10 Ways Your Footwear Might Be Hurting Your Health

Article by Prof. Dr. MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), Ph.D (Ayu)
Shoes are essential tools of our modern lifestyle. But when it comes to health point in contrary to style of the life, there is indeed immediate attention towards proper shoe size, shape, height, material, season and intention is concerned.

Everybody feels that good looking shoes will raise a person’s self esteem.It adds something to his personality and appearance.

High heels, peep toes, stilettos, narrow and tight fitting shoes are each woman’s must desires. Men also have a wide range of shoe styles where front narrow, deep and pointed tips are the trends.

Even though no air space and thick adherence are the other counterparts of men low neck and pointed heels are also becoming in uptrend in few of the countries.

Even though the trends may change from time to time and place to place choice of the healthy and body suitable shoes are should be our primary concerns. Or else on account of style we may end up with so many health issues.
As long running and walking puts an extra pressure on the feet, it may worsen the existing ill health conditions or may give raise to newer discomforts too.

In this brief in this write up I have pointed out some of the discomforts you may face if it is not suitable/indicated for your present health concern in spite of your need and style apprehensions.

Shoe and its shape/size-

Corns

In case of less sized(one size small) shoes, due to constant friction, the skin starts building hard layers of skin cells to protect the skin of the foot. The skin cells form round, kernel-like bumps which are named as corns. These skin cells appear yellow, rough and flat.

Ingrown toenails, hammer toes, crossed toes

Too tight shoes are often the cause of a trip to the orthopaedicians. The people with tight shoes are prone for ingrown toenails due to the nails getting squeezed by the shoe.
Also, hammer toes and crossed toes and also found which in long run lead to foot surgery.

Athlete’s foot

Sweaty socks and tight fitting shoes are one of reasons causing this infection.It is a frequent and contagious fungal infection of the skin that causes scaling, flaking, and itching of the affected areas. Usually toe webs are affected in this condition.

Bunions

When the shoes are with narrow fronts, the bone at the base of the toe is pushed outwards resulting in a bunion. They appear as lumps on the side of the feet or at the base of the big toe. The big toe in this condition is slanted and pressed against other toes, rather than pointing straight.

Skin sores and blisters

Wearing tight shoes continuously or for prolonged duration will result in in blisters or sores. Often ulceration may be associated and bleeding may be complained. The incidences stand in higher rate in the individuals who have numbness or diabetic neuropathy.

Shoe and its height- In the past few years alone, the average height of a high-heeled shoe has gone from 3 to 5 inches, notes Phyllis Rein, senior vice president of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York.

Muscle shrinkage, tendon thickness

Wearing high heeled foot wears does not restrict you mere for the problems of ankles. The studies have shown that women who regularly wore high heels had shorter calf muscles and stiffer, thicker Achilles tendons. This repeatedly causes aching pain followed with fatigue throughout.

Joint degeneration and OA

Prolonged wearing of high heels are reported to be causing joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis due to persistent stretching and excess of wear and tear around the joint structures

Back curvatures-chronic headache, migraines

Judy F. Baumhauer, an orthopedic surgeon and president of the AOFAS mentions that heels throw the body’s alignment out of whack when one wears the high heeled foot wears. This happens due to the change in the center of balance. Constant shift of center of balance result in increased curvature of the back.

Further this can lead to the discs of spine breaking down, as well as muscle spasms and pain throughout the body. Constant agitation may lead to even chronic headache or migraines.

Shoe and its material-

Skin allergy

Poor materials or ultra synthetic shoes coming up in these days may cause allergic disorders of the skin.Also the leather which is not processed properly may lead to skin complaints and in few of the cases they may worsen the existing skin problems as well.

Shoe and intention-

Diabetic foot

People with diabetes often suffer from nerve damage in the foot. Especially the incidences remain in higher range in diabetic patients if they wear unintentional shoes. Due to this, they often lose the sensation in this area and don’t tend to realize when they experience skin irritations or even punctures. Such a condition is called diabetic foot.

Spinal pain/Back ache/Sciatica

In fact, women’s visits to the doctor for foot and toe complaints shot up 75% between 2005 and 2009, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Specialists keep the vigilance that bad footwear choices can cause havoc all the way up the legs and into the spine. The incidences have reported the back ache and sciatica have increased significantly by the unintentional foot wears in working women in world wide.

Last drop
Dear readers of easyayurveda.com, is it not wise to select a correct foot wear according to one’s regular need and concerns ? Lifestyle need should not be a cause for the ill health condition which may lead to permanent damage of the joint, tendon or nerves.
Unless one is on the beach, real sandals, not flip-flops are the right kinds to adopt.

To add-up, Ayurveda prescribes that wearing foot wear is not mere for protection of foot and skin but also a matter as aphrodisiac…..!
Further it explores that dry-hard and rough materials are non-aphrodisiacs and quite opposite- unctuous, light weight and smooth ones are the real charming aphrodisiac footwear varieties.

Article by Prof. Dr. MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD (Ayu)
Email: srimuliya@gmail.com