Flip flop kind of sandal with a contoured footbed like Birkenstocks, can't stand anything on my heel like straps, otherwise bare feet......Never heard of the African Nations suffering with feet problems when some of them spend their entire life bare footed.

Sanji

Never heard of the African Nations suffering with feet problems when some of them spend their entire life bare footed.

Said podiatrist doesn't have much truck with this myth either! She was born and grew up in Tanzania and her mother and brother still live there and she says that many Africans have a whole load of problems as a result of spending so much time barefoot. The big problem of going barefoot in Africa is the parasites that can be picked up as a result as well as infections via cuts to bare soles which contribute to lower life expectancy rates in rural areas with the result that many die before they start to experience the wear and tear issues that effect our feet in old age. Victoria Beckham is really unusual in having bunions already at her age - apart from ballet dancers, they are something that affects us mainly in middle age as a result of the cumulative effect of all those years of walking around. A good many of those barefoot athletes from Kenya and Tanzania are now suffering as they enter middle-age too because of the punishing training schedules they followed in their youth.

Going barefoot means that you won't end up with corns on your toes from wearing shoes that are too small or tight fitting but you can get them on the balls of your feet instead. Corns and callouses form essentially as a protective mechanism and people who spend a lot of time in barefeet or in mule type sandals where their feet can move around in them can be particularly prone to getting them on the balls and heels of their feet. I do spend a lot of time barefoot and she's forever telling me off for not using foot cream on my feet sufficiently frequently to stop the callouses, that have formed as result, from cracking. As she says, it's not as if I'm an African farmhand who can't afford to buy a decent cream and I shouldn't be so lazy.

Also, human beings might have evolved to walk upright but we still suffer some physical consequences as a result. So people who spend most of their time barefoot rather than having their feet supported by welll made shoes end up with fallen arches and back pain. She'd approve of Sanji's Birkenstocks because of that contoured footbed and does recommend that anybody who makes a habit of wearing ballet style pumps a lot should use prostheses within them so that their arches are supported. She reckons that along with the damaging effect of 'turnout', one of the reasons why professional ballet dancers have such awful feet is because they spend so much time either barefoot or in shoes which provide no support to their feet. Anybody who's seen photos of Nureyev's feet knows just what she's talking about!

SM

SM, I don't think I'd agree with your podiatrist on some points and I think the lady doth protest too much because leaving athletes and ballet dancers to one side because most of us don't go pivoting around on our toes, going barefooted gives a significant reduction in joint loads at both the knees and the hips, compared with when walking in "normal" shoes and people who have knee problems like osteoarthritis are encouraged to go barefooted.

It's shoes that increase stresses on the knee and ankle, in fact wearing boots reduces the mobility of the ankle joint and wearing shoes in early childhood can be detrimental to the longitudinal arch of the foot, generally speaking those who go barefooted have stronger feet with better flexibility and mobility, fewer deformities like flat feet or toes that curve inwards, and less problems because walking barefoot enables a more natural gait, eliminating the hard heel strike and instead allowing for a rocking motion of the foot from heel to toe.
Going barefoot helps to develop strength in the muscles and ligaments in your feet, legs and hips that are inhibited and which over time disintegrated when wearing shoes.

This is why runners wearing shoes have so many problems because running barefoot usually involves an initial forefoot strike and a full range of mobility within the ankle joint, but when the foot is encased in shoes they tend to hit the tarmac on the heel first and the joint absorbs the shock impact, and this is why shoe manufacturers have made millions designing cushioned heels and incorporating shock absorbers into running shoes.

The feet have ligaments and muscles just like the rest of the body and they need to be exercised through a natural range of motion just like everything else and encasing them in boots for most of the year restricts this range, you wouldn't wear a plastercast on your arm unless you'd broken it would you.?
I remember when I first started using my Pilates machine, jeez along with the rest of my body, my feet didn't know what had hit them. lol

Personally I think our feet work best when bare, unencumbered by elevated heels, arch supports, motion control and other gait altering features, but of course it isn't practical to walk outside barefooted, certainly not outside my house, I'll stand in the dog poop and probably get a hookworm infection, and if we didn't have any problems caused by shoes, think about how many ‘experts' and shoe manufacturers would be out of a job.?
Money makes the world go round, even for a Podiatrist who doth protest too much.

