Pardon me if I’m being overly general, but I think its safe to say that the majority of young women don’t pay a lot of attention to their feet unless shopping for shoes or its pedicure time.
I read recently that foot problems related to unsupportive footwear were on the rise in young women. As a lifelong lover of Chuck Taylors and Old Navy flip-flops, it got me thinking. Feet are pretty important, and we ask a lot of them every single day.
Never Gonna Give You Up
I tend to get a little neurotic concerned when presented with health concerns that come out of left field, and honestly, my feet have been the last thing on my mind until now. So before I started buying orthopedic shoes, I consulted podiatrist Dr. Don Sewell for his professional opinion on the matter.
The news is mixed. While Sewell feels that unsupportive footwear can contribute to poor foot health over time, it is really only one of many factors including heredity, age and personal habits.
However, long-term reliance on footwear such as Uggs, Converse, and flip-flops can contribute directly to foot related problems such as bunions, foot widening and fatigue, and Plantar Fasciitis.
Sewell’s advice?
“Good foot health means paying attention to what your feet are saying. If it hurts don’t do it. Massage, good hygiene and good support, as well as taking care of your overall health (diet,weight, exercise) is the best way to protect your feet. Unsupportive footwear should be like chocolate: a special treat not your whole diet.”
That’s some solid advice I can live with and put to good use. What do you guys think? Have you or someone you know suffered from foot related issues? Do you do anything specific to protect your feet?
Plantar fasciitis is awful, eugh. I’ve heard it’s colloquially referred to as ‘flip flop foot’. heh.
I’ve found that working on stretching calves helps to keep everything in line, and i’ve started sleeping with my foot off the edge of the bed or on a pillow to keep from pointing toes in my sleep.
I’ve also heard going barefoot helps, but a lot of the time it’s just not feasible!