Shoes need spring cleaning, too!
Spring is here – FINALLY! We finally get a chance to be outside and do some spring cleaning to get rid of all that clutter.
While you are motivated and cleaning out your closets – why not go through your shoes and toss out all those shoes that are worn-out, too small, or just not healthy for you.
Here is a list of the shoes this Wappingers Falls Podiatrist hopes to see you purge with your spring cleaning this year.
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Super High Heels
Stilettos
They look awesome, but they torture your feet. Any high heel over 2 inches is tough on your arch, and also can be the reason you develop other foot problems, such as bunions and hammertoes. Ever see anybody walking with these super high heels? Do they look like they could sprain their ankle? Well, guess what – they do! These shoes just aren’t stable enough to support your foot on uneven sidewalks with even the slightest cracks. If you must wear them getting high heels with a thicker heel will at least help with your stability.
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Ballet Flats
With no arch support at all, ballet flats are tough on feet, knees, hips, and backs. If you have to wear them, put in an over-the-counter arch support, or even better, a custom foot orthotic. Special dress shoe orthotics can slip into your shoe. These help to support and balance the foot to reduce problems.
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Flip-flops
Hopefully, this will be the year you decide to stop wearing that footwear with the least amount of support, and absolutely no protection from injury, fungus, organisms, or insects. They’re hard on your feet and a major culprit of summertime heel pain. Also, your toes grip so hard in flip-flops which helps cause hammertoes. The occasional flip-flop around the pool is the only place you should bring out these babies, but if you must wear flip-flops we recommend and carry Spenco Sandals at our office.
Spenco Sandals a better alternative to flip flops
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Platform shoes
These shoes have no flex, which makes your foot work harder with each and every step. Time to get rid of them during your spring cleaning this year.
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Pointy Toe Shoes
They look nice but can squish the toes of your feet. Shoes that are too narrow cause pain in the nerves in the ball of your feet, called Morton’s neuroma. Pointy toe shoes can also help develop bunions and hammertoes. If your nails get too much pressure they can change color from bruising under the nail, which can over time help fungal toenails develop.
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Too Small Shoes
Just about every woman has a pair of shoes that are too small for their feet. Children outgrow shoes quickly, too. There is no reason to keep a pair of shoes that are too small for you. They can cause corns, bunions, hammertoes in adults and foot deformities in children.
Your feet are too important to be wrecked because you want to wear a stylish shoe. I urge you to get rid of footwear that causes you pain and schedule an appointment with our office to address any foot, nail or ankle issues.
