Fashionable shoes ruining feet?
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Most people see flat shoes as a healthy alternative to heels; without the risk of stiletto-related sprains and sore feet, they certainly seem the safer option!
However, young girls and teenagers who opt for fashion over function in their footwear are reportedly risking their health – and it could be affecting adults, too.
We can all remember protesting at our parents’ insistence on wearing Clarks lace-ups to school, wanting to wear flat Mary Janes or ballet pumps instead.
Experts are hinting, though, that your parents' choice could save you years of back, neck and hip pain that can arise as a result of wearing improper footwear.
And while children and teenagers are more susceptible to health problems, due to the fact that their bones are still growing and more supple, the advice extends to adults – listen up if you’re addicted to ballet flats!
Shoes like flat ballet pumps, despite being a more fashionable option, do not provide support in the arch of the feet, which can cause the heels to become sore.
Ugg-style boots also scored less than highly in the study – while the branded boots have reinforced soles, cheaper imitations cause wearers to walk more flat-footed, creating back and neck tension.
Trainers such as Converse, Vans, and Keds should be treated in the same way as fashionable shoes, as they have flat soles rather than arch support.
A slight heel with a rubber sole is one of the best options – sportier styles of trainers or functional leather shoes with a one- or two-inch heel might not be as chic as flats, but your spine will thank you for wearing them!
The healthiest ‘fashion’ shoes? Doc Marten-style lace up boots – currently being rocked by celebrities like Fearne Cotton, Alexa Chung and Agyness Deyn, try persuading your girls to wear them instead!
Do you ever suffer from back pain? Do you wear flats or heels?