Proper footwear for women can reduce foot problems
“From ancient Egyptian times down through the centuries, footwear has been designed to meet mankind's real and perceived needs,” said Dr. Reilly. “These include protection, support, comfort, sturdiness, stylishness, and the rest.”
“Today, there is an almost endless variety of styles and materials can pose a major dilemma when it's time to buy a pair of shoes. The dilemma can be minimized, however, if you concentrate on the health aspects of the modern shoe: well-fitting, well-made, and used properly, it has an inherent capacity to help reduce foot problems.”
Dr. Reilly pointed out that feet bear the tremendous pressures of daily living.
“An average day of walking brings a force equal to several hundred tons to bear on the feet.” said Dr. Reilly. “They are subject to more
Children, women, men, and athletes all have different shoe requirements, and such requirements will vary considerably across a wide range of activities.
Doctors of podiatric medicine, like Dr. Reilly, are health care professionals trained in the care of the foot and ankle. They are fully qualified to recommend selection of the right pair of shoes, or address other aspects of foot health, for all members of the family.
“Women, inhabiting the work force in greater numbers, inflict more punishment on their feet, in part from improper footwear they feel obliged to wear at work, that can bring about unnecessary foot problems,” said Dr. Reilly. “Some of those problems result from high-heeled shoes (generally defined as pumps with heels of more than two inches).”
Dr. Reilly believe such heels are orthopedically unsound, and attribute medical, postural, and safety problems to their use.
“To relieve the abusive effects of high heels, women can limit the time they wear them, alternating with good quality sneakers or flats for part of the day,” said Dr. Reilly. “They can also vary heel height. There are comfortable and attractive "walking" pumps (also called "comfort" or "performance" pumps) for work and social activities, that blend fashion considerations and comfort, offering pumps with athletic shoe-derived construction, reinforced heels, and wider toe room.”
Activity has a bearing on the considerations for choosing the proper shoe.
“Wearing the right shoe for a particular activity is probably as important a factor in the choice of shoes as any,” said Dr. Reilly. “Perhaps the best shoe for women, from an orthopedic viewpoint, is a walking shoe with laces (not a slip-on), a Vibram-type composition sole, and a relatively wider heel with a rigid and padded heel counter, no more than three-quarters of an inch in height, even though such a shoe may be scorned in fashion circles.”
Different sports activities call for specific footwear to protect feet and ankles.
“Sports-specific athletic shoes are a wise investment for serious athletes, though perhaps a less critical consideration for the weekend or occasional athlete; nevertheless, it's a good idea to use the correct shoe for each sport,” said Dr. Reilly. “Probably a more important consideration is the condition of the shoe. Do not wear any sports shoes (or any shoes) beyond their useful life.”
“Athletic footwear should be fitted to hold the foot in the position that's most natural to the movement involved. For example, a running shoe is built to accommodate the impact that concentrates on the forefoot, while a tennis shoe is made to give relatively more support to the ankles, and permit sudden stops and turns.”
