Your feet are your body’s very foundation, and they enable you to perform gross motor functions, such as walking, standing, jumping, running, and dancing. Your feet also bear the brunt of your body weight and the substantial shock each time they hit the ground with every step you take.
This is why at The Podiatry Group of South Texas in San Antonio, our foot doctors advise our patients to choose and use the best footwear possible. Whether you buy sandals, dress shoes, sneakers, work boots, ballet flats, and whatnot, think carefully before you purchase a pair and only go for brands that are renowned for producing high-quality products.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Footwear
Poor-quality footwear is a bad investment, as they may not able to adequately support your arches and cushion the soles of your feet and heels and instead may only increase your risk of developing foot problems.
In particular, shoes with high heels, narrow toe boxes, and flat arches—the typical high-fashion pump, for instance—cause soreness and wear and tear on the bones, ligaments, and cartilage in your feet. They even contribute to foot deformities and other problems, such as bunions, ingrown toenails, and hammertoes. Extremely high heels mimic walking tiptoed, leading to severe muscle strain, undue friction on the heels, and generalized foot pain.
How to Choose the Right Type of Footwear
The type of shoes you need hinges on their purpose (whether for work, sport, recreation, etc.), your lifestyle, or if you have any preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes or a foot deformity, such as flat arches.
Here are some general guidelines for choosing and using shoes just right for your feet, health, and lifestyle:
- Measure your feet to ensure proper fit. Foot length, width, and shape change over the years, and one foot actually may be of a different size than the other. Always comfortably accommodate the larger foot.
- Try on and walk in your shoes before purchasing them. They should feel comfortable right away. If not, select a different brand or size. Search the internet for good brands of shoes before you head out to purchase a pair.
- Make sure you have the right length (toes need plenty of room to move around) and width. Shoes that are too loose can cause gait and stability problems as you walk or run.
- Buy your shoes mid-day or evening when your feet are at their largest. Prolonged walking causes your feet and ankles to expand.
- Women should choose dressy pumps with common sense. That means no pointy toes and heels no higher than two and a half inches.
- Replace your shoes—particularly athletic footwear—when they start to feel worn.
- Get gel or foam insoles; they add a large measure of comfort to any style or brand of shoe.
High-Quality Foot Care in South Texas
At The Podiatry Group of South Texas, we have 10 fully credentialed podiatrists who are all passionate about delivering the highest quality of comprehensive care for the entire spectrum of foot and ankle conditions and injuries.
If you have a foot condition or just want to be proactive about your foot health, call us at (210) 227-8700 to schedule a consultation with one of our podiatrists. You may also fill out our appointment request form. We have 14 convenient locations in San Antonio from which to serve you.
