“What sort of shoes should I wear?” By Kristina Kanyuka

As part of my role as podiatrist, I’m often asked by my patients what sort of footwear they should be wearing.  Sometimes people have so many foot problems yet come in to clinic in the most unsuitable footwear imaginable, and declare “but I never wear heels!”

Firstly, I would like to state, I am NOT the shoe police. I’m not going to tell you off for wearing the shoes that you like. I’m not going to judge you on your 6 inch heels or your favourite pair of pumps, however, I will say that if you have foot pain, heel pain, corns or callouses, the footwear that you choose can make the biggest difference to your day.

So what should you be wearing? Well, it depends on what you are doing that day. Different footwear is needed for different activities, there is no ‘one-suits-all”, however there are 4 main rules of thumb to follow;

1) Ensure your shoe has a good, contoured base. If the shoe is too flat, it will allow your foot to have excess movement and expansion. The base should be reasonably thick (around 1-2cm) and can even have a small heel!!

2) The shoe must have some bend at the toe area, the allows the foot to bend sufficiently for the “toe off” stage of the gait cycle and give the body the propulsion it needs to complete the step. A shoe that you can bend completely in half or is too rigid will hinder this action.

3) A shoe must have a good heel counter. The heel of your foot should be supported by the part of the shoe to minimise excess probation/supination. It again, should be sturdy (you should not be able to flatten it) but not completely rigid that it becomes uncomfortable.

4) The shoe needs to have a way of holding on to your foot e.g. lace, velcro, buckle. Any way that it can be adjusted or fastened. In a slip on shoe, your foot has to work extra hard to keep the shoe on so your toes claw, and extra unnecessary strain is put through your muscles. It also allows for adjustment (loosening or tightening) to allow for a supportive and comfortable fit.

As you have probably understood, this rules out many shoes such as plimsolls, ballet pumps and many sandals.

Regarding different activities, if you do a lot of walking for example, ensure you have a good fitting walking shoe or boot. For running get a running trainer. If your job involves a lot of standing; a trainer or a supportive shoe that encompasses the 4 rules of footwear outlined above.

People often ask what brands I would advise. Every persons foot is different and every shoe is different, so there is not one brand that I would say is better than other as we all have completely different needs and requirements. The most important point is to make sure you get your shoes fitted, try on the shoe first and walk around the shop. You shouldn’t be able to notice if there are any points of the shoe that will cause discomfort almost immediately. Ensure the shoe has a snug fit, but doesn’t rub on the toes. Rubbing from being too tight can cause nail damage, corns and callous. If a shoe is too loose, the foot will move around and “tap” the end of the shoe, causing micro trauma to the nail which can precipitate fungal infections occurring.

The main points to remember are the 4 rules of footwear, and to the wear the correct footwear for the activity which you are doing. If you are going on a 10 mile hike, wear a walking boot or shoe, if you are going swimming, wear a flip flop to walk to the pool and if you are going out for dinner with your friends, wear what you like!

Kristina Kanyuka