Did you ever. . .

Leave a party or wedding early because your were sore?
Opt out of a lunch with colleagues because your shoes were not up for the six-block walk?
Stand in front of your closet re-thinking what to wear because of your shoes?
   . . . you knew the pretty shoes would feel miserable, but. . .

Uncomfortable shoes are not just painful. You already know bad shoes can ruin your feet. You might not have thought about how they compromise your enjoyment of life.

Yet, for most women foot pain is self-chosen – either because we don’t realize the painful implications of our footwear choices or because we don’t realize there are better options.

Nota Bene wants to make the case that your feet are worth a little consideration, and a lot of care. After all, you only get one pair of feet for your entire life!

Some foot facts for thought. . .

The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, with women averaging more steps than men.

Your foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles. That is over 10% of the bones and joints in your body.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates that foot problems cost $3.5 billion a year in the United States.

The same AAOS study found that nationally, more than 80% of podiatry patients are women. Moreover, among the patients that required surgery for a bunion, 94% were women. These numbers are due to footwear.

Genetics is an inescapable part of “bad feet.” Age-related changes are also inescapable- tendons, ligaments and muscles lose their elasticity, fat pads which cushion the bottom of the foot thin out (sadly, wearing heels can accelerate this process). The aging foot is longer, flatter, and less padded. But, the most important factor in the future of your feet is in your hands – and head. For most women, the footwear you choose has the most impact on the future health and comfort of your feet.

There are two arches in each foot:   longitudinal (front to back) and transverse/metatarsal (side to side).  These act like bridges/springs that help the body absorb shock (for which the rest of our bones and joints are grateful) and conserve energy (not so much an advantage to our calorie-dense society as it used to be when humans were hunting our next meal on the wild tundras and boreal tropics).  Both arches need enough room to work properly.  Your footwear needs to be wide enough for the ball of your foot to spread to its natural limit.

Toes help with balance and push off. For the most part they do not bear weight. The metatarsal heads (ball of your feet) and your heels bear the most weight. Your footwear needs to be wide enough for your toes to grip and push-off.

Footwear was “invented” to protect feet. For early man this meant protection from cold, wet, and injury/punctures/scratches. But for those of us in the post-modern era, protection is more about shock-absorbing and cushioning. Walking on cement, concrete, and similarly unforgiving surfaces, takes a greater toll on our feet and joints than walking on spongy earth.

You can preserve your feet by wearing shoes that fit well and are comfortable. Make sure there is good character and integrity inside and out. Pretty on the outside, AND pretty on the inside.