SHARES
The pair feet is easy to neglect — but it is essential to take care of them. For a start, wear the right shoes to keep healthy feet.
Do you know, the human foot is so miraculously designed, with one-fourth of all the bones in your body. It consists of 3 arches, 20 muscles, 24 ligaments, 26 bones, 33 joints and 7,800 nerves in each foot.
Shoes that don’t fit cause foot problems. First it is important to understand what type of foot you have.
Types of foot:
There are 3 main types of foot.
(a) Low arch/ Flat feet
-Very flexible foot with arch that sits low to the ground.
-Flat food can lead to what known as ‘over pronation’.
-When your foot hits the ground, it leads to excessive foot movement which increases the chance of injury.
-20% population have low arch or flat feet.
(b) Medium arch (Normal)
-Defined arch with moderately flexible foot.
-It is the most common and efficient foot type.
-60% of the population have medium arches.
(c) High arch
-Rigid foot with an arch that sits higher from the ground.
-Excessive pressure to the rearfoot and forefoot.
-20% of population have high arches.
8 Tips on how to choose the perfect shoes:
- Shop when it’s the end of the day. After a day full of walking, your feet tend to swell a bit. To be certain that shoes won’t be too tight.
- Make sure when you buy shoes, you are still able to wiggle your toes.
- Make sure the shoes have enough width to accommodate your whole foot.
- Measure both feet. For some, one is usually larger than the other one.
- Try shoes with socks on.
- Check your feet daily for any signs of irritation, blisters, corns or callus. These indicate poor fitting of shoes.
- Walk around the store with the shoes on, you should feel comfortable immediately.
- Make sure the sole is sturdy enough to provide protection from sharp objects and cushioning for the feet.
Complications of ill-fitting shoes:
- Foot lesions such as corns and calluses result from the pressure and rubbing against the shoes.
- Foot constrictions within shoes can create temporary numbness.
- Shoes with higher heels and poor grip can cause impaired walking, balance and falls.
- Tight footwear can cause fungal toenail infections.
- Constant abnormal pressure on the nail can cause inflammation and nail pain.
- Crossover toes tend to form when the toe box is too small.
- Long term wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause hammer toe where your toe bend or curl downwards instead of pointing forwards.
Wearing comfortable supportive shoes with the right fit is one of the best preventive measures to ensure healthy feet and mobility. Invest in well-fitting athletic shoes for running, and aerobic sport activities. A lifetime of wearing the right fitting comfortable shoes pays dividends to ensure feet are healthy and pain free.
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References
- Tight shoes and foot problems. [Internet][cited 2019 Jan 7] Available from:
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/tight-shoes-and-foot-problems/
- Tips for buying shoes. [Internet][cited 2019 Jan 7] Available from:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/8-tips-for-buying-shoes-that-are-good-to-your-feet
- How shoes affect your health. [Internet][cited 2019 Jan 7] Available from:
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/wellbeing/a26805/shoes-affect-you-health/
- Finding the right shoe. [Internet][cited 2019 Jan 7] Available from:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/10-tips-for-finding-the-right-shoes
by Leelah
'' The first step towards a change is awareness !'' The saying which inspired the medical graduate to reach the public through GetDoc. View all articles by Leelah.
