Step out… in a proper pair of shoes!

[27 November 2008 - 09h13]

As chiropodists never tire of telling us – trainers are for sport! But getting your child and especially your teenager to understand this is another matter.

So let’s remind ourselves what really matters when choosing a new pair of shoes. What we are looking for is a clever combination of comfort and support – and both qualities are found in many types of “town shoes”.

Chiropodist Philippe Saillant, a member of the French association for healthy feet, sets out three main criteria when choosing shoes:
firm reinforcement at the back of the shoe to ensure that the heel is well supported;
laces or Velcro fasteners so that the instep is well supported but without restricting the toes;
a slightly raised heel (2-3 cm maximum) to give greater flexibility when walking, allowing the foot to move naturally.

Trainers may be fashionable, but… they should only be used for sport. According to Philippe Saillant, wearing trainers every day overheats the feet. This leads to excessive sweating and can eventually result in fungal infections. Not forgetting that many trainers do not provide sufficient support for the sole of the foot.

If your child or teenager insists on wearing trainers, suggest that he or she alternates these with proper town shoes. Wear is an excellent indicator of foot imbalance: if there’s no problem with static foot alignment normal wear will occur on the extreme outer back of the shoe.

Source : Interview Philippe Saillant, chiropodists - Union française pour la santé du Pied

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