Cute Shoes vs. Healthy Feet

Is it possible to have totally cute shoes that don’t hurt your feet?  Sometimes you just cannot resist that perfect pair of pumps, or sacrifice wearing those slides.  But how many times have you bought an adorable pair of shoes on a whim only to wear them one day and leave them on a closet shelf?  How much damage can actually result from wearing uncomfortable or blister-inducing shoes?  It is important to know the risks you take by wearing painful shoes, and also how to take good care of your feet to avoid chronic problems.

There are several brands that claim to offer both comfort and style including Dansko, ECCO, NAOT, and Mephisto.  There are many others, but let’s face it:  most of those brands don’t really live up to the style side of the equation.  They aren’t unattractive (for the most part) but also would look really silly with your favorite short skirt.

For the health of your knees and feet, the best thing would probably be to stick with the low- or no-heeled shoes designed with comfort in mind.  But most of us probably won’t do that, so it’s a good idea to at least know what sort of risks you are taking by wearing those super-cute heels.  There is the obvious danger of sprained ankles, particularly if you walk over uneven terrain, but you can also develop problems with the feet themselves or with your knees.  Pain in the ball of your foot can be the result of a condition called metatarsalgia, and the unnatural pressure on your knees from wearing heels can cause osteoarthritis in the knee joints.

So what’s a girl to do?  Probably the best answer is to compromise and wear your fabulous but treacherous heels for short periods of time, and wear more comfortable and safer shoes most of the time.  Most of us just aren’t ready to give up our funky, fashionable shoes all of the time.  You should also take extra good care of your feet by paying attention to pain, keeping them clean and dry and wearing different shoes everyday.  A close visual inspection of the feet on a regular basis can help you spot any problems before they get too big.

Regardless of whether you are wearing your most comfortable shoes, your running sneakers or your hippest heels, you should make sure your shoes fit properly.  It is never a good idea to buy the last pair that is a size too small just because you think you can’t live without them.  You can live much more comfortably without shoes that don’t fit.  In a shoe that fits your foot well, you should have room to move your toes around, and an 1/8 inch of space at the back.

If you wear your stylish, unsupportive, pain inducing shoes only occasionally, pay attention to the health of your feet and make sure your shoes fit you well, you will be doing your feet a favor and possibly avoiding expensive podiatric care later on.  You don’t have to give up your sweet sandals completely, just save them for special occasions!