomfortable calluses and corns. These shoes also put pressure on ingrown toenails and can increase the likelihood of hammertoes.
As with high heels, only wear them on special occasion. Avoid wearing them everyday. Shoes with wider toe box are the best.
Flip-flops
Flip-flops may be comfortable, but they were never meant to be your everyday shoes. Wearing flip-flops lead to drastic changes in the way you walk, which can cause many foot problems. When you wear flip-flops, your toes have to grip the flip-flops to keep them on while walking. Though not so noticeable to most people, this constant flexing action by the toes can put a strain on the connective tissue that runs along the sole of your foot, leading to pain in the arches of the feet (plantar fasciitis), inflamed Achilles tendons, inflammation of the connective tissue between the heel bone and the toes, and pain along the inner aspect of the knees.
Podiatrists recommend wearing flip flops only for short periods of time. They are meant for the beach and the pool, not for everyday walking. For everyday walking, wear sandals with a strap in the back that holds your foot inside the shoe.
Ballet Flats
Ballet flats are an improvement on the high heels and pointed toes with regards to foot health, but they create their own set of foot problems. They generally lack cushioning and support, and wearing them increases the risk of plantar fasciitis, tendonitis and shin splints.
Ballet flats may feel comfortable, but they shouldn't be worn everyday. Choose a flat that has a real sole and support around the heel counter, and if you have flat feet, only wear shoes with good arch support.
Don't just buy shoes because they are in fashion. Make sure you pay attention to your comfort as well. Buying the right shoes is something that all of us should do to ensure we have better foot health.
