Podiatry: Footwear - what makes a "good" shoe?

Return to the Podiatry and Osteopathy Archive

Footwear - what makes a "good" shoe?

As a parent you want the right shoes for your kids, and as an active adult you want to wear shoes which look good, but which don't harm your feet (unless you're female and wear snappy designer models, in which case you wear the shoes and suffer the consequences!).

Children

Children's feet first. Contrary to what you may have been told, you can put your children's feet into any type of comfortable footwear (check the fit around the toes). Don't assume well-known brand names get fittings right every time. As long as the shoes are comfortable and do not have raised heels, you can stick your kids feet in just about anything. Trainers are OK for kid's feet too, but make sure the upper is breathable - leather, suede or a membrane material like Gor-Tex is fine, plastic isn't.

Sports shoes for adults and children

Most brand name sports shoes, whether they are running shoes or football boots, are built to a high standard. You will certainly pay more for this seasons designs, but it probably won't be a better shoe than last seasons equivalent model.

Fashion shoes

Fashion shoes are not meant for walking long distances. Ladies, a glitzy high-heeler may look great, but don't wear them if you are going to be on your feet for any length of time. Blokes, currently our shoes, even the smart ones, are pretty comfortable. Even as I write however, I'm aware that fashions in shoes, as in everything else, must change sometime, and if we ever start wearing winklepickers again, the advice given above applies.

Popular misconceptions

"Shoes caused my bunion"
Possibly, but did your mum have bunions? There is a strong hereditary factor in foot deformities, and it may not just have been badly fitting footwear which caused your painful big-toe joints.

"High heels are bad for you"
Are they? Lots of my patients only started having problems when they dropped from a small heel to a flat shoe, and there is some evidence that some types of feet actually function better with a small heel.

"Trainers are bad for feet"
Not true. Some trainers may not be great, but that's more to do with a cheap or shoddy trainer than anything else.

And finally.

A thought on the humble welly boot. I wear Wellingtons a good deal at weekends - they can be very comfortable provided you are happy to spend upwards of £60 on a pair. The difference is in the build. A cheep Wellington is injection-moulded - an expensive boot is usually hand-made, mostly with natural latex. The difference has to be felt to be believed.

Please feel free to use the enquiry form at www.ortho-pedclinic.com for all foot-health and foot-related matters.
David Holland BSc(Hons), MSc(Dunelm), MChS
Consulting Podiatrist.