Seniors and their Feet
Woman love shoes! Women of all ages are tempted to buy for
style rather than comfort, even though we know that when your feet hurt you
hurt all over. Painful feet are no
picnic. Flimsy shoes lead to sore feet
and can contribute to knee and back problems as well.
Shannon Wilder (Arthritis
Today May/June 2008) understands arthritis and understands painful feet. She wrote an article called “Summer Soles”
with tips about what to look for when you buy your next pair of shoes.
Support is the key. If your feet are painful you need proper
support for the ball, arch and heel of your foot. Shoes should have semi-rigid soles, backs and
sides in order to provide enough support. She recommends avoiding shoes that can be bent in half front to back.
Coverage is of the
essence. It might be fun to show off
your fancy pedicure but shoes that have bumpers that cover the toes and heels
are studier and more comfortable than flat slippery sandals, and protect you
from stubbed toes.
Comfort is everything if you
are on your feet a lot. Cushioning and
support with supple materials such as soft leather is ideal. The heel should be as wide as the back of the
shoe rather than tapered, in order to lend stability and comfort.
Everyone wants to be a size
six or below but if your feet are bigger you are going to have to live with
that. Make sure that your shoe has a
wide enough toe box so that you can wiggle your toes from side to side and up
and down. The space between your longest
toe and the edge of the shoe should be equal to the width of your
thumbnail. Your heel should not lift off
of the foot bed when you walk.
Recommendations for summer
wear include the Key Largo, which is a closed back clog by Klogs (www.klogs.com) and the Row which has an
internal rocker and Velcro straps by Clarks
Comments