22 Sep 2011
By: Lea Wee
People with foot problems are probably wearing the wrong shoes, said podiatrists here.
Ms Natalie Tang, a podiatrist at Singapore General Hospital, said: “At least half of the common foot problems seen in our hospital could have been prevented with the right footwear.”
A good pair of shoes offers both comfort and support for the feet, but people tend to buy what looks good, rather than what is good for them, she said.
They also tend to buy shoes which are too narrow for their toes, said Ms Chelsea Law, a senior podiatrist at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
This is because people tend to try shoes when they are seated, rather than when standing.
Standing puts weight on the feet, which strains the muscles and ligaments and makes the feet longer and wider, she said.
A narrow toe box may look dainty but it puts pressure on the forefoot. This stimulates the skin to thicken and form not-so-dainty calluses and corns (which look like “chicken eyes”) over bony parts such as the ball of the foot and the top of the toes.
Over time, the nerves in the foot can also be affected, leading to a painful condition called neuroma, a tumour growing from a nerve, usually between the third and fourth toes, said Ms Tang.
The constant shearing or sideways movement of the toes against the shoe also leads to painful blisters.
Toes can become squashed and deformed and nails, damaged. The flesh of the toe may press painfully against the sharp edge of the nail, forming an ingrown toenail.
In short, nothing good comes out of compressing one’s toes into a tiny space.
Another common mistake people make is to buy shoes with a flexible sole that can be bent into two, like ballet flats and loafers, said Ms Law.
She said: “They think these are more comfortable. But these actually cause their arch to collapse, leading to arch and heel pain.”
Athletic shoes are better because they tend to be flexible at the correct site – the ball of the foot – rather than the arch.
If you have already bought the wrong pair of shoes, do not spend more than 30 minutes every day walking in them, said Ms Law.
The problems caused by ill-fitting shoes are not limited to the feet.
Ms Law said: “All parts of the body are connected, hence, movement of the feet will affect movement in other parts of the body.”
A pair of high heels, for instance, throws the weight of the body forward towards the ball of the foot. This causes the wearer to arch her back and tilt her head backwards, which could lead to a headache.
But while most problems caused by ill-fitting shoes can be reversed by switching to better-fitting ones, some, such as deformed toes, may need to be corrected with surgery.
Deformed nails, which include thickened or discoloured nails, cannot be corrected. Even if the nails are removed, they will grow back deformed.
Shoes that do not fit can also be disastrous for people with conditions such as diabetes.
Ms Law said: “Diabetics have poor sensation. They may not be aware that their shoes are too tight or rubbing on certain areas and blisters or wounds may develop.”
Infection can set in and if treatment is delayed, death can result, she said.
Email: leawee@sph.com.sg
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