Shoes are health and fitness enablers. We walk almost 5 times the circumference of the earth in an average lifetime. Yet, we rarely pay attention to our feet and shoes despite the fact that they support the full weight of the human body. Most people have one pair of shoes for all walking, running and gym activities. But believe it or not, it’s crucial not to defeat the purpose of different shoes based on sport biomechanics and agility required. Here’s why the right walking shoes are important for your health.
What to look for in the right walking shoes
1. Stability
The right pair of shoes gives you good stability and cushioning throughout the walk.
2. Flexibility
Your walking shoes should allow for an easy push-off phase.
3. Comfort
The shoe should fit snugly, especially around the heel and midfoot, with some toe room in the forefoot.
Why choosing the right walking shoe is important
It is quality rather than quantity that counts when choosing the right walking shoes. Good walking shoes are fundamental to maintaining proper walking technique and preventing injury. It maintains good biomechanics of the foot as well as all other joints connected to the foot while walking.
The benefits of a comfortable, scientifically designed shoe certainly outweigh the cost of the investment that surrounds it. Repetitive problems of acute or chronic episodes of musculoskeletal problems of back pain, knee pain, foot pain and even neck pain and headaches would decrease if a bad shoe was the cause. Sometimes a simple change in footwear results in immediate relief from chronic knee and back problems.
The right pair of shoes helps protect your body from injury. Research also shows that good footwear also determines an individual’s attitude.
Whenever a patient sees a doctor with a head-to-toe problem, the first thing we check is their arch and the shoe worn accordingly. About 95% of the times they are unsuitable, and therefore, a change of shoes immediately helps to significantly relieve pain by 30-40%.
What are the side effects of a bad pair of walking shoes?
You can tell the wrong shoe model by checking the following in a pair of walking shoes:
* Tight pointed shoes can cause corns, bunions and other toe deformities such as hammer and claw toes, crossed toes, ingrown toenails. There is a high chance of falls in the elderly due to ill-fitting walking shoes.
* High heels can cause back pain, headaches, ankle sprains and plantar fasciitis.
Wearing shoes with a flat surface, with little or no arch support, prevents the feet from functioning optimally and can lead to knee, hip and back problems.
*Lack of arch support is the most common cause of a painful heel condition called plantar fasciitis that sometimes progresses into a heel spur.
* Wearing ill-fitting shoes forces the joints of the body to compensate for faulty foot angulations, leading to long-term functional and structural change in the body. So, after you’ve covered 300 to 400 miles in your walking shoes, it’s best to buy a new pair of shoes.
How to choose the right shoes
Try these tips to measure your foot the right way and choose the right shoes.
1. Human feet tend to swell as the day progresses. Therefore, the foot gets bigger in the evening compared to the beginning of the day, so measure your foot size later in the day. Try on shoes with the type of socks you wear regularly.
2. When buying shoes, stand up and check your foot size, as your foot will go for maximum stretch in this position.
3. When you move your ankle up and down, in and out, the shoe should not come out. You should be able to wiggle your toe up and down.
4. Adequate cushioning is necessary, and at the same time, a snug fit across the heel and midfoot helps you get those miles in comfort.
5. A quick way to assess your arch is to dab on wet sand or draw your foot on a sheet of paper. One can get a fair idea of the pattern of the vault.
