IS BAREFOOT RUNNING FOR YOU?
As the shoe industry strives to find the lightest training shoe possible, some runners are choosing to forgo footwear altogether. Stuart Wroden, an associate professor at Indiana University– Purdue University Indianapolis, says running barefoot changes your gait, reducing the force of impact. However, the heel cushions and arch supports of modern shoes have actually made our feet weaker, thus increasing our risk of injury when we run without shoes. Jeffrey Cowen, a chiropodist in Toronto, isn’t a fan of barefoot running. “It only works if you have a perfect foot and leg structure,” he says. “Plus, you might step on something and injure your foot.” Although running sans shoes might be trendy, most experts say it’s best to stick with proper footwear.
(Free Press, 2012). Inflammation is the root cause of many diseases; inflammation anywhere – even in your feet – is bad for your overall health.
Wearing heels shortens the calf muscles and Achilles tendons, but doing simple stretches throughout the day can help alleviate the pain. Try stretching your calves, flexing your toes back and forth or trying to pick up a marble with your toes.
DOES THE SHOE FIT?
Life isn’t always fair. Like the miserable stepsisters learned in Cinderella, some women’s feet are just better suited for glass heels. Women with thin feet, no family history of bunions and little flexibility fare better in heels. That doesn’t mean you should shun heels if you have wide feet; just shop around a little more. Some brands are a better fit for certain foot shapes. Find one that works for you and stick with it. Shoe shapes tend to be relatively similar within particular brands.
“Invest in a few quality pairs of shoes rather than a lot of trendy ones,” says Dr. Phil Vasyli, an Australian podiatrist and founder of Orthaheel. He recommends half-inch to one-inch heels to help reduce overpronation. And make sure your toes aren’t being pinched into narrow or pointed-toe pumps. Vasyli also advises women to wear wedges instead of stilettos to provide greater stability while walking.
And quality matters when it comes to comfort. Cheaper synthetic shoe materials don’t form to feet or allow them to breathe. Even leather shoes lined with a cheap synthetic won’t be as comfortable as 100 percent leather shoes.
Although you should be brand loyal, experts recommend buying shoes in a variety of styles and heel heights. Pressure points and the angle of your feet both change drastically with the height of your heels. Varying that height will prevent any one area of your feet from having too much pressure placed on it. In general, higher heels are worse for your feet because they increase pressure placed on the balls of your feet. “With a one-inch heel, 20 percent of the pressure is on the ball of the foot,” says Dr. Jonas Eyford, a Toronto-based chiropractor. “That number can increase to 53 percent in a two-inch heel and 76 percent in a three-inch one.” Once you get over three inches, things get much worse, so try to avoid super high heels unless it’s a special evening (one that doesn’t include all-night dancing).
To increase the comfort of your favourite pumps, order custom orthotics made especially for heels. Slim-fit technology orthotics can fit into even strappy stilettos.
SECURE FOOTING
Finding the perfect summer footwear is all about that balance between breathability, comfort, support and, of course, style. Ideally, sandals should offer heel support, straps over the toes and arches that form to your feet. “If there’s a little cup in heel, the shoe will be so much more comfortable,” says Vasyli. You also want shoes with soles that have complete contact with the bottoms of your feet. When trying on shoes, turn your feet sideways in front of the mirror so you can see your arches. Wedges are great because they ensure that your weight is evenly distributed over the bottoms of your feet, and these shoes tend to have a greater curvature under the arches. A lot of people worry about the safety of loose-fitting Crocs (especially for kids), but they’re actually quite good shoes. They offer some heel support and curvature on the bottom. However, like adults, kids should steer clear of flip-flops.
SIDESTEP SMELLY FEET
For some people, sweaty feet are more than just a mild annoyance. If you feel like you can’t wear certain shoes, or you are afraid to go barefoot because of excess sweat, you likely have hyperhidrosis, or overactive sweat glands. There are over-thecounter liquid antiperspirants that can be applied at night to help reduce sweat, but most people need something a little stronger. The solution may be Botox. Twice-yearly Botox injections to the feet block the signal that causes sweating. Other than minor pain during injection and some bruising, there are no side-effects to this treatment. “Most people who have hyperhidrosis in their feet also have it in their hands,” says Dr. Nowell Solish, a cosmetic dermatologist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto. “We usually try Botox in the hands first, as it sometimes will also positively affect the feet.”