Does the Shoe Fit?

Have you ever experienced sore and painful feet with even back ache after wearing shoes which didn’t fit properly?

Can wearing the wrong shoes be hazardous to your health?

Were the shoes too narrow at the front, too small, too big, too high, too hard or just too uncomfortable for whatever reason?

At the end of a work day or social function do you get home and have to soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salts and massage them with creams and lotion to relieve the tenderness and discomfort? Tell me about it!!

As women, we love nice looking, trendy shoes. We adore shoes and would rather wear one for fashion rather than for comfort. But, is that a healthy choice for your feet and vertebrae?

Many health problems are borne out of improper shoes and can have lasting ill effects on a woman’s health.

High heel shoes for example affect the proper alignment of the spinal vertebrae and can contribute to back pains. Wearing them occasionally is one thing but, some women wear them daily and for long periods. The normal “S”-curve shape of the back acts as a shock absorber. Wearing high heel shoes causes lumbar spine flattening and a posterior displacement of the head and thoracic spine. Wearing of high heels forces you to lean forward and the body’s response is to decrease the forward curve of your lower back to help keep you in line. This poor alignment results in muscle overuse and back pain. The hamstring muscle attach to the pelvis can cause a tilting of the pelvis causing further lower back pain as well as other structural problems. Stretching exercises before and after wearing heels is helpful but, avoid wearing for long periods.

Bunions or hallux valgus is often described as a bump on the side of the big toe. The visible bump is actually changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. The big toe leans toward the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead. This throws the bones out of alignment—producing the bunion’s bump. Wearing narrow front shoes that crowd the toes can contribute to bunions, and makes the deformity progressively worse. Thus causing pain or soreness, inflammation and redness, a burning sensation and possible numbness. Flexion exercises of the great toe forward and backwards can assist with icing, using pads inside your shoes for comfort and wearing proper fitting shoes.

Corns and calluses are thick, hardened layers of skin that develop when your skin tries to protect itself against friction and pressure. Corns can be quite painful whereas calluses are painless. Corns and calluses can be unsightly. If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet, you’re at greater risk of complications from corns and calluses. Seek your doctor’s advice on proper care for corns and calluses if you have such a condition. Avoiding friction and wearing proper fitting shoes are essential in avoiding this problem.

These are just a few of the problems which can be experienced from improper foot wear. Buying the right shoes is an investment in foot health.

But how do you find ones that fit properly and provide adequate support?

1. Wait until the afternoon to shop for shoes — your feet naturally expand with use during the day and may swell in hot weather.
2. Wear the same type of socks that you intend to wear with the shoes.
3. Have the salesperson measure both of your feet — and get measured every time you buy new shoes. If one foot is larger or wider than the other, buy a size that fits the larger foot.
4. Stand in the shoes. Make sure you have at least a quarter- to a half-inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
5. Walk around in the shoes to determine how they feel. Is there enough room at the balls of the feet? Do the heels fit snugly, or do they pinch or slip off? Don’t rationalize that the shoes just need to be “broken in” or that they’ll stretch with time. Find shoes that fit from the start.
6. Trust your own comfort level rather than a shoe’s size or description. Sizes vary from one manufacturer to another. And no matter how comfortable an advertisement claims those shoes are, you’re the real judge.
7. Feel the inside of the shoes to see if they have any tags, seams, or other material that might irritate your feet or cause blisters.
8. Turn the shoes over and examine the soles. Are they sturdy enough to provide protection from sharp objects? Do they provide any cushioning? Also, take the sole test as you walk around the shoe store: do the soles cushion against impact? Try to walk on hard surfaces as well as carpet to see how the shoes feel.
9. It’s also important to understand that the slope of the shoe is more important than heel height when it comes to comfort, Look for a platform sole to decrease the angle between the heel and the ball of the foot, so your weight can be more distributed across the entire foot. A thicker heel also spreads your weight more evenly and decreases the risk of spraining your ankle.
10. Also, avoid narrow toe boxes that squeeze toes, as narrow, pointy high heels are the perfect storm for foot pain.
11. Wedge heels are more supportive for the arch of your feet and can carry your body weight more evenly than high heels.
12. Try and set your heel height to two (2) inches for comfort and spinal support.
13. Buy a variety of shoes and vary your foot wear day by day.

Don’t allow style and fashion to detract from your comfort and the health of your feet. If you don’t care for them now, you may not have a leg to stand on later on in life.

 

 

Disclaimer: All material on this website is provided for your information only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.

Author: Charlene Chablal-de Gourville

BSc, AS, Dip Holistic Nutrition, RN