Criminal Shoes: Our top 5 offenders
I was at The Usher Hall in Edinburgh at the weekend seeing the band, Texas, play. Sharleen Spiteri bounded on stage wearing a shiny pair of white trainers and I couldn’t help but grin at the sight. Let’s face it, she was on stage for almost 2 hours; and when she wasn’t perched on the side of it taking selfies with fans she spent the entire time on her feet. So, with my podiatrist’s hat on, it was a great choice. But it got me thinking about shoes in general.
You see, when I walk into a shoe shop I look at the styles on display and it’s like looking at a police identity parade of potential criminals! So, having watched Sharleen strut her stuff in her trainers I’ve decided to name and shame some felonious shoes.
The offending shoe: Mega high heels
Otherwise known in our industry as “shoe-icide”.
The crime: Aches, pains, and foot stress
High heels, whether they’re skyscrapers or a more reasonable couple of inches, are known to lead to blisters, swelling, bursitis, and painful Achilles tendons.
When you wear the skyscraper variety of high heels you force your foot into an unnatural position. This puts immense stress on the ball of your foot which can cause inflammation of the bones or even the nerves that surround them. Some uber-high heels have also been known to cause hairline fractures and ankle sprains. Ouch.
The answer: Take it down a notch (or a dozen)
Wearing lower heels (no higher than 1.5-2”) will ensure your foot remains in a much more natural position, therefore avoiding the problems mentioned above.
The offending shoe: Stilettos
Let’s face it, wearing any type of high heel could easily result in an ankle sprain but stilettos are worthy of a standalone mention.
The crime: Sprained ankle
Why? Those teeny, tiny, wibbly, wobbly narrow heels are going to make you roll onto the outside of your foot, stretching your ankle ligaments.
The answer: Chunky heels
A thicker heel equals more surface area and therefore a more even distribution of your weight; less chance of rolling.
The offending shoe: Ballet pumps
These shoes are notorious for their lack of arch support.
The crime: Makes that crimes, plural…
Lack of arch support in this style of shoe stops the feet from functioning properly leading to knee, hip, and also back problems. Poor arch support has also been known to lead to plantar fasciitis. And you thought you were doing well by avoiding high heels – oops!
The answer: Orthotic insoles
Widely available to buy over-the-counter in most chemist shops and they’ll undoubtedly provide extra support. However, custom-made orthotics can be prescribed by your podiatrist and will alleviate a range of foot aches and pains.
The offending shoe: Flip-flops
Exposed feet. Zero protection. Enough said.
The crime: Injuries
From simple cuts and scrapes to no arch support, wearing flip-flops will increase your risk of foot injuries.
The answer: Fit flops
Whilst they may not actually make you fitter or slimmer, the sporty sandal does have foot-health benefits! With a thicker sole and better general arch support, they’re designed better for walking than your average flip-flop.
The offending shoe: Pointy shoes
Squeezing your toes into stylish, toe-crippling shoes.
The crime: Foot and toe deformities
A bunion (fancy name Hallux Valgus) is when the big toe angles towards the second toe leading to a bony lump on the side of the foot. Whilst wearing high heels won’t cause a bunion, they do serve to make the condition worse if you have a certain foot type that is prone to it.
Crowding your tootsies into pointy shoes, particularly high-heeled ones, can also – over time – cause hammertoe; when the toe joints bend abnormally and stay like that. Not to mention the problems that arise from painful corns (little lumps of hard skin) and calluses.
The answer: Shoes with a wide toe box
They may not be the most fashionable depending on the time of year/outfit you’re wearing them with. If a wider toe box is a definite no-no, then at least look for a shoe that slopes to a point beyond the edge of your toes to avoid the overcrowding effect.
Foot pain can range from mild to severe and you may not suffer all-day-every-day. But it shouldn’t be ignored. Contact Five Little Piggies via our website or call us on 0141 613 1113 for an initial consultation and let us take care of your feet.