Proper
footwear can
reduce foot
problems
From
ancient
Egyptian
times
down
through
the
centuries,
footwear
has been
designed
to meet
mankind’s
real and
perceived
needs—protection,
support,
comfort,
sturdiness,
and
stylishness.
Feet
endure
tremendous
pressures
of daily
living.
An
average
day of
walking
brings a
force
equal to
several
hundred
tons on
them.
They are
subject
to more
injury
than any
other
part of
the
body,
underscoring
the need
to
protect
them
with
proper
footwear.
Doctors
of
podiatric
medicine
are
health
care
professionals
trained
for both
palliative
and
surgical
care of
the foot
and
ankle.
They
also are
fully
qualified
to
recommend
selection
of the
right
pair of
shoes,
or
address
other
aspects
of foot
health,
for all
members
of the
family.
Children’s
Shoes
When a child
begins to
walk, shoes
generally
are not
necessary.
Allowing an
infant to go
barefooted
indoors, or
to wear only
a pair of
socks, helps
the foot
grow
normally and
develop its
muscles and
strength, as
well as the
grasping
ability of
toes.
As children
grow more
active, and
their feet
develop, the
need for
shoes
becomes
apparent. It
becomes
necessary to
change shoe
sizes at a
pace that
frequently
surprises
and even
dismays
parents, to
allow room
for growth.
When
purchasing
shoes for
children,
remember
these tips:
-
Examine the shoe itself. It should have a firm heel counter (stiff material on either side of the heel), adequate cushioning of the insole, and a built-in arch. It should be flexible enough to bend where the foot bends—at the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the shoe.
-
The child’s foot should be sized while he or she is standing up and fully weight-bearing.
-
There should be about one-half inch of space (or a thumb’s width) between the tip of the toes and the end of the shoe. The child should be able to comfortably wiggle his or her toes in the shoe.
-
Have the child walk around the store for more than just a few minutes wearing the shoe with a normal sock. Ask the child if he or she feels any pressure spots in the shoe. Feel the inside of the shoe for any staples or irregularities in the glue that could cause irritation. Examine where the inside stitching hits the foot. Look for signs of irritation on the foot after the shoe is worn.
-
Shoes should not slip off at the heels. Children who tend to sprain their ankles will do better with high-top shoes or boots.
-
Both feet should be measured, and if they are two different sizes, shoes should be chosen that fit the larger foot best.
Women’s
Shoes
Women
inflict more
punishment
on their
feet in part
from
improper
footwear
that can
bring about
unnecessary
foot
problems.
Some of the
problems
result from
high-heeled
shoes
(generally
defined as
pumps with
heels of
more than
two inches).
Doctors of
podiatric
medicine
believe such
heels are
medically
unsound and
attribute
postural and
even safety
problems to
their use.
To relieve
the abusive
effects of
high heels,
women can
limit the
time they
wear them,
alternating
with good
quality
sneakers or
flats for
part of the
day.
They can
also vary
heel height.
There are
comfortable
and
attractive
“walking”
pumps (also
called
“comfort” or
“performance”
pumps) for
work and
social
activities,
that blend
fashion
considerations
and
comfort.
These pumps
offer
athletic
shoe-derived
construction,
reinforced
heels, and
wider toe
room.
Activity has
a bearing on
the
considerations;
wearing the
right shoe
for a
particular
activity is
probably as
important a
factor in
the choice
of shoes as
any.
Perhaps the
best shoe
for women is
a walking
shoe with
laces (not a
slip-on), a
polymerized
composition
sole, and a
relatively
wider heel
with a rigid
and padded
heel
counter, no
more than
three-quarters
of an inch
in height.
Men’s Shoes
The best
shoes for
men are good
quality
oxford
styles,
shoes
ordinarily
associated
with
wing-tip or
cap toe
designs.
Also
suitable are
slip-ons,
dressy
loafers, and
low dress
boots.
Men as well
as women
should buy
shoes for
work,
leisure, and
special
activities,
matching the
shoe to the
activity.
