Beyond whether your footwear matches the outfit you're wearing, you might not put too much thought into what you put on your feet every day. But that can be a big mistake.
Wearing the wrong kind of shoes can result in painful conditions and permanent damage. Not all shoes are created equal, and there are certain types that are particularly unhelpful to your foot health.
If you've been experiencing foot pain recently, you might be a good candidate for custom orthotics in Calgary. But first, make sure you're not simply causing your feet unnecessary discomfort through overuse of one of the below types of footwear.
Shoes That Are the Wrong Size
Wearing shoes that are either too big or too small can result in corns, calluses, peripheral neuropathy and foot deformity, yet one study found that around 70% of people were doing just that.
If you've never been to a proper fitting as an adult, it may be time to double-check if you truly know your size. Failing to do so can result in long-term health issues.
Flip-Flops
As handy as they are to throw on in the summer months, flip-flops are a shoe type that makes most podiatrists wary. This is in large part due to the lack of support they offer as footwear.
The lack of arch support can lead to symptoms such as foot pain and, even in severe cases, tendinitis. If you do want to wear flip-flops, choose kinds with more cushioning and better support.
Pointed Toe Shoes
Popular among both men and women for more formal occasions, the pointed toe shoe (or winklepicker) is a style that came into fashion in the 1950s and continues to be popular today.
But wearing this type of shoe too often could be bad news for feet and toes. The shape of this shoe is not accommodating to the natural shape of our feet. When the toes are cramped together at the pointed tip, bunions, hammertoe, and neuroma can occur.
Barefoot Shoes
Minimalist shoes designed to mimic the feeling of being barefoot are popular with runners as well as many other groups. But despite their popularity, there is an ongoing debate surrounding whether this type of footwear could be hurting more than it helps.
Detractors say these shoes don't provide enough support to be safe. As a general rule of thumb, if you can fold a shoe in half, it likely doesn't offer enough support. Wearing such shoes can result in injury and painful foot conditions.
How Custom Orthotics Can Help
If certain types of shoes don’t offer enough support or are causing you conditions like bunions, custom orthotics can be a great way to alleviate the initial problem.
Whether you are already experiencing long-term foot issues or want to be proactive and make your current shoes more supportive, visit our foot doctor in Calgary.
Specializing in ingrown nails, wart removal, and our custom orthotics in Calgary clinic has the expertise and experience to assist you with any issues you may be experiencing. Get in touch today to see how we can help.