Putting Your Best "Shoe" Forward: 3 Recommendations From Podiatrists When Choosing Shoes
Did you know that more than 70% of all people will experience foot pain at some point in their life even though foot pain is not normal? With all of the walking that most people do on a daily basis, wearing properly fitted and protective shoes will have a strong influence on overall podiatric health. Not everyone knows what features that they should keep an eye out for. Here are three common recommendations made by podiatrists that you may want to consider when shopping for your next pair of shoes.
Don't Get Sucked In By Fashion Trends
Not all shoes are designed to properly fit the arches of your feet and provide the support that is needed. Look for shoes that offer proper toe flexibility, a rigid middle that will provide adequate support to your arches and a stiff heel instead of going by what's considered to be most fashionable at the time. The rigid middle for arch support is vital but is often overlooked. Think about it. With every step, each foot is responsible for handling the body's entire load. The arch of the foot is responsible for absorbing shock and balancing. Arches that do not have proper support will be more susceptible to foot problems.
Never Hand Down Footwear
Although you can hand down other types of clothing, never hand down footwear. A pair of shoes can easily fit one person but be uncomfortable and unsuitable for another person. In addition, daily wear of the shoes can wear down their support structures. Last but not least, sharing shoes can actually promote the spread of persistent fungi like Athlete's foot.
Wear The Proper Size
Make sure that you get professionally fitted for shoes and that you are wearing the right size. This is particularly important for children who are still developing and growing. Wearing shoes that are too small can cause long-term damage, such as arthritis, stress fractures and trapped nerves. At times, the damage can become so severe that surgery may be the only solution.
Comfort Should Triumph
When purchasing shoes, it is important to always try them on at the store in order to determine whether they are comfortable or not. Don't buy shoes that need to be broken into. Comfort should always trump other factors, such as design. By investing in a high quality pair of shoes, you are essentially investing in the health of your feet, which can affect the condition of your spines, nerves and more. In short, it's worth it to spend time familiarizing with the features that you should look for in shoes. For more information, contact a business such as Galleria Podiatry.