THE SIMPLE LIFE

Simple changes to your everyday routine can boost your health

This week: Buy shoes for your age WEARING the right pair of shoes could help improve your balance, but the best type for you may depend on your age.

If you’re over 65, shoes with less arch support and structure may encourage your brain to be more responsive to movement and therefore improve your balance and gait, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Scientists from Liverpool University observed 30 people with an average age of 68 when they were walking and standing, wearing normal, structured trainers, ‘minimal’ shoes (with less arch and side support) and barefoot. They found that those in the minimal shoes were most mobile, suggesting that footwear like this could help improve balance and prevent falls. Meanwhile, a 2018 study suggested that sandals were the best option for improved balance and posture for those in their 20s and 30s. Scientists from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia compared sandals with standard shoes and bare feet. They suggested that the type of shoes you wear influences balance through the pressure it puts on the foot’s main tissue, which then sends messages to the central nervous system, connected to the brain.