Sanji

Speaking as someone who visits the podiatrist regularly and has arthritis in knees, feet and ankles, it would cripple me if I had to go barefooted which in my case is impossible anyway as I need footwear that supports my feet.
I can't wear heels or even very flat shoes/sandals so have problems finding any sandals that are light and comfortable, I've spent loads on footwear only to find after wearing them a couple of times I have to throw them out. I have recently bought a pair from Clarks and am hoping they will be okay.....Caz

Sanji and I have gone here so apologies to the rest of you.

Suffice to say that I'll stick with the advice of the health professional who has done a wonderful job of keeping further foot problems at bay for me, just as has the dermatologist whose advice re sun exposure has meant that I haven't had to have any further surgical procedures for suspect moles etc. And has helped me keep my complexion in much better condition than my same age cousins even though others on other threads choose to make different choices. Each to their own as to whether we take on board advice from the professionals or not but I know whose advice I am taking.

SM

PS The consultant that I have started seeing for early stage osteoarthritis in my knees and hips has also endorsed the use of the prostheses recommended by the podiatrist for reducing the strain on my joints so I guess that there are differences of opinion on the barefoot option with regard such problems.

Caz, it might be worth having a word with either your podiatrist or your orthopaedic consultant or whoever is treating your arthritis about having made-to-measure prostheses. In order to wear them with sandals it is best to have a heel cup if at all possible and not just a slingback strap though I have done so (and of course you can't wear them with mules at all) but they can make a big difference and I wear them very successfully with mid-heeled sandalised dance shoes (which always have a heel cup) as well as flatter ordinary shoes and sandals.

If your consultant refers you then you can get them on the NHS for free but there might be a waiting list depending on where you live. Have a word with yur GP in the first instance because that's where my referral to the podiatrist first came from and started in train the process whereby I got mine. It's worth persevering with - I find that they make a huge difference.

SM

Crocs Crocs and more Crocs - check out the different styles - flip flops, sandals, heels and even fitness toning ones. I suffer with bad kness and feet and am diabetic so have to take care of my feet. Discovered crocs and now wear nothing else - even wellies in winter!!!
They are so comfortable and have sole support I suffer no more with aching feet especially on holiday and when my feet and ankles swell I put my loose fitting crocs on. Try them and see for yourself!!

They're not just clog shape and plastic looking - there are loads of designs!!!

I usually take about 3 pairs and wear the fourth - my problem is which to take !!! It's all about co-ordination!!

They also act like shock absorbers - great for my knees!

Does anyone else enjoy crocs????

Thanks for the suggestions, I did have something made at the clinic and they are of some help and I have a pair of crocs .....Caz

Love my crocs! Always take a couple of pairs of what I call 'the ugly ones' on holiday for the beach and walking around markets etc. I also take a couple of pairs of sassari crocs as these are still casual and comfortable but smart enough to wear in the evenings....and i don't have sore feet at the end of the night. Paula

Bought 4 pairs of flats this weekend sandals that is.

1 x river island, 1 xtopshop and 2 new look.

I am addicted to shoes usually heels mainly but the flats are lovely. I have about 200 pairs of shoes now.........

bought 2 pairs of flats this week from primark £4.90 the white shoes are leather




both pairs are toepost

I like the "patricia" crocs and I also have a pair of "mary janes" that I wear about the house as slippers,wouldn't want to be without them.I also wear Scholl sandals some of the time in summer.

I love my flip-flops. I have loads of pairs. I take a couple of pairs of 'decent' ones for on a night and a couple of pairs of 'comfy' ones for during the day. Every time I go shopping my OH tells me not to fetch anymore home!

Youngest wears flip flops
16 yo wears heels on the night, gladiator sandals in the day
Me - Flipflops, sandals, wedges.. depending on my mood

CourtneeLouise xx

Got back from Portugal on Thursday and most women had flats on in the night

For me nothing beats Havainas flip flops for daytime. I have black , red and gold pairs they are great. Nightime I usually wear glittery flats mostly from Monsoon.

Can't believe it when my daughter came home from shopping with Espedrilles for holiday, how long ago did I wear them

CourtneeLouise xx

I wear both but prefer heels as I'm a bit of a shorty.

Oh it must be flat sandals, my feet kill me when I try to wear heels