If you’ve been reading anything about fashion these days, you may have heard that ballet flats are making a comeback. Unfortunately, this fashion staple of the 1990s has been called “one of the least foot-friendly” styles of shoes a person could wear. Here’s why:
- It’s right there in the name: they’re flat. They’re also thin-soled, so the bottoms of your feet feel every bump and stone on sidewalks, parks, or wherever you’re walking.
- There’s hardly any material incorporated into their flatness – no protective cushioning or arch support.
- You won’t find a lot of ballet flats with square toe boxes. Most are rounded and don’t provide enough wiggle room for actual toes.
- Ballet flats are strapless, so it can be a struggle to keep them on your feet. Your toes end up doing a lot of grip work, which can lead to muscle strain, claw toe, and other toe deformities.
- Finally, the soles of ballet flats won’t win any prizes for good gripping or proper width. Most of them have slippery soles that are narrower than the wearer’s foot.
Be choosy
All this is not to say that you should never wear ballet flats. If you really like them, use our tried-and-true shoe-buying guidelines as you shop. For example,
- choose ballet flats with lots of toe room and a sole at least as wide as your foot
- look for flats that offer structure and support. If you can bend the shoes in half, keep searching
- counteract the inherent flatness by choosing a pair with a slight heel
- consult the APMA’s list of podiatrist-approved shoe brands for foot-friendly styles
Our experienced podiatric surgeons,Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, and Dr. Jim Swienconek, welcome patients with arch pain, tendonitis, heel pain, and all other shoe-related foot problems. CallFoot & Ankle Associates of Clevelandin Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 orcontact us onlineto schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.
