Saturday 10 February 2018

Length and shape of Toes

How closely have you looked at your toes?

When considering what style of footwear to choose, that shape is important.

When there are long 3rd or 4th toes, slip on footwear should be avoided.

When slip ons are worn in such a case over time hard skin and corns arise on the toes and balls of the feet eventually pain will arise followed by toe deformity such as hammer and mallet toes.

The style to go for to prevent such things developing is  footwear with an ankle fixing. Such styles keep the heel back in the heel cup so maximising the space in the forefoot.

The shape of the forefoot should also be chosen with care. Some people have a very square forefoot. If that is the case the more rounded the shape the better.

Remember  prevention is always better the cure.

Saturday 3 February 2018

High  heels

High heeled footwear is not inherently bad. Generally it is all about moderation. Regardless of what it is, anything taken or done to excess is not good for us.

For there to be an even weight distribution over the foot there has to be a heel of approximately 1/4 inch. So a high heel is anything over an inch a half

Obviously the higher the heel the more weight  goes on the front of the foot which is why the ball of the feet hurt. 

As long as all the key joints between hip and toes fall within normal limits and an individual's balance is normal then walking in 4 or 5 inch heels will be comfortable for a period of time. But it makes walking at a normal pace challenging.

Setting aside accidents and injuries, when pain arises then it is important to realise it is rarely a defect with that part of our body. It is usually the result of how we move our body as a consequence of a decision we have made with our mind. A high number of these revolve around our habits and routines.

The higher a heel goes, the more rigid the leg becomes. This having the effect of reducing shock absorption as the heel comes to ground so increasing the forces entering the body via the foot. It is important to remember every structure in our body has limits on how much load is tolerable before damage is done. Once exceeded aches and pains arise.

Some people wear high heels most of the time, often it is to give extra height and frequently it is part of what is expected as a dress standard. A high percentage of these people find that wearing lower heeled footwear is uncomfortable. This has arisen as consequence of muscles at the back of the legs not being put through the normal range of movement.

When wearing high heels causes pain in and around the heels, arches of the feet or on the balls of the feet. Again this is not usually a defect with the feet. It is all about how the joints are aligned. The later is the result of how we move. The primary issue is frequently how the upper body is controlled;especially when sitting down.

If you are suffering, vary the style,increase shock  absorption of the soles and lower the heels in the short term. Find a podiatrist that understands biomechanics and work with them to gradually bring your body back into balance. Once achieved you can wear high heels again.