Back to school, back to work, back to...close-toed shoes.Sayonara, sandals. Seasonal shoe changes can have a bigger impact on our feetand body mechanics than we might think.
Al D'Angelantonio, III, DPM, looks at feet as the foundationfor the rest of the body. Like the structure of a house, if support isn’tthere, the structure will start to fail. As such, everything from precariouslyhigh heels to unsupported flip-flops can have short- and long-term consequenceson your joints, bones and quality of life.
Take high heels, for example: if the heel height is greaterthan 3 inches, you are putting major stress on the ball of your foot.
- If you wear heels regularly, your Achillestendon contracts and can become difficult to stretch out.
- If you have early signs or are at high risk forbunions (when your big toe points toward your second toe and a bump appears),they will get worse with continued pressure and weight on the front toe joint.
- The mechanics of walking in heels requiresmuscles in front of your leg to work overtime, trying to pull the foot up andclear the ground, which will exacerbate existing hammer toes (when your second,third or fourth toe becomes permanently bent, looking like a hammer).
To prevent pain and progressive injury, Dr. D'Angelantoniorecommends keeping the height under 3 inches. Or, if you want to wearvery high heels, wear them in moderation. Dr. D’Angelantonio is the veryfirst foot and ankle surgeon to pioneer a dedicated lower extremity fellowshipwithin Plastic Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Hisfellowship training focuses on providing patients with both functional andaesthetic outcomes for all conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.
As for flats, flip-flops and sandals, support is key. Onaverage, we take about 10,000 steps per day (not including exercise), soimagine the impact that your body - from your feet, ankles, knees, and evenyour back - has to take when there’s no cushioning to absorb the impact. Like acar, you need support to keep the mechanics aligned and balanced to preventwear and tear on your joints. If you wear the same shoes regularly, theirsupport function will likely only last for 3 to 6 months - another excuse to goshoe shopping!
And, when switching shoes for a new season, remember thatyour feet expand and contract - from flattening arches caused by unsupportedflip-flops, to temperature changes, water retention, and even hormones - soexpect that your foot will have to adjust to different shoes.
If you have foot or ankle pain, have it checked out by adoctor. The earlier you get treated, the better. If you wait until symptoms arereally bad, it usually takes a longer time to recover and can require more complexprocedures.
"If you bite the bullet to deal with pain, you are going to create more problems down theline," said D'Angelantonio.
While feet are "designed to take a beating," theyserve a crucial function in getting us from point A to point B and need to besupported and protected to prevent debilitating issues.
Happy shoe shopping!
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