Protecting Your Feet Can Be A Challenge
By Tom Herrin
Pretty much all of us wear shoes. They come in all shapes and styles. Sometimes we find ourselves more interested in what they look like than how they really feel. We think to ourselves that they will break in and feel comfortable. At the same time, we may deal with tired feet most days. This is not the way it is meant to be. Shoes are such a part of our everyday lives that they should enhance our activities rather than make us worn out by them.
Don’t Let Style Cause Pain
One of the biggest offenders in footwear is high heels. They look appealing, but several things cause problems that are often damaging to the feet. The most obvious thing about them is that the weight of the entire body is being forced down toward the toes. The result can be extreme discomfort due to pushing all the body’s weight into the area designed for only part of the foot. You may look "hot" but feel "not."
Don’t Live In The Past
It could be that you used to be a smaller shoe size, but that doesn’t mean you still are. As we age, our feet often become wider and larger overall. Years of gravity pushing down will result in the feet spreading somewhat. That is no disgrace. Wearing shoes that are too small because you wore a small size years ago doesn’t make it right, or comfortable. You should be striving for comfort over some perceived thought that keeps you clinging to your youth.
Get The Right Shoes For The Task
A few years ago, I went on a backpacking trip with some of my sons. I had some pretty good boots that seemed like they would hold up and be just what I needed. I couldn’t have been more wrong. After I had hiked up to 12,000 feet and back down, I found that I had blisters on the back of my feet from going up and blisters on my toes from coming back down. I failed to do a good job of finding shoes designed for the activity. That was a painful lesson to learn.
Shoes Should Be An Investment
Buying shoes should be considered an investment in better health. After all, the foot is made up of 26 bones and 33 joints that are all critical in providing an extremely necessary function. Look carefully and decide ahead of time what you are looking for. Keep in mind the kind of activities you do. You may need several pair to perform various types of things. Your feet need to last your entire life. Let’s try to give them all the help possible.