What shoes are considered good?

An increasing number of Singaporean women in their late 20s are getting treatment for problems like heel spurs, bunions and hard skin on their feet.

According to podiatrists, the common cause of many foot problems is the wrong footwear.

The good shoe

A pair of good shoes offers both comfort and support for the feet. When buying shoes, look out for the following ten features:

There should be some space (one thumb-width) between the toes and the front of the shoe for the toes to wiggle freely. This is important, especially for the wearer who has a bunion on the first joint of the big toe.

Shoes with a narrow toe box do look dainty but can cause calluses and corns due to the pressure on the forefoot. Over time, toes can become squashed and deformed, and nails damaged. Other painful conditions such as blisters, ingrown toenails and neuroma can result because of the constant compression of one’s toes into a tiny space.

Always avoid shoes that have a pointed toe box.

Just the opposite of a pointed or narrow toe box, your entire feet will be swimming in the over-roomy toe box and can slip out easily. Such shoes do not provide sufficient grip for the feet.

Elderly wearing too big and loose footwear will risk falling when climbing the stairs and when walking on uneven or wet ground.

The shoes should not fit exactly, otherwise after some time the toes will turn crooked and the nails become damaged. There should be at least 0.5 cm space (preferably a thumb’s width) between the tip of your longest toe and the front of your shoes.

This space allowance helps to reduce the chances of injury in the event that the footwear hit a hard surface. This is especially important for wearers who are diabetic, as injuries to extremities can lead to gangrene or other grave conditions.

To test whether the shoes are of the right length, you have to put them on and walk around for a while. Walking makes the feet swells.

Good shoes should have fastenings such as buckles, Velcro straps, laces, or T-bar straps. With such fastenings, the feet remain stable within the shoes, preventing shearing movements and blisters. Do not go for elastic bands as they do not offer enough support.

For footwear that does not have fastenings, the muscles have to work harder to keep the foot stable, leading to muscle fatigue and foot pain. Moreover, the toes have to grip onto the footwear for stability and may become injured from overuse or become deformed (such as claw toes). Such footwear includes slip-on shoes, flip-flops and slippers.

Ladies’ pumps and flats, which are broad and loose at the sides, also do not provide sufficient support for the feet.

Though sandals with straps at the back are better than slippers, they do not provide enough stability to the wearer either. The heel is not fully covered and may shift from left to right as a person walks, making it difficult to balance, especially for the elderly. Plantar fasciitis may develop.

Diabetics should not wear flip-flops because the area between their toes can be injured by the friction from the toe grip.

The front part of the shoe (where the ball of the foot rests) should be bendable so as to provide flexibility during walking.

Shoes with a flexible sole that can be bent into two (e.g. ballet flats and loafers) are thought to be more comfortable, but these actually cause the arch of the foot to flatten gradually, leading to pain in the heel, ankle and knee.

A good shoe should have a firm mid sole to support the arch of the foot and should flex only around the ball or front of the foot.

It is vital for the shoe to have a firm heel counter. The heel counter or the back of the shoe is meant to help the heel stays in position in the footwear during walking.

Higher-cut shoes covering and supporting the ankles are good for those who are prone to ankle injuries.

Wearing high heels definitely looks elegant but can cause problems for the feet. Worn over a prolonged period, conditions like heel spur and bunion will develop. Severe bunions can cause great discomfort when standing or walking.

If high heels are unavoidable, the maximum heel height should be two inches.

The shoe should be well-padded, especially at the ball and heel of the foot, where the pressure is higher during movement.

The smooth inner seams will prevent the skin from rubbing against the shoe and blisters forming.

Choose shoes that are made of breathable materials, such as leather and canvas, as these keep the feet cool and dry.

Go for non-slip soles, whenever possible.

When trying shoes, you should be in the standing position instead of being seated. Standing puts weight on the feet, which strains the muscles and ligaments, resulting in a longer and wider feet.

The best time to try shoes is in the late afternoon or evening when the feet are at their largest.

The movement of the feet will affect movement in other parts of the body too. Hence, the problems caused by ill-fitting shoes are not just limited to the feet.

While most of these problems can be remedied by switching to good footwear, some deformities (e.g. deformed toes) may need to be corrected with surgery.

Diabetics should pay extra attention to their footwear because some of them have poor sensation in their feet and legs due to nerve disorders. They may not be aware that their shoes are too tight or are rubbing on certain areas. Blisters or wounds may develop, resulting in infection, and this can lead to disastrous consequences.

Parents should try to get the right footwear for their kids as this can lower their risk of foot-related ailments in the future. Shoe stores like Clarks, Stride Rite and Tutti For Kids have free shoe fitting services for children.

Sports shoes and sneakers are most suitable for the elderly.

Incidentally, the shoe rack is considered to be a home essential, as most households have several pairs of shoes that need storage.

However, a shoe rack containing old, dirty shoes is regarded as bad qi and can affect the feng shui of a house. For those who are interested to know about the correct placement for the shoe rack, please refer to Shoe Rack and its effect on Feng Shui.