I enlightened a patient about the ills of wearing flats; her eyes widened with doubt. Her refrain was, ” I always thought flats were good”. As I indicated to her, she and a vast portion of the population, especially pregnant women, are of this erroneous view.

The dangers of wearing high-heels is always stressed; the fact that they can affect your posture, they force your feet into awkward positions, and they’re harder to walk in. Although high-heels have been associated with high-end retail and fashion for decades, flats are becoming more and more popular in recent years. While it may seem good to move from heels to flats, there are consequences to wearing flats that can be just as detrimental to your health, as wearing heels.

Finding the Right Shoe for Your Foot Type

For most people, shoeshopping simply means going into a store to find a shoe that we like, that “fits”, and that falls within our price range. Some people view it as a chore, while others consider it a fun pastime. But for most,going shoeshopping, fashion wins out. Even though we spend huge parts of our days and our lives overall on our feet, few people will give proper thought to the long-term effects, that our shoes will have on our feet.

To understand what sort of shoes would be best for your foot type, we must first look at the different kinds of feet there are. Feet can generally be placed into one of three categories: high-arched, neutral/ normal, and flat. To determine your foot type, see a podiatrist.

Flat/ FallenArches

If your foot is flat,or has a little indent in the medial (middle) arch area, then you have flat feet. Heavier, stiffer shoes are the best choice for people with flat feet (pronation), as they help to stabilise the foot and restrict its movement.

Probably the most well-known side effect of wearing flats, fallen arches, occur when a person wears shoes with little or no arch support, for a long period of time. The problem with flat shoes, is that the majority of them will have insufficient support, and will lead to fallen arches. Fallen arches can make walking and exercising extremely painful, and stretches, medication, or even specially designed orthotic devices, may be required to undo the damage flats cause to your feet, in this area alone.

It may not sound like the most important thing in the world, but finding the right shoe for your foot type, can drastically improve your comfort levels, and reduce your risk of injury. You’re going to be surprised when buying your next pair of shoes, how purchasing to suit your arch, makes a huge difference.

High Arches

If the foot has a large gap in the medial (middle) arch area, you have a high-arched foot. People with high arches tend to stand in such a way that places most of their weight on the outside of their feet. These are typically stiffer than the other two types, and more susceptible to injury. Unfortunately, the shape of the foot also means that shock waves (e.g. from jumping), are not absorbed into the feet, but travel up through the legs. A cushioned shoe with a supportive midsole, is the best choice.

Neutral/ Normal Arches

In the normal foot type,weight is distributed quite evenly, so there are no major issues. Neutral feet are the easiest to shop for. Buy shoes that are neither too rigid, nor too soft. You want equal parts of support and comfort.

Plantar Fasciitis

It is the swelling or inflammation of the plantar fascia, the ligament that connects your heels to your toes. Plantar fasciitis is a common result of fallen arches, which makes it easier for the ligament to become irritated or torn. The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is a sharp pain in the heel, especially when getting out of bed in the morning. The pain caused by plantar fasciitis will only increase as time goes on, so it is important to address it early.

Further Complications

As mentioned above, the plantar fascia is connected to the heel. As a result, any damage that is done to it, also affects the ankle, the calf muscle, and the effects can even extend as far as the back. Unfortunately, choosing shoes that do not give us the support we need, does not only affect the feet. It leads to pain, which can lead to improper stances and walking techniques, which can in turn lead to further pain in other areas of the body.

Another consideration about flats, should be that many of them are made from very soft material, that offer very little protection. These fail to protect our feet from wet weather, falling objects, puncture wounds,or uneven ground. This not only results in sore or damaged feet, but can lead to other issues such as blisters.

Make sure that the majority of your everyday shoes offer proper protection and support. Visit your podiatrist for guidance, to start your new year right. Yes, I’ll agree our country is limited when it comes to orthopaedic footwear, but you will be guided on the best possible options.

Your feet mirror your general health . . . cherish them!