It is common for a patient to bring in a bag of shoes to their podiatry appointment and be looking for answers as to why they have foot pain. In some cases, the wrong footwear can be the culprit to a range of problems within the feet! With the abundance of footwear brands and styles available on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to pick a shoe that is going to offer you both comfort and style. Often, we compromise on comfort in order to have the most stylish shoe available, however this can sometimes lead to various issues in the feet.
So, what sort of problems can the wrong footwear lead to?
- Corns, calluses, blisters and bruises
- Ingrown toenails
- Thickened or damaged toenails
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Forefoot pain such as Morton’s neuroma, curled toes or bunions
Luckily, you can avoid these problems by wearing the right shoes! We have come up with a list of questions to ask yourself when looking for a pair of shoes.
Are these shoes the right size?
This seems pretty straightforward, however it is very common for patients to present to podiatry clinics or even to footwear stores wearing the wrong size shoes. This is particularly common in children who are wearing hand-me-down shoes.
Each shoe brand is different, therefore it is important to remember that just because you are a size 8 in your runners, you may not be that size in other shoes. It is also important to note that our feet do in fact change size, even after we have reached full physical maturity! As we age, the soft tissue structures within our feet do tend to weaken and become less taut, as is normal in many other parts of the body.
As a result, our feet can actually lengthen due to the laxity of these structures, thus requiring a larger shoe size. Feet can also increase in size during pregnancy. In closed toed shoes, it is important to have at least 1-1.5cm of room in your shoe. You also need to ensure that your shoes are wide enough for your feet. Shoes that are too narrow or have a pointed toe box cause significant pressure on the forefoot in particular and place your feet in an unnatural position.
Do they have adequate fixation?
Making sure that the shoes you are wearing are secure on your feet is vital to your foot health. A question that we often ask our patients in the warmer months when they present with foot pain is ‘What shoes have you been wearing lately?’.
The most common answer? Thongs or slip on sandals. In the summer months, we all love the convenience of either thongs or sandals to allow our feet to breathe. Whilst we may get a feeling of relief from the heat, thongs in particular do not support our feet well at all.
When we wear shoes without adequate fixation such as laces or velcro/buckle straps, we place an increased demand on our feet by simply walking in these shoes. Slip on thongs and sandals require our toes to claw in order to avoid losing our shoes, which then puts increased stress on many other structures in the feet.
In winter, most people opt for slippers of some kind, which while they feel are easier to slip on and off, can also cause stress through the feet. If you are looking at wearing shoes that do not have fixation, ensure that you don’t spend a long period of time in them and that the shoes that you wear the most are appropriate.
Are these shoes stable?
The heel counter is at the back of the shoe that helps to keep our feet properly placed in the shoe. This should be relatively firm and not compress much in order to keep your calcaneus (heel bone) in place in order to help keep the foot in good alignment and avoid sliding forward.
People sometimes complain that a tough heel counter can result in dreaded blisters, however there are some quick fixes for that! Try applying sports tape to your feet on areas where you feel pressure, or alternatively head to a chemist to purchase some moleskin/fleecy web or pressure point adhesive foam. These can be applied to the inside heel section of the shoe to prevent rubbing, whilst also maintaining that supportive heel counter.
Whilst not all shoes can have a stable heel counter, it is important that they at least have a stable base. Shoes that have a stiletto are not particularly stable, meaning that your feet may be subject to injuries such as ankle sprains. If you try on a pair of shoes and you feel at all unsteady on your feet, then they are not the shoe for you, no matter how trendy they may be!
Do they have a proper sole and tread?
Slipping and tripping isn’t fun, unless you’re watching funny videos on youtube of other people falling over! To avoid this being you, ensure that you check the tread on the sole of your shoes to make sure that you are provided with enough traction to remain firmly on your feet.
This is often overlooked, particularly when purchasing that dream pair of high heels, however it is a integral part of a good shoe. This is especially important in those who are already unsteady on their feet due to various health conditions or work on potentially slippery surfaces such as chefs, waiters/waitresses and nurses.
If you are experiencing discomfort or foot pain, the team at Watsonia Podiatry can assess and advise of any treatments that may help you overcome this. You can book an appointment with one of our qualified podiatrists by booking online or calling us on 03 9111 7047.
