Every now and then, I try to dress up. I will put on a decent outfit. I’ll do my hair and nails. I will be already for a night on the town. The last thing I have to do is find some shoes. It seems simple enough. I choose a pair that complements my outfit. But should I be looking for how healthy they are?
“Each foot contains 26 bones: 7 tarsal (ankle bones), 5 metatarsals (instep bones), and 14 phalanges (toe bones)…” as reported by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). “The bones and joints of the foot and ankle are held together by a strong network of muscles and ligaments. The foot is connected to the ankle where one of the tarsal bones, called the talus, meets the lower leg bones, called the tibia and the fibula.”
“…Because we are two-footed creatures, our feet and ankles are called upon to perform a remarkable achievement of biomechanics -they keep our bodies upright and stable while permitting us to run and walk. This unique capability puts great pressure on our feet and ankles. It can also turn what were initially minor problems into major ones.”
After reviewing that information, you may think it’s time to take better care of your feet. The slightest pain in your foot could turn into a crippling condition if ignored.
Dr. Foot says a poor choice in footwear is the number one reason for foot related conditions. You should not have to break in a pair of shoes. If a shoe feels uncomfortable from the beginning, it’s a poor fit. Wearing a shoe that does not fit properly can cause bunions, corns, calluses, heel pain, and ingrown toe nails. All of which can lead to long term foot pain.
Here are some of Dr. Foot’s tips to follow when you are shopping for a pair of shoes:
HEEL: - In an ideal world the patient should wear a broad based heel with the height no greater then 4cm. However, the size of the heel is often governed by fashion. If you consider that your heel takes your entire body weight during a stage in your waking, then consider the possible complications that can arise due to a large thin heel (i.e. corns), you would be better with a more suitable shoe.
HEEL COUNTER: The heel counter is the portion of the shoe which holds the heel in place at the sides and the back and prevents the foot from sliding around the shoe. This acts as a support to your foot. It helps to stabilize and maintain the position of the heel as the shoe contacts the ground. A stiff heel counter is recommended as a weak heel counter becomes less supportive and may lead to ankle sprains.
SOLE: The bottom of the shoe should be flat and have adequate cushioning.
UPPER: The material that forms the main part of the shoe should ideally be leather have some flexibility to it. Shoes with a very rigid upper may lead to corns on the feet.
LINING: This is found inside the shoe and should be soft and without seams. If there are protruding seams present it can lead to cuts and infections of the feet.
FASTENINGS: The fastenings hold the foot in the shoe. All shoes should have laces, straps, buckles or Velcro. Patients who wear slip on shoes are usually wearing shoes that are too small from them and are more inclined to ankle sprains.
We often neglect our feet. When we think about taking care of our bodies, we tend not to look that far down. Nowadays you can find a stylish shoe that is comfortable and healthy to wear. The average person takes 15,000 steps per day. I know I would rather not take that many steps on a pair of sore feet.
Find more information about your feet below:
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=20408
http://www.drfoot.co.uk/shoe and foot.htm
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