Treat Your Feet Right with the Right Shoes

We always take our feet for granted!

Some will agree with this statement, others will not! Those who do not – ask yourself this question: Do I treat my feet the same way I do my face? Well, there’s the answer! The right make-up is important; the eye-shadow, kohl and lipstick are always chosen with care. But we rarely ever give the same thought, the same attention and the same treatment when it comes to choosing our footwear.  

It is an accepted medical fact that right footwear can keep you healthy. This is especially true for women, as most women love to wear high heels. A high-heeled life can become a killer after a few years. Here are some problems that can be a result of high heels

• Bunions
• Corns
• Calluses
• Pain

Though the first three are not caused by high heels, they certainly can be aggravated with such footwear.

 

So how would you choose your footwear? 

 

There are different levels of support/compensation required for different people. This is because most people have misalignments with their skeletal structure. There are some whose feet flatten out under excessive weight and there are others who have high arched feet. In the former case, the movement of the joints inside the foot is called pronation, and in the latter, the joints’ position is known as supination.

People who are pronators will benefit from footwear that provides support to the inner border of the foot.

Supinators have lesser flexibility, and hence there is need to were footwear that has inner border cushioning. It needs more cushioning as there is rigidity in the joints and this type of footwear will compensate for the decreased natural shock absorption capacity of the foot.

How will you know if you are a pronator or a supinator?

 

Here is a small test. After a bath, walk a few steps with your wet, bare feet. Observe the foot pattern. Take a good look at how little or how much of your instep is seen in the footprint. You will have your answer.

Here are some tips for you to remember the next time you go shoe-shopping.

• Make sure you try on both shoes. We usually slip on one shoe and make the decision to buy the shoe. This is wrong. You must try on both shoes and walk a few steps before making the decision. What feels good on one foot may not always be comfortable on both feet. 
• Buy shoes in the afternoon. It is natural for the feet to swell a little during the day. So try on the shoes you need to buy in the afternoon. This is the time when the feet are supposed to be at their largest.
• Pay attention to the material. It is good to choose leather uppers. If you are not able to do so, choose materials that allow your feet to breathe.
• Check how the footwear mould with your feet. The shoes you choose should mould well with the shape of your feet. For e.g. If you have broad feet, try to choose shoes that are broad and rounded at the toes, rather than one that are narrow and taper at the toes. The latter will only cause more and more discomfort.
• Lastly, when you try on shoes, wiggle your toes inside the shoes to check if there is enough space to move your toes to make sure that the seams and stitches don’t rub your feet.

Remember, buying shoes at a “Sale” may help you save money, but can cost your feet dearly if you buy ill fitting shoes. Whatever you buy, it should be comfortable, fit well, and have no adverse effects on your feet.