Skechers still a problem? I raised the issues of how Skechers can be damaging for feet back in 2019 . Skechers have swamped the market with these enticing bang on-trend trainers. There is such a choice and easy to order on-line. They are fashionable eye candy and they are everywhere! If everyone is choosing to wear them then they must be good?
Covid-19 saw many people work from home and the conventional work shoe discarded. Skechers are a cross between a comfy slipper and shoe. Easy to pull on and ‘nice and squidgy’. That is where the problem lies. That lovely cushioning sole, which gives a false security of comfort, ends up causing lower limb foot related problems. They can end up causing ligament, joint and muscle damage. Inadvertently bouncing one into instability and damage.
On average I observe several pairs of Skechers tread into my clinic every day. The public love them, but on feet which are not ideal, in terms of an underlying biomechanical issue, they cause problems. Skechers simply deform, give very little support and exacerbate issues. The memory foam takes on the memory of an issue. Think of a memory foam mattress. Over time the mattress becomes contoured by the sleeper. It doesn’t bounce back and support the spine. The sleeper’s back pain gets worse!
Too much cushioning and not the right sort of cushioning causes biomechanical issues. Patients report having plantar fasciitis, increased knee and back pain. Their ankles feel more painful and unstable. Painful plantar (sole) corns and callouses get worse. Even the newer more supportive arch control Skechers (Arch Fit), do not offer enough support when compared to conventional trainers. I can find little scientific evidence from Skechers themselves to endorse the benefits of their trainers?
For podiatrists they are hard to work with. Tugging out the cushioning insole is hard, and even with a firm orthotic inserted, they have already deformed by taking the patina on of a ‘bad gait’. Patients are often upset to give up their ‘comfy trendy’ Skechers; the ‘colour goes with my clothes’ or ‘I only just got them’. That is the point, they have only just got them and still their presenting pain doesn’t get better or simply gets worse. They cannot compute that it is the Skecher that may be part of the problem. People relate cushioning to comfort and being good for them.
I am not saying all Skechers should be banned, as they do make a great house-shoe for sedentary individuals. Are good for older sensitive feet, and okay for younger healthy problem free feet. On the whole they are not ideal for individuals who are already experiencing pain and mobility issues. The right sort of cushioning can be beneficial for a lot of issues, but one can not rely on it alone to sort out problems. Skechers can inadvertently make issues worse. Skechers are predominantly fashion footwear. Best kept for light casual wear, those light on their feet, and not for every day high impact use. Ask a podiatrist if you are not sure they are right for you?