Male (and
female)
office
workers
should
earmark
three to
five pairs
of shoes for
business
hours—general
oxfords and
loafers for
men; pumps
and oxfords
for women.
Cushioned-sole
shoes that
give good
support are
essential
for those
who spend
most of
their
working days
on their
feet.
There is no
question
about the
need for
foot
protection
for those
who work in
heavy
industry.
Safety shoes
and
boots—those
that are
waterproof
or
water-resistant,
with
insulated
steel toe
caps and
soles of
non-conducting
materials—help
prevent
injuries to
the feet and
reduce the
severity of
injuries
that do
occur.
Shoes for
Athletics
Different
sports
activities
call for
specific
footwear to
protect feet
and ankles.
Sports-specific
athletic
shoes are a
wise
investment
for serious
athletes,
though
perhaps a
less
critical
consideration
for the
weekend or
occasional
athlete;
nevertheless,
it’s a good
idea to use
the correct
shoe for
each sport.
Probably a
more
important
consideration
is the
condition of
the
shoe—don’t
wear any
sport or
other shoes
beyond their
useful life.
Athletic
footwear
should be
fitted to
hold the
foot in the
position
that’s most
natural to
the movement
involved.
For example,
a running
shoe is
built to
accommodate
impact,
while a
tennis shoe
is made to
give
relatively
more support
and permit
sudden stops
and turns.
For sports,
“cross
trainers”
are fine for
a general
athletic
shoe, such
as for
physical
education
classes. But
if a child
is involved
more heavily
in any
single
sport, he or
she should
have a shoe
specifically
designed for
that sport.
Shoe Care
For longer
service,
keep shoes
clean and in
good repair.
Avoid
excessive
wear on
heels and
soles. Give
your shoes a
chance to
breathe—don’t
wear the
same pair
two days in
a row (you
prolong the
life of
shoes by
rotating
their use).
Never wear
hand-me-down
shoes (this
is
especially
important
for
children).
Seal of
Acceptance
The American
Podiatric
Medical
Association
awards its
Seal of
Acceptance
to a wide
variety of
shoes (and
shoe-related
products),
which have
been deemed
to enhance a
consistently
applied
program of
daily foot
care and
regular
professional
treatment.
The intent
of such
endorsements
is to make a
significant
contribution
to the foot
health and
foot health
education of
the public.
For a list
of shoe
companies
holding the
APMA Seal of
Acceptance,
visit the
APMA's
online seal
information.
Buying Tips
-
Have your feet measured while you’re standing.
-
Always try on both shoes, and walk around the store.
-
Always buy for the larger foot; feet are seldom precisely the same size.
-
Don’t buy shoes that need a “break-in” period; shoes should be comfortable immediately.
-
Don’t rely on the size of your last pair of shoes. Your feet do get larger, and lasts (shoemakers’ sizing molds) also vary.
-
Shop for shoes later in the day; feet tend to swell during the day, and it’s best to be fitted while they are in that state.
-
Be sure that shoes fit well—front, back, and sides—to distribute weight. It sounds elementary, but be sure the widest part of your foot corresponds to the widest part of the shoe.
-
Select a shoe with a leather upper, stiff heel counter, appropriate cushioning, and flexibility at the ball of the foot.
-
Buy shoes that don’t pinch your toes, either at the tips, or across the toe box.
-
Try on shoes while you’re wearing the same type of socks or stockings you expect to wear with the shoes.
-
If you wear prescription orthotics—biomechanical inserts prescribed by a podiatric physician—you should take them along to shoe fittings.
Dr.
Robinson
has
been
trained
specifically
and
extensively
in
the
diagnosis
and
treatment
of
all
manner
of
foot
conditions.
This
training
encompasses
all
of
the
intricately
related
systems
and
structures
of
the
foot
and
lower
leg
including
neurological,
circulatory,
skin,
and
the
musculoskeletal
system,
which
includes
bones,
joints,
ligaments,
tendons,
muscles,
and
nerves.
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