18 Feb 2016
Author/blogger Reggie Simpson

Ugg-styled boots. Ballet-type slippers. Fashion trainers. Don’t we love them? These shoes are designed to look and feel great, but next time you are on the high street, have a closer look at people walking in them. Their feet roll out or in because such footwear provides little support to the feet and ankles. This can have a knock-on effect on the rest of your body.

According to fellow Hertfordshire podiatrist Beverley Ashdown, interviewed by the Daily Mail (14 October 2014), ‘There’s been so much publicity about the damage high heels can cause to our feet, knees and backs, we forget that flat shoes — particularly ones that offer little or no support to the foot — can cause just as many serious foot and postural problems. Shoes that offer no support, such as flip-flops, ballet pumps and even Ugg-style boots, allow the feet to roll, taking the knees inward with them. This gives an awkward gait, which in turn increases the risk of knee and back pain.’

Read more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2799344/agonising-pain-broken-bones-spinal-damage-forget-killer-heels-s-flats-really-leave-feet-agony.html#ixzz3zwfyD3zc

You might also like to read this press release from the Society of Chiropody and Podiatry (SCP) on this self-same subject:

http://www.scpod.org/news/press-release-archive/the-uggly-truth/

If this information seems to mainly address a female population, check out the footwear of men. They are also fashion shoe consumers, and those same trendy trainers and pointy type shoes are also leading to issues with feet.

The ideal shoes needs stability and should be the perfect fit for the shape of your feet. Unfortunately, you may find that the shoes you have your eye on have been designed purely for fashion purposes.

For comfort and foot health, shoes should be foot-shaped and fit your feet correctly. Take off your shoe and stand next to it. Look at whether it is too short, too long, or not wide enough. Here are some further tips from the SCP in association with The Society of Shoe Fitters:

• Make sure there is ½ inch (1cm) of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe
• Check there is enough room for your toes to wiggle in the shoe
• There should be enough width in the shoe to accommodate the entire foot – there should be no pressure on the joints on the sides of your feet
• For comfort, shoes shouldn’t slip at the back. If the shoe slips when you walk, push your heel to the back of the shoe, then try altering the laces or straps to improve the fit against your foot.

You can also visit:

www.feetforlife.org

Or, pick up a brochure from Betafeet Podiatry on Footwear: a guide to choosing the best shoes for your feet .