A Podiatrist Explains How To Keep Your Feet Happy And Stylish.
There’s a saying that you have to suffer for fashion, and it seems to be most relevant when it comes to footwear. The best-looking, most on-trend shoe styles are often the least comfortable and the worst for foot health.
But Sarah Haller, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Rahway, says you can avoid problems and still look good by adjusting shoe styles to accommodate changes that come with age.
“Everyone’s feet change as they get older,” says Dr. Haller. “Arches collapse, tendons get weaker, bones get softer, feet swell and many people develop arthritis. That sounds bad, but it’s normal. It happens in different degrees and different forms depending on how you take care of your feet including the kind of shoes you wear.”
One of the most important rules is to wear shoes that fit well, not shoes you choose just because they are attractive
or low-priced. Here’s what to look for in different parts of the shoe:
The Heel
“High heels are beautiful,” admits Dr. Haller, “but they’re terrible for your feet.” She explains that, over time,
wearing heels can shorten the Achilles tendon on the back of the ankle and lead to plantar fasciitis an inflammation of the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, from the toes to the heel, and is continuous with the Achilles tendon.
“Not only that,” she adds, “but over time you lose fat from the ball of your foot, which causes increased pressure on the bones in the front of the foot when you’re wearing heels. This causes pain and can potentially lead to neuromas benign but painful nerve tumors and stress fractures in the metatarsals, the bones of the mid- foot, which take all the pressure.”
Wearing flat shoes isn’t the solution, says Dr. Haller, since very flat shoes don’t support the arch and don’t provide much cushioning between the foot and the ground. If you want to wear a flat, choose one with some support, such as a Mary Jane style or sandal with a strap on the foot as well as a thick sole.
“The optimal heel height is less than an inch,” says Dr. Haller. If you do choose to wear higher heels, even just for special occasions, pass up the stilettos and “choose stacked or chunky heels, which are more supportive and distribute pressure better,” she advises.
The Insole
When possible, Dr. Haller advises, choose shoes that have removable insoles, so an orthotic device can be customized to replace the footbed with one that’s more cushioned or provides more arch support. Extra insole padding, in fact, is good to add to almost any kind of shoe, from heels to flats.
The Toe
Round is better than pointy. “Pointy shoes can lead to corns hard patches of skin that occur at pressure points and calluses, the thickening of the outermost layers of skin, or even crossover toe deformity, in which the second toe overlaps the big toe,” says Dr. Haller. “Shoes with plenty of space for toes can prevent these issues from developing.”
Men can also suffer from a bunion, a bony bump that forms on the joint where the big toe meets the foot, and hammertoes, in which tendons that are too tight pull and curve the toe under the foot, especially if they wear tight-fitting loafers with pointy toes.
The Material
Leather shoes are good because the material is flexible. “You can take them to a shoe repair shop to change the shape of the upper to offset hammertoes or bunions,” says Dr. Haller.
For tennis or running shoes, Dr. Haller says that a breathable nylon mesh is best, with a solid heel counter an insert that reinforces the heel cup to help with support.
Whatever your shoes are made of, change footwear every day. “It allows your shoes to air out so they don’t stay sweaty or get moldy, and that’s good for your feet,” she says.
The Bottom Line
So what’s the ideal shoe for happy feet? “Good, supportive running shoes are the best thing you can wear,” says Dr. Haller. “They cushion the ball of the foot and the heel, providing shock absorption as you walk. In addition, they’re generally roomier in front, allowing toes to spread out.”
But Dr. Haller, who often appears on the TLC show “My Feet Are Killing Me,” understands that no one can wear running shoes all the time. Choose footwear that has as many elements of comfort as possible, she advises. “If you want a pointy toe, try to choose a shoe that has a lower heel. That way you don’t have gravity pushing your foot forward into a smaller space,” she says. “I personally love a very fashionable loafer that has a pointier toe but a low heel.” Conversely, if you opt for a shoe with a taller heel, look for one with a more rounded toe. Careful shoppers, she says, can find shoes that look as good as they feel, and keep the wearer walking and dancing for years to come.
To find a podiatrist at RWJUH Rahway, call 888.724.7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/rahway.