[ back ]

Your health: Be sweet to your feet
By Diana Seufert, MSN, RN, NP, manager of the Occupational Health Service

Diana Seufert, MSN, RN, NP,

ost people don't think much about their feet unless they start to hurt, but the health of your feet is important. Day in and day out, your feet carry the weight of your body just by standing, let alone by walking or running. The distance you travel also affects your feet. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, the average person walks over 8,000 steps a day. This can add up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime—the equivalent of walking around the Earth four times.

It's not surprising then that 75 percent of Americans experience foot problems. They can be caused by injuries, like sprains, or illnesses, like diabetes and arthritis. However, many foot ailments are due to wearing poor fitting or poorly designed shoes.

Here are some tips for choosing the right shoe:

• Purchase shoes wide enough to wiggle your toes and long enough to have a slight space at the end of the longest toe when standing up.
• Select a shoe that fits the shape of your foot.
• Feet swell toward the end of the day, so purchase shoes to accommodate the increase.
• Buy shoes to fit your bigger foot.
• Don't select shoes only by the marked size, since size depends on brand and style.
• Don't buy shoes that are too tight and hope they will stretch.
• Shoe soles should be strong and flexible with a good gripping surface.
• Don't wear high heels for long periods of time, as they cause changes in body posture, making backaches and foot pain more likely.
• Make sure shoes have good arch supports and cushioned insoles to help distribute weight and absorb the jolts of walking on hard surfaces.
• Make sure the heel and instep fit well—the heel should not slip and the instep should not gape.
• Choose the proper shoe for the proper activity to protect both feet and ankles.
• Discard shoes that are worn and beyond their useful life.

For a list of suggested shoe types and brands, visit www.apma.org/seal/sealaccategory.html#FOOTWEAR.