“I love the exaggerated and the eccentric, but you have to be comfortable.If not, it's nonsense.There is nothing lovely in a woman who can't walk with her shoes, ”said Manolo Blahnik in an interview.And if so thinks the Spanish creative genius, capable of making the most famous and powerful women happy with their shoe designs, we will have to listen to it.We are going to look for the most comfortable footwear for our feet!
But there is more.To throw the first stone who has not bought a couple of shoes simply because it was a ‘love at first sight’, or for its price, color or fashion, leaving aside other important aspects for the welfare of the feet.Mortal sin!Yes, because it is not just about putting those stilettos, platforms, boots, sandals, bambas or any type of footwear that is a trend.Before you have to think about the health of the feet since a bad choice, over time, you can end up spending your bill.
In fact, there is nothing more pleasant than taking away those shoes that have tormented you during the day, right?And the pain of standing may happen after a couple of hours, but ... alert!According to specialists, the choice of inappropriate footwear can end up damaging your foot with chafing, blisters, calluses, bunions or deformations, such as claw fingers.It can even cause serious injuries such as ankle sprain, falls in the elderly, and joint ailments or back.
Junettes is the most demand surgery in podious consultations (and fifth in Social Security)
It is no accident that in Spain the intervention of youth is the most demanded surgery in podious consultations, and the fifth in Social Security, although more than 50% of these operations could be avoided with the use of good footwear, they warn from theGeneral Council of Official Colleges of Podiatries of Spain (CGCOP).Along the same lines, the Spanish Association of Medicine and Surgery of the foot ensures that 70% of the Spanish population suffers from some feet problem, and that many of them can prevent.Let's see what steps should we not have to regret later.
Four basic aspects to monitor
Manel Pérez Quirós, a member of the CGCOP Board is clear about the priorities to choose shoes: "We must always seek the adaptation of footwear to our foot and never the other way around"."That means that if, for example, we have a very wide foot, we must look for a footwear of the appropriate size," says the expert.
In addition, to choose the most functional and comfortable shoe we must also take into account the material with which it is designed, emphasizes the podiatrist.Synthetic footwear can cause skin macerations due to moisture, since such shoes do not perspire.It is desirable that the material is always breathable, and the most advisable are natural skins.
In addition you have to monitor the type of sole.The normal thing is that we are all day stepping."The foot musculature already shocks, but that ability ends up walking all day on that type of surface and we end up with foot pain," says Manel Peréz, who is also president of the official Col·legi of Pudòlegs of Catalunya.
Finally, the subjection of the heel is also important.It will be necessary to watch over our foot in a homogeneous posture that does not allow us to twist, since it can even cause an ankle sprain.
Do you use the right size?
According to a study by the College of Podiatry of the United Kingdom, a third of men and almost half of women buy shoes without being exactly their size.And it is that hitting the right number is not always so easy.
Although each brand has its own last, there is a simple formula to succeed with our size.From the General Council of Official Colleges of Podiatries of Spain, they recommend verifying that at least there is a margin of one centimeter between what would be the toes and the end of the shoe, always taking into account the distance from the longest finger of the foot of the foot, "That is not always the fat," says Dr. Pérez.
Another guideline that can serve as a guidance when trying our shoes, adds the podiatrist, is that we should be able to place a finger from the hand in the back of the footwear, in the heel and insertion areaAchilles tendon.If so, there will be space for the shoe to expand comfortably when walking and supporting our weight on the foot.
Two more tips can be the most complicated to meet.If you can, the two shoes must be tested since the feet change over time, and as we grow, the differences are accentuated.Also ideal would be to test the footwear at the end of the day to achieve the best adjustment.In addition, you must keep in mind as long as each foot is unique and the generic recommendations may not adapt to your needs.Therefore, before any doubt the ideal will be to go to the podiatrist.
How often do you change your shoe?
Podiatrologist Manel Pérez indicates that the ideal is to change shoes per season."For example, if we are in the summer or winter season we can alternate a couple of models," adds the doctor, which plays that if we spend a season with the same footwear we can get to 'viciar' in our way of walking, that is, to lose the compensation mechanism that makes a neutral footwear or that is not yet deformed (by our feet and our steps).
It will also be time to change your shoe when you see that it has excessive wear in the sole, especially in the heel part.If deformed means that we have destabilized it and can cause small muscle injuries or make us walk incorrectly.
Heels: Yes or no?
