What is Good Footwear?
As podiatrists, a lot of our time is devoted to giving out footwear advice,as it has an impact on most foot conditions. Infact, many of the problems we are presented with can be solely attributed to poor footwear. So if we can get people into the correct footwear for their foot type, the problem can be resolved or greatly improved.
There are few golden rules about footwear.
Firstly, wear the right shoes for the activity you are planning to do, and for the right occasion. I very rarely tell people that they can’t wear high heels, but I do advise them not to go shopping in them. Equally, if you’re going to do a ten mile hike, put on sturdy walking boots, not flip flops (this does happen!)
Next, consider the shape of your foot. If it is broad and square, then don’t wear pointed toes as this will very quickly lead to corns and nail problems.
The ideal is to have something that fastens onto your foot. This means that your foot doesn’t have to work so hard , and also stops your toes clawing. Anything with a fastening will fit much better, especially if the fastening is adjustable.
And finally, heel height. Young adults in their 20-30s can get away with wearing extremely flat shoes, but the rest of us cannot. For most people, a good heel height is 2.5-3cm, as it makes the foot feel supported and reduces the risk of foot strain, plantar fasciitis and other painful conditions.
This is general information about footwear and is based on what I see everyday in my clinic. There will always be those who require more specialist advice, and for this you need to see us. We are extremely knowledgeable about makes and suppliers of footwear, and can almost always point people in the right direction, even those who think there is nothing out there for them. Make an appointment and we’ll do our best to help you.