How to Find Shoes that Are Good for Your Feet & Overall Health
While most of us may consider shoes only as a fashion statement, in reality, they can influence the quality of our lives in many ways. Not only can a bad pair of shoes cause a number of foot problems, but it can also affect your overall health. Back pain, joint issues, bad posture, an inability to maintain balance – all these problems can be potentially caused by bad footwear. With that being said, here are some tips that can help you find shoes that are comfortable and good for your overall health.
Check the Padding
When buying shoes, most people fail to pay attention to the insoles that line the insides of the shoes. Without padded insoles, the bottom of the foot will receive a lot of stress from the impact of the ground, which can lead to damage to the arch. With that being said, the curve of your shoes should feature padding that will support the arches and provide shock absorption. The padding should also help keep the foot in place in the shoes and prevent it from rubbing. Ideally, try looking for comfort shoes for men or women featuring a memory foam insole that will mould to the shape of your feet.
However, be careful with how thick the padding is. Depending on your foot construction, sometimes more padding can constrict your feet which can be just as dangerous as no padding. So, if you have wide feet, try on the shoes before buying them to make sure your feet will have enough wiggle room. And if you’re buying online, look for comfort shoes for men or women that are specialised for wider feet.
Look for a Firm Sole
Shoes with a firmer sole help keep the feet more stable. In general, rubber soles that are a minimum of 1-2 cm thick are considered best. Not only do thick, firm soles allow you to keep your balance better, but they also provide extra padding between your feet and the ground, thus helping to prevent pain and injuries. On the other hand, shoes with softer and thinner soles can receive a lot of stress, especially when walking on uneven surfaces.
Consider Footwear with Orthopaedic Features
While you may not be a friend of orthopaedic shoes which can be bulky and old-fashioned in design, there are brands that produce modern footwear with orthopaedic-friendly features. Besides firm outsoles and padded insoles, other orthopaedic features are a wider and rounder front and heels that are flat to mid-height. Some stylish orthopaedic-friendly brands are Klouds, Ecco, Mephisto, Bugatti, Vionic and Merrell.
