How Proper Footwear Can Prevent Long-Term Foot Damage
The right footwear helps to stay stable while providing the necessary support. Various foot problems can be combatted by wearing proper shoes.
Along with completing an outfit, your shoes are also responsible for healthy feet. Shoes impact body posture while offering the necessary balance. A perfect shoe is important to eradicate any foot issues.
If your choice of footwear is poor, you can develop different chronic foot conditions. This can worsen with time if you do not rectify the mistake. Athletes, elderly people, and people working daily with a standing posture have a high chance of getting a foot disease.
What Are The Different Foot Diseases That Take Place Due To Improper Footwear?
People consider different factors while buying shoes. Well, purchasing good shoes and choosing the right ones are not the same. Improper footwear leads to different diseases.
- Plantar fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis causes pain on the lower side of your heels. If you don’t treat it in the initial stage, the pain will increase. This can be treated via anti-inflammatory medicines.
- Bunions: Is there a bump on one side of your big toe? This might be bunions, and you will face irritation in your toes. This condition is temporarily treated by consuming painkillers.
- Corns: This foot disease causes thickened skin circles on the feet. This creates irritation if not treated early. Using corn plasters helps to treat this condition.
- Mallet: This condition refers to a curved toe that is pointed downward. Such a disease causes pain while walking. Relying on OTC foot cushions can help treat this disease.
Different types of shoes are responsible for different foot diseases. This indicates that you must choose the right shoe.
| Shoe types | Related foot disease |
| Flip flops | Plantar fasciitis |
| Narrow shoes | Bunions |
| High heels | Corns |
| Poor-fitting shoes | Mallet |
Table 1: Shoe types and related foot issues
What are the Fundamental Characteristics of a Foot-friendly Shoe?
Foot-friendly shoes must possess certain key characteristics. These help provide comfort while preventing long-term foot damage. Experts in podiatric clinics acknowledge the characteristics while suggesting footwear.
- Cushioning: This feature lowers stress on your foot and ankle.
- Arch support: This helps to tackle overpronation along with a proper distribution of weight.
- Flexibility: Shoes must contain flexible soles so that feet can be moved naturally.
- Proper fit: Shoes must fit the concerned person properly. This helps to prevent different foot diseases.
How can You Determine that Your Existing Footwear is Causing You Pain?
You need to contact a podiatrist if you witness any foot disease. Well, identifying whether your current shoes are not perfect for your feet is very important.
- Consistent pain in the feet
- Feeling numb after walking
- Increased usage of bandages
How can Selecting the Right Shoe Benefit You in the Long Term?
Getting specialised services from podiatric clinics can help you treat different foot diseases. To obtain prolonged advantages, you must find the right fit.
Comfort: This aspect must be your priority while purchasing a shoe. Your feet will feel comfortable once you start wearing comfortable shoes.
Preventing injuries: Have you witnessed foot injuries while performing any physical activity? Well, choosing the right pair of shoes might help you lower injury prevalence.
Perfect posture: Proper shoes help you to maintain a perfect body posture. This is useful while executing different physical exercises.
Improving overall health condition: Do shoes only manage your foot health? No. Wearing the right pair of shoes can reduce your chances of getting diagnosed with any chronic disease.
Selecting the Perfect Shoe based on Activity
You can avoid visiting a podiatrist if you are capable of finding the right shoes. Meanwhile, you need to understand that different types of shoes are needed for different activities. Using the same shoe for multiple activities might lead to foot diseases.
| Activities | Suggested shoe types |
| Standing | Arch-support and padded sole |
| Running | Lightweight, with heel cushioning |
| Casual | Flexible soles |
Table 2: Recommended shoe types for different activities
When Do You Need to Consult a Podiatrist?
You can prevent foot diseases by choosing the right pair of shoes. Well, take a podiatrist’s appointment if you are experiencing the following conditions:
- Consistent pain in the feet despite wearing proper footwear
- Diagnosing any identified foot problem
- Getting any foot or ankle injury
In Summary
Foot diseases can be prevented by wearing the right shoes. A foot-friendly shoe is flexible, while offering arch support. Choosing the correct shoe pair helps to deal with various foot-related injuries. You need to see a podiatrist if your foot problems exist even after wearing proper footwear.
Prevent Foot Damage by Choosing the Perfect Footwear
Are you devoid of comfortable walking? Do you feel pain in your feet after running or walking? Don’t ignore such signs. Consult a podiatrist to get the best foot solution.
