Shoes are a great fashion accessory, but it’s important to choose ones that support your feet properly too.
A podiatrist has revealed three popular shoes he would ‘never wear’ – and the first one will upset a lot of people.
Shoes podiatrist would ‘never wear’
“As a podiatrist, let me share with you the top three shoes I would never wear,” Paul Macaulay said on TikTok. “Stay safe and choose wisely when it comes to your footwear!”
1. Crocs
First up is Crocs, the rubber clogs that used to be severely uncool but are now a popular choice for both fashion and comfort.
“Crocs are so soft and so unstable,” he said. “If you have very flexible feet or roll your ankle easily, this shoe is not great for you.”
The shoe compresses really easily so it’s like “walking on a cushion,” which feels great, but it’s tiring out your tendons, muscles and ligaments.
To see just how unstable Crocs are, try standing on one leg on a flat floor with no shoe on, then with a Croc on – you’ll struggle to balance!
2. Flat sliders and flip-flops
The next shoe you won’t find in the podiatrist’s wardrobe is another summer favorite worn by billions, flat rubber sliders or flip-flops.
He explained that they don’t really attach to your foot and are constantly flapping around, so your foot has to work harder to grip the shoe.
They put huge strain on your feet as you don’t lift your foot off the ground, instead doing a strange shuffle.
Flip-flops and sliders can also cause clawing of the toes, a common foot deformity where your toes bend into a claw-like position.
3. Flexible slip-on shoes
Flexible slip-on shoes are a big no-no too as similar to Crocs, they are unstable and cushion your feet too much.
When your foot moves, the shoe compresses and the foot rolls from side to side, which damages the foot over time.
“Taking a bit more time to put on a shoe with laces secures the foot in,” Macaulay said.
Choose a shoe with more support in the ankles and a firmer sole to stop that “excessive rotation” of the foot.
If your feet are hurting, here are eight simple exercises to get rid of foot cramps, recommended by a chiropractor.
Three shoes to wear instead
In another video, the podiatrist recommended three shoes to wear instead of Crocs, flip-flops and slip-on trainers.
He said to switch out Crocs for a strapped sandal like the Teva Classic Sandal which will support the foot properly.
If you like wearing flat sliders or flip-flops, opt for the Oofos Recovery Slides, which are designed to help your feet recover after intense exercise.
Macaulay said you should replace flexible slip-on shoes with a more stable trainer that has laces, like the Asics GT2000.
They might not be the most fashionable choices, but your feet will thank you. You only have one pair of feet after all – so look after them!
Paul Macaulay is a senior podiatrist with a degree in Podiatric Medicine from the University of Southampton who treats patients at My FootDr in Singapore.
