Happy Feet: Foot Health is a Shoe-In

Article by healthybalance.com staff
Posted on January 16, 2007

When you shop for shoes, are you looking for fashion, color or happy feet? Consider how much your feet do for you every day. It makes sense to treat them well—and that means wearing sensible shoes.

Women have an especially hard time finding comfortable shoes that don’t make them feel like Sister Boring, Patron Saint of Geeks. Then there are those sexy movie stars like J Lo and Pamela Anderson with their own shoe lines—a quick glance reveals nothing but narrow toes and high heels—some of J Lo’s heels tower five inches high. If you must follow in the footsteps of the stars, check out Gwen Stefani’s new sneaker line. You go, Gwen!

So, what’s so bad about heels? According to the Mayo Clinic, the short list includes:

• Corns and calluses.
• Toenail fungus and ingrown toenails.
• Hammertoe, a painful deformity.
• Bunions, bony bumps on your big toe.
• Tight heel cords (Achilles tendon).
• Pump bump, a painful, bony heel enlargement.
• Neuromas, painful tissue growth between toes.
• Joint pain in the ball of the foot
• Stress fractures.

High heels can also injure leg muscles, inflame arthritis of the knee and cause lower back pain.
“You can still wear high heels, but save them for special occasions,” says Dr. Martin Ellman, DPM, specialist in podiatry at Mayo Clinic. “For instance, church on Sunday or an evening out. Avoid wearing high heels every day to minimize your risk of developing foot problems.” If you must wear heels at work or for a social event, wear comfortable shoes for the commute and slip back into them when activities unwind.

If the shoe fits, wear it
When shopping for happy feet, look for breathable uppers (leather or mesh), flexible soles, plenty of toe room (width as well as length) and a good fit. Place the shoe next to your foot and compare the width. As you age, your feet get longer and wider so measure your shoe-size at least once a year. Make sure shoes are comfortable when you try them on—don’t assume you can “break them in.” Shop for your shoes in the late afternoon or evening, as your feet swell during the day. And, always try on both shoes.
“People need to be consumers of shoes, meaning they need to try many types and brands on, and walk around the shoe store. If the shoe doesn’t feel good in the store, it won’t feel good at home,” advises Alan K. Mauser, DPM, a contributor to WebMD.com. “In terms of the specific attributes of the shoe, they should have a good sturdy sole, wide base, the toe box should be deep enough to accommodate any deformities, the heel center should be fairly stiff, lace up or slip-ons are your preference.”

Other treats for happy feet!

• Wash them daily, even between the toes.
• Exercise to maintain healthy circulation in the feet.
• Wear socks that wick moisture away (caution: thick socks allow too much movement and cause blisters.)
• Treat them to a pedicure that includes a soak and massage.

Sources:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/foot-problems/WO00114
www.nwfootankle.com
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003108.htm
National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health