The CGCOP recalls that scientific studies show that when we are barefoot on the ground, 75% of the weight is supported by the heel and 25% the forecast.As the heel height increases, the percentages vary, and the forefoot supports greater load.For example, with a 3-4 centimeters heel, the forefoot already supports so much with the heel (50%-50%) and with a 6-7 centimeters high, the load is reversed (75%in the forefoot and 25% in the heel).
From the American Society of Orthopedics standing and ankle (AOFAS, for its acronym in English) they list five problems that can cause the continuous use of heels: metatarsalgia and fractures by stress, heel pain, deformations in the fingernails, sprains or fractures, and juane or hammer fingers.
However, for many women not fall at the foot of those tempting heels seems impossible mission.And in those cases you can always give yourself a whim, making them timely use.Nothing to take the heel daily, warns the podiatrist Manel Pérez.In addition, it will be necessary to monitor the necessary amplitude in the heel."The recommended physiological measure would be among the 2½- 3 centimeters high," adds the doctor.
Along the same lines, from the Spanish brand Merkal advise that the heel is provided with a padded template to the area where the fingers begin at least, in such a way that it facilitates comfort and can compensate for the height.Nor should the shoe material be forgotten, which must be of quality and facilitate breathability and good temperature inside.
It is recommended to choose the appropriate heel depending on the type of foot and the occasion.From Merkal they give some guidelines based on the experiences of their customers:
Stiletto: height greater than 9 cm.His name is due to the fineness of his heel, which also stylizes.It becomes a basic in a shoemaker and is used on those occasions where we want to show glamor.
High heel: above 7 cm.They stylize the figure, since our legs visually seem longer.They are ideal to wear long dresses and for occasions they deserve it.They are not recommended for long time standing, because they tire a lot.
Average heel: below 7 cm.Comfortable and ideal to "set" to the office.
Low heel: for comfort lovers and for long days.
The Spanish brand specialists recommend, before premiere any heel, use them previously at home and check their comfort and foot adaptation.In the case of noticing a rubbing we can hydrate the inside of the shoe with cream.We can also perform exercises on the ankles and twins to avoid injuries, experts explain.
A footwear for each need
A person walks around 150.000 miles in your life (more than 240.000 kilometers), according to the United Kingdom Podiatry College.And although the health of the feet is the great forgotten, it is convenient to pay attention.And the first step for this is to choose the right footwear, which varies according to the age and needs of each person.These are some aspects to consider:
According to age
For children: it is important to watch every two months that the footwear does not go small.Its ability to adapt to a shoe that is small is very large, because its bone structure is not yet formed at all.Then the entire muscoloestkeletic system has much more flexibility than that of an adult.The sole and footwear should be flexible to allow the foot to develop completely.Avoid putting a shoe with rigid sole.
Senior age: When we already have a foot deformed by the problem of age, osteoarthritis or bone prominences, we must look for footwear that really has materials that allow you to adapt to those irregularities, Pérez explains.Ideally, they are flexible leather.You have to prevent the foot from being compressed.Attention should also be paid to the support method you have, either with laces, elastic strips or buckles, so that this footwear is well subject to the foot and avoid the problems of the falls.
Men: As in all cases, comfort must be priority.In addition, it should be considered for what occasion and in what season of the year it will be used.A material that facilitates perspiration is recommended.If it is going to be a shoe that will have enough use, to go to work and walk, for example, leather may be the best ally.
According to the use
Work influences
The shoe of the work activity is the most important, emphasizes the podiatrist Peréz.You have to consider whether you have to spend many hours standing, walking, or in a hot atmosphere, for example.It is very important to pay attention to the template, the design and the material in order to provide good perspiration at the foot and greater well -being.A frequent mistake is to use the same for every day.We should, if possible, change footwear in the middle of the work day.Thus we ventilate the shoe.
Sports footwear
The shape of the bambas must be adapted to each need through the sole and their damping capacity, the cordonage system, the materials and the height of the heel part.The sport shoe that a handball player is wearing is not the same as a running corridor, Pérez sentence.You also have to wash the shoes from time to time, since activities that involve a lot of sweating are carried out.
Dependent people
From the College of Podiatries of the Valencian Community (ICOPCV) a decalogue has been developed to properly choose footwear in dependent people.In addition to paying attention to generic recommendations, seams must also.And the closed and tall footwear is recommended because they give up greater grip.
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