Everyone has their favourite pair of shoes. That pair that make your feet look great, make you feel great, or feel the most comfortable. However, your feet may not share your enthusiasm! Some shoes that look and even feel great can be causing damage to your foot health. Hammertoes, claw toes, corns, calluses, and bunions can all be side effects of poor footwear choices.
Get some tips about the types of shoes to avoid to keep your feet happy and healthy!
High Heels
We’ve discussed the problems with high heels before on our blog. The higher you raise your foot, the more pressure you put on the ball of your foot, the more you’re putting yourself at risk for metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot). High heels also cause general misalignment, causing people to arch their back and increase pressure on the lower back.
Avoid wearing any heel over two inches regularly to save yourself the misalignment and pain in the feet. High heels should only be for the rare special event – not every day shoes! If you have to wear them more often, such as if your job requires it, using a gel cushion is always recommended along with regular visits to a chiropodist.
Ballet Flats
Ballet flats can seem like a good option, especially compared to high heels, for casual wearing. However, most types of flats don’t offer any support or cushioning for your feet. This lack of support can cause a variety of problems, including overstretching in ligaments leading to pain in the arch, ball, and heel of the foot. Using insoles or custom orthotics in flats is a good way to ensure your foot is receiving the support it needs if you like to wear this type of shoe regularly. Otherwise, it’s best to avoid them all together and choose a shoe that has better built-in support.
Flip Flops
Flip flops are great to wear at the pool or at the beach, but they don’t provide enough support for extensive walking. They come with a lot of the same structural issues as flats do, and their open toe and open back mean the muscles in the feet have to grip the shoe and can cause pain and discomfort. Definitely avoid wearing flip flops if you’re playing sports or running. Keep them reserved for the beach only!
Old Shoes
Even if you buy a shoe with the best support, made from the best materials, custom to your foot, eventually it will age. Most athletic shoes should be retired after 400-600 kilometres of use – usually a couple years. When this happens, you start to experience pressure on various parts of the foot that can lead to ligament stretching, lack of support, and foot pain. Make sure you replace your shoes after a couple years of use so that you’re receiving all the support you need.
Find the Best Shoes for Your Feet
A chiropodist can help you find the best shoes for your feet. At Collective Foot and Wellness Clinic, we make recommendations for footwear, insoles, and custom orthotics to ensure that your shoes are comfortable and promote good foot health.
Book an appointment with the chiropodists at Collective Foot and Wellness Clinic Hamilton today at one of our two convenient locations to get more information about the best shoes for your feet and what shoes you should avoid. Contact us today to book an appointment!