Nothing ruins your summer vacation quite like sore feet or painful heels, especially if you planned on walking to see the sights or enjoy a sunset (or two!). But surprisingly, many people are misled when it comes to what type of footwear is best. So, what should you know?
In this article, we’re going to lay it all out, helping you find the best type of summer shoes for the beach, walking, and more.
What Summer Shoes Shouldn’t You Wear?
A lot of popular shoe brands destabilise the feet, leading to issues in other parts of the body—which many often assume are unrelated. Yet, many pain problems actually start in the feet. Everything in the body is connected, and if destabilisation occurs lower down, it’s going to impact joints and structures above.
Some popular brands we don’t recommend include:
- Birkenstocks
- Nike Flip-Flops
- Crocs
- Skechers
- FitFlop
At Posture & Wellness, we also don’t advise wearing high heels as these don’t allow for a natural position of the feet and are further associated with toe deformities over time, such as hammertoes and ingrown toenails. These types of shoes are also more likely to lead to arthritis in other joints, like the ankles, knees, and hips.
What Summer Shoes Should You Wear?
Ideally, barefoot or minimalist shoes are best. These are what we recommend to all of our clients to support good posture and spinal alignment. It’s important to note, however, if you’re transitioning from regular shoes to barefoot shoes, it may take some time for your body to get used to this as it may need to build new muscle and increase bone density. This means you probably don’t want to go for a run in these right off the bat or wear them everyday, all day.
So, are flip-flops still okay for the beach? Yes, depending on the type. Havaiana flip flops are a great option here.
For other types of shoes, we recommend:
The above shoes are all barefoot or minimalist shoes and sandals. They don’t have excessive cushioning, heel lifts, or arch support. Rather, they are more akin to what it would be like to walk on the ground barefoot (except with minimal protection!).
Barefoot shoes are associated with increased foot strength, better balance, decreased risk of ankle or knee injuries, improved posture, and reduced pain. If you want to learn more about what types of shoes we recommend and why, don’t hesitate to ask one of our team members to check your shoes or answer any questions you might have.
And if you’re interested in decreasing your pain and obtaining better posture, book your FREE discovery call. Find out more about how your local Finsbury Park chiropractor can help you! BOOK NOW.