If the Shoe Fits, Wear it!

Ah, fashion, the thing that causes irrational spending and discomfort. As the saying goes, if you want to be beautiful, you must suffer for it. This may be going to far, however, as more and more women are having moderate to serious foot and ankle problems due to wearing “stylish” footwear everywhere, from the office to a night on the town. Women are nine times more likely that men to have foot problems related to improper fitting shoes. According to obgynspecialistspc.com, foot problems are the most common health problems in the world. Ill-fitting shoes are also bad for ankles, knees, calves, and backs. No wonder, when you consider the average person walks over 115,000 miles in their lifetime. Three-quarters of the American population will experience some sort of foot problem in their lifetime. Walk through any shoe store, and you will notice that when a shoe is in style, there is no other choice. Want a flat shoe? Too bad, chunky is in. Want a comfortable shoe? Too bad, because style over comfort is almost always in. This fall, pointed toe shoes are back, a trend that has come and gone since shoes were invented. The Plymouth State University campus is not set up for high heeled shoes. It is easy to twist an ankle between the uneven bricks that line the majority of campus. Walking up and down hill in heels is also dangerous, putting unnecessary pressure on ankles and knees. Heels at the office is one thing, where most people remain in the same area all day, but in one given day, a student can walk from their apartment, to campus, the bank, and then to at least one other class. Are you worried that you may be a victim of shoe fashion slavery? Not all foot problems may be serious right away, but could become a bigger problem later on. The foot care section of the Obgynspecialist web-site lists some of the more common foot problems. Calluses are caused by tight, . The best way to prevent this is to alternate the shoes you wear. “Pump bump” (a bump on the back of the heel) is caused by wearing tight and rubbing low backed shoes. Blisters can occur anywhere on the foot when a shoe is ill-fitting. These, too, can be prevented by alternating the shoes you wear. Bunions are caused by narrow shoes with pointed toes and high heels. Achilles tendonitis is painful inflammation of the ankles that occurs when a long term high heel wearer suddenly switches to flat shoes. For college students, this is an unlikely occurrence, but if you are the type that wears high heels every day to class, you may be at risk in the future. A study conducted by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society found that nine out of ten women wear shoes that are too small, and eight out of ten of those women complain of foot pain. Seven out of ten women will develop a bunion or callus due to an ill-fitting shoe. There are things you can do now to preserve your precious feet. Wash your feet daily, and dry them well. If your feet sweat, try a sneaker that allows for breathing. Most good brands of exercise shoes have built in air holes. Wear sweat absorbent socks. If sweating is still a problem, use a light dusting power. Wear sneakers when it rains, and change socks when they get wet. Wet feet increase your probability of catching the common cold or flu as well. Avoid wearing the same shoes all the time, and give them time to air out. Exercise. Walking is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body, and it is less harmful to your ankles than jogging. New Balance by Nike Shoes come with shock absorbers to help reduce the pressure on your ankles when jogging or walking. It is also important to stick to one type of terrain. Moving from a dirt road (which is dangerous anyway) to the track, to the treadmill is bad for your feet as well. Find one you are most comfortable with, and stick to it. Some shoe companies are now trying to make a compromise between style and comfort, making lower pumps with wider heels and toes. Buying a wide shoe definitely can’t hurt. Size is just a number, and unfortunately many women seem to forget that. Even in clothing, more expensive stores sell clothes with a lower size to make consumers feel better about themselves. No one knows what size you wear except you. Wear what is comfortable. If you fear that someone will see your size nine shoe and tell the world, black out the number. It’s a better solution than spending thousands of dollars at the podiatrist years down the line. Talk about a great way to spend your hard earned college degree cash. Feet are one of the most important appendages on the human body. Taking care of them now will save money and time in the future. It is important to preserve your health today, as no one is certain what lies further down the road. Especially if you have to walk there.