The shoes you wear every day are more than a fashion statement. Your footwear is what protects 和 cushions one of the hardest working parts of your body: your feet. That’s why the type of shoes you wear 和 how well they fit are crucial.
Each step you take does more than simply support the weight of your body 和 its movement. Your steps also pack a force of two to three times your body weight. That’s a lot of work for one of your body’s most complex “machines.” Together each foot 和 ankle include 26 bones — a fourth of the bones in your body.
“The feet are supposed to go on forever, 和 yet they work harder 和 under worse conditions than most everything,” say Beaufort Memorial board-certified podiatrists Drs. Michael Edwards 和 特伦特Statler.
And according to the American Orthopaedic Foot 和 Ankle Society (AOFAS), all that stress 和 pressure day after day can lead to painful problems that are exacerbated by ill-fitting or worn-out footwear. Your feet are susceptible to bunions, 鸡眼, 老茧, 导致槌状趾, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures 和 more.
When you shop for new shoes, there are a lot of considerations. The AOFAS suggests trying these shoe-shopping tips on for size:
Even after you find the right shoes, remember they will wear down over time. Shoes take a beating — some more than others — so replace the ones you wear most often especially if they’ve lost their support or spring. That’s usually after six months to a year of regular use.
When your feet hurt, treat them to the rest they deserve. If you’re experiencing foot or ankle pain, get to the bottom of it with help from Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Learn about causes, tips 和 treatments for foot 和 ankle pain.