Shoes come in all different shapes and sizes, but some are better for your feet than others. You don’t want to be subjecting your feet to uncomfortable and unsupportive shoes for an hours on end, so what shoes could be doing the most damage to your feet? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the worst shoes for your feet.
Shoes That Are Bad For Your Feet
We’re not saying that you should never wear any of the following shoes, but the fact of the matter is they can put your feet at risk of injury. If you’re going to wear the following shoes, just make sure that you wear them in moderation and switch to a more supportive pair if you begin to develop uncomfortable symptoms. With that in mind, here are some of the shoes that can be particularly hard on your feet:
High Heels – We’ve talked about some of the dangers of high heels on the blog in the past. The higher the heel, the greater the amount of stress that is put on your forefoot. This increased stress on the bones and soft tissues can lead to the eventual formation of conditions like bunions, hammertoes or neuromas. If you are going to wear high heels, opt for a lower heel, and bring an extra pair of shoes along to switch into if your feet start to tire.
Narrow Toed Shoes – Another type of shoe that can be hard on your feet are narrow toed options. These shoes put extra pressure on your toe box, and over time this can lead to shifting toe joints. Oftentimes this affects your big toe joint, which can become misaligned and lead to the formation of a painful bunion. These shoes may look fashionable or cute for wedding pictures, but don’t make a habit of wearing them repeatedly for hours on end.
Shoes That Don’t Fit – This may sound obvious, but your feet can be at risk of injury if you’re not wearing a shoe that properly fits your foot. If your shoes are too tight, pressure on the toe box can lead to bunions and hammertoes, and if your shoes are too loose, you may be at risk for acute injuries like ankle sprains. If your shoes have gotten too tight, or your feet aren’t quite big enough for the hand-me-downs, make sure you switch the shoes out for a better fitting pair.
Shoes That Don’t Match The Activity – It’s imperative that you wear the right shoes for the activities you’ll be doing. If you’ll be walking on uneven terrain or going for a walk through the woods, sandals probably aren’t the right shoe for you on that day. Similarly, shoes with a high arch won’t be ideal if you’ll be on your feet all day. Think ahead to the activities you’ll be performing that day and make sure you choose a shoe that can protect and support your feet and ankles during this activity.
Be mindful of your shoe choice, and make sure that you reach out to a foot and ankle specialist if you believe that your shoes are contributing to your discomfort. For more information, or for help with a different foot issue, reach out to Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (952) 224-8500.
