Thought Bytes...
Setember 2003

Feeble Footsies

Your base of support. Your mode of transportation. Your fashion accessory. Your sore, aching feet. Why does fashion suggest that we squeeze our feet into those pointy-toed, high heeled things anyway? (Speaking as one who wrecked her feet by wearing spike heeled shoes as a teenager, I am most commonly seen wearing flats or Birks. My concession to winter - in Edmonton - is to cover my toes. )

There are 26 bones in the feet. These are held together with ligaments and roped in by tendons. They are designed to work as a whole system to propel and support you. A delicate balance, some would say.

When you wear high heels, instead of your weight being supported by, for example, a 4" x 9" surface, you are suddenly balancing on about 3" x 3" surface. That means that your entire posture changes and the muscles of your legs and back must continually work to keep you from falling over. After wearing heels for a long time, you may find that your calf muscles cramp when you try to switch to flats. Those muscles have gotten so used to being tight and short, that they assume that is the way they area supposed to be. The same thing can happen in your back.

Another aspect of fancy shoes is that they usually have very poor shock absorption. Most offices and institutions have concrete floors (even if they are covered with tile or carpet, it is still concrete). Walking all day on a hard surface exposes the feet, legs, and particularly the back to shock and vibration. This can lead to discomfort and deterioration of the joints. The best prevention of leg and back pain is to wear low shoes which have a good shock absorbing sole.

If you can get away with wearing running shoes, they are great. A well fitting running shoe would have plenty of room in the toe area, good arch support, no pressure points, multi-layered rubber type sole and a heel counter to keep your heel from sliding around. There are also several dress shoes on the market now that advertise to provide superior shock absorption and comfort. Be cautious - make sure it doesn't just have a light layer of foam under the insole. Use caution because these foams can disintegrate within weeks of regular wearing.

Watch the soles of your shoes to make sure that they are wearing evenly. If you continue to wear shoes that are worn on the outsides (or insides) you will strain the soft tissues in your feet that hold the bones together. If this happens you may need orthotics. Change shoes often to keep them, and your feet, fresh.

If your feet are uncomfortable, chances are you won't be able to concentrate on your work. Sore feet may also result in changes to how you walk, eventually affecting your back comfort. Wearing properly fitting, low heeled shoes will, in the end, help in the care of the sole.

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