Footwear has long been a matter of personal preference. Style, comfort, color, fit, all come into play. How you dress has to coordinate with the choice of shoes you put on your feet. There is a lot to it.
In Southwest Florida one of the most predominate choices because of our lovely tropical weather is flip flops. While convenient and airy, keeping your feet cool, they are really terrible for your body mechanically. They offer zero support, make you grip a small thong with your toes creating pressure, and are a slipping hazard to potentially cause even more harm.
The only shoe that tops them when it comes to being bad for your body is high heels. Wearing high heels shifts your body weight causing an unnatural alignment that over time can shorten the calf muscle and cause foot, knee, and hip issues.
Shoes do not have to be expensive to be beneficial.
What they do need to be is solidly made and support the arch of your foot correctly. When shoe shopping of course you are initially attracted by the design visually, but when trying them on make sure you give them a few minutes. Walk around in the store. Notice where your foot hits the shoe and makes sure there are no points that it is scrunching or pinching your foot or toes.
Even with well constructed shoes its also a great idea to get custom orthotics made (Foot Levelers). These inserts that slide easily into any shoe are made from a scan of your feet. They are then formed to the exact constructs of your foot bottom. They will give support keeping your ankle, foot, leg, hip and rest of the body in perfect alignment.
Why Alignment is Important
The best analogy is to think of tires on your car. When you car is out of alignment you can visually see the uneven wear on the tread. Just because you cant immediately see the uneven wear on your body, doesn’t mean it isn’t forming. Over time “uneven wear” can needlessly wear out your joints. This will cause inflammation leading to pain and even breakdown of cartilage which leads to even more pain.
Set your body up for success. Be proactive in your heath. You need a strong base and that is your feet and foot ware.
At the office of Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. we create custom Foot Leveler Orthotics with state of the art scanning technology. Give us a call today for your appointment and start feeling your best!
Chiropractor | Nutritionist in Ft Myers, FL.
Chiropractic care is a safe, alternative treatment when applied appropriately. Chiropractic treatments help in dealing with the symptoms of many conditions. Are you going to wait for your symptoms to be felt, or are you going to prevent it as soon as possible?
Dr. Jason B. Kaster, a chiropractor, and nutritionist in Fort Myers can help you and your family achieve their optimal health.
239-332-2555