The shoe review: From high heels to low flats, local podiatrists analyze footwear

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

By Robyn Gautschy ~ Flourish

Women have been told that sometimes they have to suffer for fashion. That is certainly true when it comes to shoes.

Whether it's sky-high stilettos or the latest sandal trend, women's shoes are not often designed for function over fashion.

Local podiatrists give us the low-down on how our feet are affected by various styles of shoes.

Furry boots

How they affect your feet: "They're very comfortable and warm, but there's not much support in them," says Dr. Hugh Protzel, podiatrist at Foot and Ankle Centers of Southeast Missouri. Wearing these popular boots may lead to heel pain, foot aches and arch pain, especially if you have flat feet. "I wouldn't go for a long walk in them," says Protzel.

As for the furry lining, doctors don't see any relationship between the material and foot fungus.

"If someone already has a problem with excessive foot sweating, they could have a problem with foot fungus. But for the average person, there shouldn't be any kind of issue," says Dr. Robert Daugherty of Advance Foot & Ankle Center.

How to find a good pair: You may want to get a prescription insert for added support, says Protzel.

Flip flops

How they affect your feet: Flip flops are a good way to protect your feet when you're hanging out at the pool, says Protzel, but if you plan on going for any length of walk, they offer no support. "They don't allow for the proper gait cycle your foot should go thorough with each step," he adds. Protzel's flip flop-wearing patients have problems with heel pain and tendinitis.

How to find a good pair: Look for sturdier sandals. Protzel says Birkenstocks offer very good support.

Stilettos

How they affect your feet: "The visual, aesthetic things going on are nice, but functionally, they are potentially deforming," says Dr. Zenon Duda, podiatrist at Cape Foot Clinic. Stilettos alter the way the head and shoulders sit, increase the arch in the back, relax the calf muscles and cause the chest to protrude. As a result, you place excessive pressure on the balls of the feet, take unnaturally short steps, and struggle to maintain stability. With long-term wear, you're likely to see hammertoes, bunions, corns and red spots. Pointy-toed heels will eventually mold your feet into a triangular shape.

How to find a good pair: If you must wear stilettos, look for a pair made of soft leather and with not many stitches -- these will be more flexible and protective than heels made of man-made materials. Duda suggests wearing them in short bursts, with time in between for the feet to breathe and stretch.

Flats

How they affect your feet: "Most don't have any cushion or support, but then again, they don't cause any problems because they're nice and wide and are often made of soft leather," says Dr. James Main, podiatrist in Cape Girardeau. "Other than if you have a problem where you need cushion or additional support, these are probably not too bad. They're better than heels or pointy shoes." Daugherty thinks most women without foot problems can get by wearing flats, but he worries about the long-term effects. "If you wear them excessively over time, you might wind up with some problems. They have no support, especially for the arches, and people that stand a lot with their jobs will probably have some pain," he says.

How to find a good pair: Look for flats with enough room for an insert -- that way, you at least have some type of arch support, said Daugherty.

Wedges

How they affect your feet: "They're a good way to hurt your ankles," said Dr. James Main, podiatrist in Cape Girardeau. "Anytime you wear a heel, you shift your body weight forward to the front of the foot, and you're inherently unstable." Like heels, wedges place more weight on the front part of the foot, which can cause knee and lower back problems, says Main. Wedges usually have no support on the sides, making it easier to lose balance and topple over. "On a wedge, the weight is at least spread out over the heel," he concedes.

How to find a good pair: "A woman should go with the very lowest heel height that she can go with. The lower the better," says Main. Many wedges have a rubberized or corklike bottom, which Main believes may add more support than a hard material.

Platform heels

How they affect your feet: Platforms are better than stilettos, but still, "Any kind of shoe that puts abnormal stresses on the balls of foot can cause problems," said Daugherty. "Occasional wear is not a big deal, but this is definitely a shoe that I don't recommend."

How to find a good pair: A stable bottom should be the No. 1 concern, says Daugherty. Wood bottoms are probably more stable and will last longer.

Sore, Callous, and Cracked Feet

In the course of a day, your feet take plenty of pounding. An average day of walking puts a force equal to several hundred tons of pressure on your feet, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. That's a big burden for the 26 small bones and hundred-plus tiny muscles and tendons that do all this work. That's why your feet are more subject to injury than any other part of your body. If your foot concern is sore, calloused, cracked heels, then your feet need a little pampering.
If you don’t moisturize your feet in the winter months you will end up with red, cracked, painful skin. This is a problem for many people because your feet sweat daily and all the extra moisture you have is removed. By not moisturizing your feet on a daily basis especially in the winter months you leave your feet vulnerable to crack which in turn leaves you exposed to infection.
“To treat your already sore, calloused, cracked feet, use a thick moisturizer that contains petrolatum, glycerin, or dimethicone to lock in moisture and decrease transepidermal water loss." says Dr. Benjamin Weaver. We recommend Gormel Cream for non-diabetics and Amerigel for diabetics. Be sure to avoid putting any type of moisturizer between your toes. The toes already hold plenty of moisture between them. Too much moisture is just as bad as not enough. Don’t forget to address the calluses on the bottom of the foot which can also cause the foot to crack. We recommend applying Calcylic Cream after you use the pumi bar in the shower. Apply just a small dab to your calluses on the ball of the foot, toes and heels. This will help to soften the skin and in turn the callous will not be so rough and painful.
If your feet are sore and tired help by elevating them at least 6 inches above your heart. Besides reducing the swelling you are helping to reduce the pain and tiredness of your feet. When you’re in the shower using a pumi bar will also help because you are removing the dried old skin from your feet. Your feet will feel energized again and not be as tired and sore. We sell a pumi bar in our office that dissolves itself as you use it. The primary reason you want a pumi bar over a pumi stone is simple. A pumi stone looses the grit the more you use it. After time you will rub harder trying to get your soft feet but what you end up doing is tearing up good skin. The goal behind using a pumi bar is to not create more calluses. By using a pumi bar in the shower, applying a small dab of Calyclic Cream to your calluses once your feet are thoroughly dried and using Gormel or Amerigel Lotion to your feet afterwards, you will help your feet to relax and decompress.

High Heeled Summer Shoes and Boots Are Dangerous Year Round

Year round women wear fashionable high-heeled shoes. These 3-6 inch heels put women at risk for slips, falls, and injuries. These high heels are popular shoes they typically feature tall, spiked heels and narrow, pointed toes. Wearing high-heels makes you more unstable when walking or standing on dry surfaces. A stylish low-heeled summer shoe is a lot more fashionable than a cast and crutches. It is recommended that women scuff-up the soles of any new shoes or boots, or purchase adhesive rubber soles, to provide greater traction.

Falls from high-heeled shoes can lead to a number of injuries, depending on how the woman loses her balance. If her ankle rolls inward or outward, she can break her ankle. If her ankle twists, ligaments can be stretched or torn, causing ankle sprain.

Women injured from slips and falls in high-heeled shoes or boots should contact Central Kansas Podiatry Associates for prompt evaluation and treatment. In the meantime, immediately use the “R.I.C.E.” method – rest, ice, compression and elevation – to help reduce swelling, pain and further injury.

Delaying treatment can result in long-term complications such as chronic ankle instability and pain, arthritis, or deformity. Even if one is able to walk on the injured foot, pain, swelling, or bruising indicates a serious injury.