Myth: "Heels are bad for your feet, ballet pumps are good"
A specialist Podiatrist, comments: "Flats are not necessarily good for your feet and some flats can actually be bad for your feet. Young women in their teens and twenties don't tend to wear high heels too much. But younger women who wear pumps and flip-flops don't realise that these types of shoe cause problems too.
The main problem with flat shoes, such as ballet pumps, is that the soles are often as thin as cardboard, so there is nothing to absorb stress as the foot hits hard pavements.
I see women with foot pain who say - 'Why do my feet hurt? I always change from my heels to my flats when I walk to and from the office'. But pumps provide no cushion for heel contact and no support to prevent the arch from rolling in. Women who wear ballet pumps very frequently can risk joint inflammation and the development of metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis"
Possible Foot Problems
* Joint inflammation
* Metatarsalgia: this means pain in the ball of the forefoot. Pain is commonly on the sole of the foot and often sharp, described as similar to walking on pebbles or like having a stone in the shoe
* Plantar Fasciitis: this is a painful condition caused by inflammation in the heel and/or arch of the foot
Advice
"Women like ballet pumps and we are not suggesting that they stop wearing them. Look for a pump with an innersole that has some cushioning and at least has a small wide heel. Ballet pumps are okay for short periods of time, but they are not the right shoe to choose if you are going out shopping all day, or doing a lot of walking to and from work. A more structured shoe, like a pair of trainers would be much more suitable if you are going to do a lot of walking, or T- Bar style shoe with some mid foot instep support if you need to look a little smarter."
Myth: "There is nothing wrong with wearing flip-flops all summer"
"A lot of girls wear flip-flops all summer. We all recognise that it's not a good idea to wear high heels all the time, but we are less aware of problems with flat footwear.
Your toes are working hard to pull up the flip-flop as you walk, literally crunching your toes up into a claw and this can lead to a painful condition called claw toe. You also have to work to remain stable whilst walking.
Possible Foot Problems
* Claw toe
* Tendon problems
* Injuries from falls
Advice
"Flip-flops are for the beach and around the pool - that is what they are designed for. They shouldn't be worn for a long period of time or if you are likely to be walking more than a short distance."
Myth: "You can't buy a pair of fashionable good shoes"
"It is difficult finding what I would describe as a good pair of shoes. Of course women want shoes which look good. But if you take the basic structure of a good shoe, it is always possible to include some fashionable features too."
Good Shoe Essentials
* Go for a nice chunky heel, or wedge, no more than one-and-a-half inches high
* The back part of the shoe which cushions your ankle should be stiff. The back of many shoes is too soft, allowing your ankle to roll in as you walk
* A rubber sole is better than a leather one to prevent slips and falls and for shock absorption
* The 'toe box' should be deep enough for should fit the shape of your forefoot. If it is too low, cut around your toes, you will have to use your toes to claw up the shoe as you walk
* Laces across the top of the foot are fashionable and very effective in terms of keeping your foot stable and preventing a 'clawing' walking action
What difference will good shoes really make?
"Wearing good shoes will provide you with a lot of protection against a range of foot problems.
Bad shoes can exacerbate any underlying problems you may have in your gait or your foot."
Benefits of good shoes
* Protect the feet
* Provide foot stability
* Provide shock attenuation
* Provide shock attenuation
* Increase function
Rina Bimbashi is a Podiatrist at The London Foot and Ankle Centre, specialists in Podiatry including Biomechanical Assessment, Gait Analysis and Orthotics.
By Rina Bimbashi
A specialist Podiatrist, comments: "Flats are not necessarily good for your feet and some flats can actually be bad for your feet. Young women in their teens and twenties don't tend to wear high heels too much. But younger women who wear pumps and flip-flops don't realise that these types of shoe cause problems too.
The main problem with flat shoes, such as ballet pumps, is that the soles are often as thin as cardboard, so there is nothing to absorb stress as the foot hits hard pavements.
I see women with foot pain who say - 'Why do my feet hurt? I always change from my heels to my flats when I walk to and from the office'. But pumps provide no cushion for heel contact and no support to prevent the arch from rolling in. Women who wear ballet pumps very frequently can risk joint inflammation and the development of metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis"
Possible Foot Problems
* Joint inflammation
* Metatarsalgia: this means pain in the ball of the forefoot. Pain is commonly on the sole of the foot and often sharp, described as similar to walking on pebbles or like having a stone in the shoe
* Plantar Fasciitis: this is a painful condition caused by inflammation in the heel and/or arch of the foot
Advice
"Women like ballet pumps and we are not suggesting that they stop wearing them. Look for a pump with an innersole that has some cushioning and at least has a small wide heel. Ballet pumps are okay for short periods of time, but they are not the right shoe to choose if you are going out shopping all day, or doing a lot of walking to and from work. A more structured shoe, like a pair of trainers would be much more suitable if you are going to do a lot of walking, or T- Bar style shoe with some mid foot instep support if you need to look a little smarter."
Myth: "There is nothing wrong with wearing flip-flops all summer"
"A lot of girls wear flip-flops all summer. We all recognise that it's not a good idea to wear high heels all the time, but we are less aware of problems with flat footwear.
Your toes are working hard to pull up the flip-flop as you walk, literally crunching your toes up into a claw and this can lead to a painful condition called claw toe. You also have to work to remain stable whilst walking.
Possible Foot Problems
* Claw toe
* Tendon problems
* Injuries from falls
Advice
"Flip-flops are for the beach and around the pool - that is what they are designed for. They shouldn't be worn for a long period of time or if you are likely to be walking more than a short distance."
Myth: "You can't buy a pair of fashionable good shoes"
"It is difficult finding what I would describe as a good pair of shoes. Of course women want shoes which look good. But if you take the basic structure of a good shoe, it is always possible to include some fashionable features too."
Good Shoe Essentials
* Go for a nice chunky heel, or wedge, no more than one-and-a-half inches high
* The back part of the shoe which cushions your ankle should be stiff. The back of many shoes is too soft, allowing your ankle to roll in as you walk
* A rubber sole is better than a leather one to prevent slips and falls and for shock absorption
* The 'toe box' should be deep enough for should fit the shape of your forefoot. If it is too low, cut around your toes, you will have to use your toes to claw up the shoe as you walk
* Laces across the top of the foot are fashionable and very effective in terms of keeping your foot stable and preventing a 'clawing' walking action
What difference will good shoes really make?
"Wearing good shoes will provide you with a lot of protection against a range of foot problems.
Bad shoes can exacerbate any underlying problems you may have in your gait or your foot."
Benefits of good shoes
* Protect the feet
* Provide foot stability
* Provide shock attenuation
* Provide shock attenuation
* Increase function
Rina Bimbashi is a Podiatrist at The London Foot and Ankle Centre, specialists in Podiatry including Biomechanical Assessment, Gait Analysis and Orthotics.
By Rina Bimbashi
Post a Comment