How to Choose the Right Shoes

How to choose the right shoes

Often we buy shoes based only on their appearance. It is important to us how attractive and fashionable the shoes look. But it is important to approach the choice of shoes seriously: your health depends on what you wear on your feet.

Choosing shoes

Poor quality or simply unsuitable shoes can darken your life with minor but annoying troubles, such as blisters. In addition, much more serious problems may arise - diseases of the veins, joints, even the spine. Therefore, the two main rules for choosing shoes are very simple: it is better not to save money and to refuse beautiful but uncomfortable shoes.

You should not buy new shoes in the morning: by evening, your feet usually swell slightly, and shoes purchased in the morning may seem tight. Make sure your shoes fit perfectly—fit snugly, but not constrictingly. Tight shoes can cause poor circulation, ingrown toenails, or crooked toes. Don't buy shoes that are too tight in the hope that they will wear out over time—don't force yourself to walk in uncomfortable shoes for a long time. However, you should not wear very loose shoes that allow your feet to dangle. Such shoes can also cause calluses, and the leg muscles are constantly under tension.

“When trying on, always wear both shoes,” experts recommend. — Be sure to walk through the fitting area. While walking, you should lightly feel the toe of the shoe with your fingers, but not rest against it. Run your hand over the surface of the material and make sure that your toes do not stick out with tubercles on it.”

Choose shoes with fairly soft, flexible soles. Bend the shoes in your hands. In high-quality shoes, the sole bends easily, and the top of the shoe does not deform too much. With very thin soles it is convenient to walk only on a flat floor; walking in such shoes on asphalt can hardly be called pleasant - your foot will feel every pebble. For every day, it is best to choose shoes with small wide heels. A passion for high heels can have a negative impact on your health.

“High heels are harmful not only to the forefoot, but also to the middle and rear,” says orthopedic traumatologist Andrei Kardanov. — The problem is that in the position of the foot almost “on tiptoe” the load is distributed in an absolutely non-physiological way - some parts of the foot are overloaded, others, on the contrary, are too unloaded. In addition, a high heel completely “turns off” the spring function of the foot. Ideally, with each step, the foot should “spring”, softening the load. And when wearing high heels, every step feels like a blow to the spine. The result is osteochondrosis, herniated intervertebral discs, which manifest themselves as seemingly causeless back pain.

So, heels higher than 2-4 centimeters are not recommended. Of course, if necessary, you can wear shoes with a 12-centimeter heel, but such shoes should not be casual. It is best for each pair of casual shoes to have instep supports (built-in or glued on), that is, an insole or half-insole. The insole completely conforms to the shape of the sole, and the half-insole is located only under the heel. The purpose of the insole (and half-insole) is to support normal (or already falling) arches of the feet. This will avoid flat feet. If after several days of wearing new shoes you feel that your feet are uncomfortable, either change your shoes or contact an orthopedic salon to select appropriate arch supports or insoles.”

In hot and cold

The best choice for any season is shoes made of natural material, which will allow the skin of your feet to breathe and will not interfere with natural heat transfer. We recommend shoes made of genuine leather, nubuck, suede, and textiles. The latter material, by the way, is fashionable this season. Leatherette shoes can