Choosing foot healthy shoes

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Round toes, low heels and wedges are the best styles for keeping feet healthy.
Ill-fitting shoes can, over time, cause painful and disabling foot deformities. They can also aggravate existing problems like bunions and hammer toe. And for diabetics, the avoidance of foot problems is crucial. Baylor University expert Dr James Brodsky says that fashions in this season's shoes actually favor foot health - for narrow toes are out and rounded ones in. He says you should always be able to wiggle your toes around in the front of your shoe.

Other tips include choosing a shoe that keeps your ankle safe with a stable heel - wedges and wide-stacked heels are good in this respect. If you do wear high heels, make sure there is cushioning under the toes and ball of the foot. And shoes do not need 'breaking in' - if they are not comfortable from the very beginning, do not buy them - your feet should never be forced to conform to a shoe shape.

Source
Baylor Health Care System

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