Canyon Ranch (Arizona)
Heaven knows there are shoes for every foot, every size and every occasion, and it's not hard to find the perfect pair of shoes for every outfit -although affording them may be another matter. Yet, if fashion is your sole priority when buying shoes, your feet's greatest need - comfortable, structurally sound footwear - may simply be overlooked.
Interestingly, shoe styles popular today go back hundreds of years, to shoes worn by fashion-forward royalty and gentry in the courts of Europe. Unfortunately, the more stylish forms of shoes - particularly those with high heels and pointed toes -- have a deforming influence on the body. Achy legs, corns, in-grown toenails, arch and heel pain, tendonitis, hammertoes, swelling on the back of the heel (known as "pump bump") and Morton's neuroma (a painful pinched nerve in the foot) are among the common results of putting fashion above comfort. Improper footwear can also aggravate preexisting conditions such as bunions and diabetic foot complications.
The usual suspect
Obvious culprits for foot pain are high-heeled shoes, and podiatrists recommend wearing heels as little as possible because this style binds the toes and causes them to curl unnaturally. Women who wear high heels regularly can develop permanently deformed toes and shortened tendons in the back of the leg. In addition, wearing high heels forces you to adjust your posture to balance on the ball of the foot, which can lead to back and hip pain.
Begin the search
Finding shoes that fit properly and offer support is essential for the health of your feet, and it's easy to tell a good pair if you know what to look for. Experts recommend examining the sole of the shoe. The sole should be flexible under the ball of your foot, so it can bend with the foot as you walk. The arch, however, should not bend at all. You need a strong, solid base to support the complex structure of the arch. Make sure there is adequate room in the toe box, and remember that the shape of the toe box needs to conform to the shape of the foot. You don't want your toes to touch the front of the shoe, or be crowded or squeezed together, which can have a deforming effect over time.
Next, test the strength of the upper back of the shoe, known as the heel counter. The heel counter should be strong, and you should not be able to push it in or squeeze it between your fingers.
Changes are afoot
Feet change over time, and shoes that fit well when you bought them may not be right today. Weight loss and weight gain, pregnancy, injury and arthritis can all change the size of your foot. In addition, our feet continue to spread as we age, making a wider or longer shoe necessary. And not all shoes run true to size - if that 7 is too small, then try the 7 1/2 or the 8 and buy the shoe that actually fits. Clinging to a shoe size that doesn't fit you any more may be a common form of vanity, but it's one that your poor feet will pay for.
Dressed to live painfree
Fashion trends come and go, but your feet will be with you for life. Take care of them by choosing shoes that fit right and suit your activity, and skip the heels when the day requires significant walking. Avoid thin, unsupportive skids on the nights you plan to dance 'til dawn. A little commonsense about your footwear can save you genuine agony down the road: Surgery for foot problems tends to be painful and recovery is often difficult.
Today, many companies are making fashionable footwear that's also structurally sound. Look for a style that meets basic foot-health criteria to keep your feet healthy and pain- free.
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