Are Flat Shoes Good for Your Feet?
posted: Apr. 01, 2022.
Are Flat Shoes Good for Your Feet?
High-heel shoes are often cited as being bad for the feet. Any podiatrist will tell you that if you wear high heels too often, it is a recipe for a multitude of foot problems.
The truth is, those cute Manolo stilettos with the pointy front are extremely bad for your feet, especially if you plan to wear them daily.
Here's why.
Such shoes deal your feet a one-two punch. First, they are high, so the weight of your body is on the front part of the feet. Second, the narrow toe box forces your toes together.
The result is high shoes affect multiple parts of your lower body, including:
- Ankle joints – the poor posture prevents the ankle joint from stabilizing
- Achilles' tendon – prolonged strain can cause stiffening
- Balls of the feet
- Knees – walking with semi-bended knees can lead to chronic knee pain
- Back – poor load-bearing transmission to the lower back can cause the lower vertebrae to compress
Foot problems that can develop from wearing high heels include:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Calluses
- Corns
- Hammertoe
- Morton's Neuroma
- Bunions
Are Flat Shoes the Answer?
If you read up to here, you might think flat shoes are the answer. They are the opposite of high heels, so they must be perfect for the feet, right?
Not quite.
Genuinely flat shoes, like flip-flops, are also not the best type of shoes to wear every day.
Since they lack any kind of heel or ball support, wearing them daily can lead to all sorts of foot problems, including a collapsed foot arch, a precursor to flat feet.
What Problems Can Wearing Flat Shoes All the Time Cause?
- Flat shoes with pointy toes will still put pressure on your toes since the force of stepping is not evenly distributed among your toes. Wearing such shoes can cause ingrown nails, hammertoe, and other conditions.
- Flat shoes often lead to heel pain, a common symptom of plantar fasciitis. If you wear flat shoes too often and for too long, the strain on your heel and foot structures can cause inflammation and pain.
- Blisters, corns, and calluses can result from wearing flat shoes with little to no support for the heel and toes. Since the feet will be taking up most of the support pressure, such conditions can develop with time.
The Verdict?
Wearing high-heeled shoes and flat shoes can cause foot problems because neither provides adequate support to the feet.
The best option is to go for something midway. Wedges or shoes with a moderate back heel are ideal because they provide a slight lift to the heel, making for more comfortable wearing.
That said, it is okay to wear those Manolo heels for that special occasion, and it is equally okay to wear those flip flops for a day at the beach.
A simple rule of thumb is always to ask how long you will need to be on your feet before picking which shoes to wear. If you'll be on your feet for long, it's better to choose something comfortable, even if it means carrying a pair of flip flops or high heels in the bag to change into later.