Boots always look great. The big question, though, is do they feel great?
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If you&#;re making decisions with your tootsies in mind, the answer to that question should be a resounding YES. It&#;s important to think of your feet as an important part of your body that deserves a little TLC.
&#;Foot health should always be a priority &#; and that&#;s especially true when you&#;re shopping for footwear,&#; says podiatrist Nicole Nicolosi, DPM. &#;The decisions you make can have consequences.&#;
So, before you whip out that credit card for a fab new pair of boots, let&#;s look at what can keep you&#;re your feet happy and healthy.
You&#;re probably not thinking today of how your footwear might contribute to future bunions or hammertoes. You&#;re probably not too worried about those stylish kicks putting stress on your knees, hips and back, either.
But there&#;s no doubt that wearing flimsy or ill-fitting footwear day after day takes a toll on your body.
&#;It&#;s all about alignment and support for your feet,&#; says Dr. Nicolosi. &#;If things are off, it adds extra stress to every step. Over time, that can eventually lead to various deformities and chronic pain.&#;
Knowing which boots are best for your feet can be a walk in the park if you know the basics.&#; Here are some pointers on how to choose &#; and rock &#; boots that are both good-looking and good for your foot health.
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Let&#;s start with the basics. In general, Dr. Nicolosi says to look for a boot with:
Use these five tips for buying and wearing boots:
If you want to decide which boots are best for your feet and have a specific style in mind, here&#;s a quick guide that&#;s a bit more fashion-focused.
Wearing heels comes with a definite cost.
Putting your feet at that awkward angle can tighten your Achilles tendon over time, which opens the door for Achilles tendonitis. It can also worsen capsulitis (inflamed joint capsule) and neuromas (thickened nerve tissue between toes).
And high-heeled boots can cause bunions, as well as make them worse.
Nobody questions the popularity of warm-and-fuzzy shearling boots. But when it comes to the health of your feet &#; well, the story is anything but warm and fuzzy.
Sheepskin boots typically offer next to nothing in the way of arch or ankle support. (That lack of stability can lead to a rolled-ankle walking style dubbed the &#;UGG® shuffle&#; after one of the more popular brands).
Another negative? That cozy interior that&#;s great for your feet is also ideal for bacteria and fungi. That can lead to infections, rashes and some pretty stinky boots, notes Dr. Nicolosi.
Pro tips: If you&#;re going to wear sheepskin boots, consider inserts for extra arch support. As far as the bacteria issue, always wear socks to minimize contact between the interior and your skin. Oh, and disinfect the boots regularly.
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The uber-boosted heels that give wedge booties such a distinct look can put added pressure on your forefoot. They also provide little in the way of side-to-side support &#; which can be an issue if your feet are flat or your ankles are unstable.
Avoid wedge booties, too, if you&#;re dealing with previously mentioned issues such as neuromas or capsulitis.
Your feet will appreciate the lower heel seen in most riding boots. A rounder, extra-deep toe box also makes this style of boot a great choice if you&#;re dealing with issues like bunions or hammertoes.
But the insole is often flat and too rigid, which can cause foot pain such as plantar fasciitis. An investment in insoles can help with that, though.
Traditional cowboy boots offer pointed toes for a reason: It makes it much easier to slip your feet into the stirrups when riding a horse. (Makes sense, right?)
But in today&#;s world, of course, it&#;s much more likely that your Bronco or Mustang has an engine and gas pedal &#; so that narrow toe area is more of a potential problem than a get-on-the-horse solution.
&#;Long-term, this sort of impingement on your toes can result in inflammation or thickening of nerves in your forefoot,&#; notes Dr. Nicolosi. &#;You may end up feeling numbness, tingling and burning.&#;
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The shape of cowboy boots also makes them a poor choice if you have bunions or hammertoes. Arch support can be an issue, too.
If a pair of boots doesn&#;t seem like it fits right in the store, don&#;t expect that to change when you get them home. Extreme cuteness will not add comfort, either.
&#;Your body&#;s sending you a message when a boot doesn&#;t feel good,&#; states Dr. Nicolosi. &#;Listen to what your feet are saying and put those boots back on the shelf. You&#;ll find something that fits better.&#;
Your feet will thank you for it, too.
To hear more from Dr. Nicolosi on this topic, listen to the Health Essentials Podcast episode, &#;Talking Foot Health and Shoes.&#; New episodes of the Health Essentials Podcast are available every Wednesday.
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As civilization has evolved, the human race has moved from walking barefoot in soft natural terrain to wearing footwear and walking on hard flat surfaces, the need for arch support has never been greater! The natural shape and design of the foot are to step softly into soft terrain. This is why the foot has arches. Most of us, now wear footwear and walk on hard flat surfaces. This article will go into detail on what arch supports are, how they can help, the various types of arch supports, the difference between arch supports and orthotics, and knowing what type of arch support works best for various issues.
Arch support is a term used for a large variety of shoe inserts that help support the arches of the foot. This can have a very broad range of devices from a basic pad to a hard graphite custom-molded support. For most purposes, arch support is an insert that goes into your shoes and helps support the arches of your feet.
The human foot is not adapted to walk on flat, hard surfaces. The majority of shoes provide only superficial support while also shielding the foot from dust and rain. Even so, these days, aesthetics matter more than practicality when picking out a pair of shoes.
When it comes to the vast majority of shoe companies, finding footwear with adequate support features is more of a niche market or anomaly when it should be a priority for people&#;s health. Arch supports are essential to keep a good posture and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Because of this, it is more crucial than ever to pick shoes with adequate arch and heel support. Physical therapy may also be useful for those with arch pain caused by overuse and strenuous physical activity.
In order to appreciate the value of insoles and arch supports, it can be instructive to get some familiarity with the foot's anatomy. Walking and running put a lot of strain on your feet; therefore, the arch was made to support your weight and cushion your steps.
While relatively modest in size, an arch is subjected to considerable stress. To run and walk with ease, you can thank your arches. Your arches aid in creating equilibrium and providing stability, particularly while traversing varied terrain.
To avoid injury, our feet were made to tread on forgiving surfaces like dirt and sand. Hard floors are difficult on the feet because they have no give and cause a lot of stress; thus, many people have pain, discomfort and foot problems due to the prevalence of hard surfaces.
Now, if your foot is missing the contouring support it once received from shoes, arch support may be the answer to avoid any injuries.
Supporting your weight while you're upright is the work of arches in your feet. Likewise, they're crucial to your ability to go forward when you're on foot. Along with the rest of your bones, tendons, and ligaments, they help you spring forward as you walk, and there are different types of arches.
A normal arch will support your body weight in a sufficient manner and will roll inward ever-so-slightly as you walk or run. In most cases, specialized arch support is not required. A shoe described as "neutral" is recommended for most occasions.
Incomplete footprints (no "instep") indicate a flat arch or fallen arch. The excessive inward rolling of the foot (overpronation) caused by this arch is problematic for walking and running. The symptoms are pain in the ankles, knees, and hips that might originate in the feet due to a lack of arch support. If you need stabilizing arch support, the experts at Lucky Feet Shoes will help you find one that works for you.
A high arch can cause muscle pain and joint tension all the way up the kinetic chain, not just in the feet. It's possible that your feet don't absorb shock very effectively, making it such that you get tired quickly when walking or running. Arch supports with extra padding may be suggested for people with high arches and are great for your muscles.
Regardless of who you are, arch supports can help you. Here is what all arch supports do.
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