The sale is too tempting at times. How could you possibly find this shoe at this price, right now? The only thing is that it’s a tad too small or too large. You don’t mind sacrificing a bit of your comfort for this shoe because hey, you’re not going to wear them all the time.
Once you start to wear them you start to compensate and of course, your body adjusts. Next thing you know you’re in the podiatrist’s office saying, “My feet are killing me. Please save me.” Don’t take for granted the comfort and security of a good shoe. Your feet support the weight of your entire body, but so often we don’t treat our feet with enough self-care.
The wrong type of shoes can lead to a number of problems for not only your feet but your entire body.
Toe-Nail Loss or Bruising
Nails are one of those things you don’t miss until it’s gone. When you lose a toenail it’s the worst. Wearing too small or too big shoes can cause nail loss or blackening. The intense pressure put on your feet causes the nail to become banged up and irritated over time. The black appearance of the toe is unsightly to look at and painful.
This condition is often called “runner’s toe” or “jogger’s toe”. When buying shoes follow the old advice of leaving a thumb’s width between the tip of your longest toe to the front of the shoe. Always leave a little
space for your toes to breathe.
Blisters or Sores
If you’re a runner I’m sure you have caught a blister or two on your trail. Wearing the wrong type of shoes can cause friction that results in blistering, but the wrong sock/shoe combo can as well. Either way, it is really uncomfortable to function with a blister on your foot. This is a sign that the shoe is either too tight or too narrow.
Listen to your gut when buying shoes. If you feel like you need to “break in” the shoe as they say don’t purchase them. They should be comfortable upon purchase.
Your Arch Aches
Running shoes that are too big or non-supportive cause the muscles on the bottom of the foot to tighten with each step. It’s your foot’s way of trying to compensate for the lack of grip your foot has within the shoe due to incorrect sizing. It is essentially trying to keep the shoe from sliding off.
If this is left unchecked the heel can become inflamed and developed into things such as plantar fasciitis. The tendons are also inflamed as a result. Get shoes that are extremely comfortable. I recommend going to FleetFeet for running shoes. Running shoes are amazingly comfortable.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is when your tendons become inflamed inside of your foot or ankle. It can also occur on the outer edges of your foot as well. This typically occurs when the foot rolls inward which is a sign that the shoes need more support and structure. Spending the extra money on shoes with better support is a great way to avoid this condition.
What Type Of Shoes Should I Buy
You want to wear shoes that give you great support. This means that the cushion inside of them allows you to walk normally. They feel good when you wear them and your ankles and soles feel great. If you are flat-footed or have an arch in your foot, cushion matters. You want shoes that go with the contour of your feet. You don’t want anything that goes against that because that’s where you’ll run into problems.
Needs for your shoes will change with the lifestyle you have. Some people need a shoe that’s lightweight because they run long distances and want to feel light in the toes. Other people want a shoe that’s flexible for various situations. A good rule of measure to follow when choosing flexible shoes is to look at how stiff the toe is.
The stiffer the toe, the more flexible the shoe is. This shoe is best for rigidity which promotes stability in your shoe. Regardless of the shoe, support and comfort are the two biggest deciding factors.
Daunte Henderson, founder of the MADEMAN Foundation, author, and educator based in Chicago. You can follow him at @brotherhenderson on IG
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