"If you don't work with heavy equipment or aren't on your feet a lot, you may think the most important thing to consider when choosing work shoes is how professional they look. But even if you're just walking from meeting to meeting or from the train station to your office, ill-fitting or non-supportive shoes can cause discomfort, injury, and long-term health problems. It's important to make good footwear choices, whatever your profession," said president of the American Podiatric Medical Association Joseph Caporusso, D.P.M..
Here are some tips the APMA recommends when looking for dress shoes that are both professional and comfortable:
- Get your feet professionally fitted. Your shoe size will change over your lifetime, and the size you were when you were 20 may not necessarily be the same size you are when you're 40. Feet should be measured once a year. If you have one foot that is large than the other, go with the larger foot. And get fitted at night, when your feet are at their largest.
- Check to make sure the shoe is supportive. The padding in the sole should be thick under the ball of the foot and conform to your foot's shape. Shoes should only bend at the ball, and should not easily twist.
- Look for natural materials, as man-made materials cause the foot to sweat, rub, and chafe in the shoe.
- Look for the APMA's Seal of Acceptance on certain models of shoes, which means they have been evaluated by podiatrists and found beneficial for your foot's health.
Women who still want to wear heels but are looking to decrease their discomfort should follow these tips:
- Stick to wedges instead of stilettos. The wider heel has better support for the ankle.
- Limit heel height to no more than 2 inches.
- Avoid shoes with pointy toes. Look for shoes with rounded or square toe boxes that provide plenty of room for your toes. If you can't wiggle your toes in pointy shoes, then forgo them.
- Wear your heels for just a few hours during the day. Consider bringing flats or athletic sneakers with you to wear from the car to the office or during lunch time.
- If you're having pain in your back, legs, neck, or shoulders, take a look at your shoes. Extreme heel heights cause changes in pelvic alignment.
If you believe have a foot problem and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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