Shoes are an everyday article that act to protect the feet and allow for comfortable movement and proper gait. However, the functional aspect of footwear is often sacrificed at the cost of fashion, increasing the likelihood of improper gait and injury. This can impair the biomechanics of the lower limb and causing pain at the foot, ankle, knee, and hip and potentially lead to muscle imbalances that affect the upper body.

Proper footwear should…

– Have a stiff back: Test this by grabbing the heel with one hand and the middle of the shoe with the other hand. The heel of the shoe should not be able move to the side.

– Be able to bend at the toes: You should be able to bend the shoes upwards at where your toes would be.

– Be able to twist slightly lengthwise: Grab both ends of the shoe and twist. The twisting should not occur easily or be excessive.

– Provide support of the medial arch: The inside of your foot should not become flat.

– Have comfortable soles.

– Be used for the designed activity: For example, basketball shoes should not be used in place of running shoes for long distance running.

– Comfortably fit your feet: Shoes should not feel too loose or tight at the heel or at the toes. Walking in shoes before buying them is a great way to test how they feel.

– Shoes that cause pain should not be worn, even if they do not look old.

Prescribed orthotic inserts can also be used alongside proper footwear to improve an individual’s foot mechanics and gait. Orthotics act to correct the alignment of the lower limb. They can help with foot pain that is caused by certain medical conditions, such as plantar fasciitis, diabetes, and arthritis, and/or ankle, hip, or back issues.

Custom foot orthotics can be offered by our chiropractic and physiotherapy practitioners to help treat any lower extremity issue. Call Revitamax at 416 360 8326 to book an appointment at our Rexdale/Etobicoke location (680 Rexdale Blvd, Unit 11).