Step Into Comfort: Choosing Foot Shaped Shoes to Decrease pain

Foot Ankle & Knee Pain
Written By Willowbrook Chiropractic

Do you suffer from foot pain or discomfort when wearing certain shoes? You might be surprised to learn that the design of your shoes could be the culprit. In this video, let’s delve into the differences between typical shoes and foot-shaped shoes, shedding light on how our footwear choices impact our foot health.

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Most traditional shoes, including running and dress shoes, are designed with a narrow toe box that forces the toes to scrunch together. This unnatural positioning can lead to various foot problems over time, such as bunions or neuromas. Bunions, a problem around the big toe knuckle, are often caused by the big toe angling inward to fit into pointy shoes, resulting in a buildup of bone around the metatarsal. Or you might experience a neuroma, a pinching of a nerve in the foot between the metatarsal bones that can be quite painful.

So, what is the solution? Enter foot-shaped shoes. Unlike traditional footwear, foot-shaped shoes provide a wider toe box that allows the toes to spread out naturally. This design helps to alleviate pressure on the metatarsals and supports a more natural foot posture, reducing the risk of developing foot issues due to overcrowding.

A more foot shaped running shoe can be found from the brand Altra, they are the original natural foot shape running shoe brand. It is wider to allow the toes to fan out and the midfoot can spread. This is not considered a “barefoot shoe” because it still has a running shoe cushion, and it is stacked higher off the ground. But the drop -the distance the heel is from the ground versus the toes to the ground - is zero drop. Meaning there is no elevation of the heel, the heel and toes are level. A typical running shoe might have anywhere from 5 mm to 12mm of difference from the heel to the toe. Many of us are used to being in shoes that have more of a heel lift. So to transition to an Altra shoe may take a bit of getting used to. Altra does have a new shoe just out, the Altra Experience Flow that has a 4mm drop. Or there is another company Topo that also makes shoes with low drop 3-5mm. See links below to find Altras and Topos locally and we have Altra samples to look at if you are curious.

For those seeking casual footwear, Birkenstocks are a great option. Known for their natural foot shape and arch support, Birkenstocks provide a comfortable and supportive alternative to traditional shoes. They come in various styles, including sandals and clogs, and are designed with a zero-drop heel.

There is a whole other category of “barefoot shoes”. These are for people who are looking to strengthen their feet naturally, who like the feel of the ground underneath them, who have strengthened their feet enough that they don't need arch support from their shoe. They are completely flexible, 0 drop heel to toe, and also 0 stack. If you are curious about barefoot shoes I would recommend you try them at home so you get some casual walking and standing to help strengthen your feet. But depending on what your issue is, it might take some extra work outside of just wearing a barefoot shoe for your feet to become strong enough to tolerate a barefoot shoe. If you imagine our traditional shoes are like back braces, we get used to relying on the brace instead of our natural muscles and strength. Dr. Robin has tried an inexpensive brand from Amazon around the office if you are barefoot curious.

If you are experiencing foot pain or discomfort, it might be time to reevaluate your footwear choices. Foot-shaped and barefoot shoes offer a more natural alternative to traditional shoes, promoting better foot health for some people and reducing the risk of developing issues like bunions and neuromas.

For more information and personalized advice, feel free to reach out to Dr. Robin Armstrong or Dr. Jody Freedman at Willowbrook Chiropractic. Your feet will thank you!

Check out this extensive list of foot shaped and barefoot shoes from our friends at Gait Happens (with discount codes!) https://gaithappens.com/favorite-products/

Willowbrook Chiropractic
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