The Flat Out Truth - Everything You Need To Know About Flat Shoes
Here in the UK, the weather is one of our favourite topics. Every day is different, and the weather is the topic of much of our small talk. One consequence of this changing climate is that we all need several types of footwear. And in the transition from warming spring weather to the hot and humid days of summer, this often means a shift from boots and trainers to flat, stylish summer sandals. And at The Foot Company, this means an increase in “heel pain”.
In theory, our feet should be designed for flat shoes or even no shoes at all. After all, for centuries, this is how we got about, on bare feet or with minimal coverage. There were no shoe shops or fashion stores to visit way back then. However, there are two fundamental changes that have occurred in recent years which make flat shoes or bare feet less desirable for the health of our feet. The first is environmental. In years gone by much of our time upright would have been spent walking on softer, more forgiving surfaces such as grass or mud paths. Now we find ourselves frequently walking on much harder surfaces such as concrete or stone. The other factor is that we have generally become taller and heavier. There is now much more pressure on our feet.
One consequence of long, hot summers is that we like to don simple, flat sandals such as flip flops. Whilst these allow us to keep our feet cooler, giving us almost completely open footwear, they are wayward footwear, prone to flop this way and that, meaning foot alignment and placement is often unstable, and steps taken are slower and more of a shuffle than a walk. Not only does this have consequences for our feet but also for our back and hips. Two further problems with the simple flip flop is that its flimsy base, often thin and often inflexible, offers very little in the way of shock absorption. Added to this, they also lack arch support. The solution, you might think, is to go barefoot wherever possible. However, this also creates problems walking as we are on the unforgiving, hard surfaces of our homes; the concrete floors, the wooden floors, the garden paths.
So, what is the solution to taking care of your feet through the hot summer months? Well, we would not suggest for a minute that you ditch the sandal and take up wearing trainers all summer. Sandals can be a practical option during the heat of summer, but they need to be supportive. This means considering the following when you pick a pair of sandals:
You want to consider what activities you are going to be doing during the course of the day. For long walks around a town or city, for example, pounding pavements, you would want to consider adequate support for the foot and the ankle, and extra straps and belts to support the ankle would be useful. Likewise, if you are planning a hike in the countryside, you would want to consider closed-toe sandals.
As with shoes, it is better to have a slightly raised heel. This means ensuring the sole of the shoe is slightly thicker under the heel than under the ball of the feet and toes.
Consider also that you may need grip. Rough terrain would require a rubber sole and decent traction, and this would also apply in hilly walks as well, both in the countryside and cities.
Choose sandals with a decent arch support and avoid using flimsy, thin sandals for anything other than a short paddle from garden to house or slip-on occasionally to move around the house.
Adjustable heel straps are also a good idea as they help to keep sandals firmly in place and snug on your feet.
We hope you will enjoy the great summer weather when it finally rolls around again and get the opportunity to be on your feet a lot, pain-free. But if heel pain is becoming a nuisance, you do not have to suffer. Heel pain can usually be treated without surgery and over a couple of months but would require examination and treatment that drills down to the cause of your pain.
If you are ready to tackle heel pain and enjoy being on your feet again, then please give us a call and see just how we can help you.