Which Shoes Are The Worst For Your Feet? (INFOGRAPHIC) (2024)

FAQs

What shoes to wear to avoid foot pain? ›

The Basics ---

Avoid high heels and narrow shoes. Instead, look for shoes with thick soles and cushioning.

Bad shoes also exacerbate foot problems you may already have, like bunions and hammertoes, and can create new ones, like cartilage loss in your toes and feet. Most of us know how awful toes that are smashed tightly together feel — and even your toes can develop blisters.

Shoes that don't fit

Whether too small or too big, any shoe that doesn't fit well will put more pressure on your joints, especiall the ones where your toes meet your feet. Over time, this wears down cartilage to the point where bone meets bone, putting you at risk for arthritis of the feet.

Conclusion. Flat shoes, although seemingly good choices for footwear, are not recommended for constant use. Most flat shoes lack proper cushioning and arch support - crucial factors to prevent joint injuries, plantar fascia inflammation, tendon diseases, knee pain, backaches, and various foot deformities.

A truly foot-healthy shoe is lightweight, unobtrusive, and completely flat from heel to toe to provide real stability for your foot and ankle and enable natural arch support. A foot-healthy shoe possesses a sole that you can easily bend or twist, which allows your foot to become strong on its own.

What Shoes Do Foot Doctors Recommend? “Look for high quality shoes made with substantial foam and cushioning,” says Rogers. The Orthofeet Coral fits the bill—it's a podiatrist-designed style with plenty of arch support.

However, as a podiatrist, I frequently see patients with plantar fasciitis or heel pain linked to wearing Skechers. Their memory foam technology, while cushioned, often lacks the rigidity needed for proper stability and support, leading to overpronation and uneven weight distribution.

When Crocs aren't used as they were designed for, they place additional strain on the sole and the heel pad. Inadequate support would mean that the toes need to grip, leading to tendonitis or worsening any preexisting issues. You may also develop issues such as corns and calluses or other toe deformities.

As a consequence, Skechers can cause ligament and muscle stresses and strains. The memory foam could take on the 'memory' of a poor gait style causing destabilising foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower back pain.

Generally, shoes that lace up are preferred over slip-ons because they provide better support and hold your foot in place to the sole of a shoe. Birkenstocks sandals, for example, have an arch but won't protect your feet as well as a tennis shoe or running shoe.

Are sandals bad for your feet? ›

Vulnerable to Fungus and Bacteria – Wearing sandals can leave your feet and toes exposed to bacteria and fungus. This is especially true if you get a cut or other injury. If you wear sandals when you visit public pools, hotel rooms, or the gym, this further elevates the risk of infection.

Your feet have numerous muscles that contribute to overall foot strength and balance. When you wear slippers all the time, these muscles don't have to work as hard as they would in shoes with better support. Over time, this can lead to weakened foot muscles, reduced arch support, and decreased overall stability.

Converse and Vans

Bennet agrees that popular brands of this shoe type like Converse and Vans are not good for the feet. "They have very limited support or structure through the shoe, no arch support and tend to be very narrow which compresses the toes and front of the foot," he says.

The bottom line

Walking barefoot offers many benefits. These include stronger feet, better balance, and less stress. But there are also risks –– such as cuts or infections –– that make it unsuitable for some. To minimize those risks, walk barefoot on soft, gentle surfaces, such as indoor carpeting, grass, or sand.

Cheap Shoes Lack the Proper Support

Quality shoes and insoles are better for your long-term health and wellness. Big-box retailers will sell you shoes that can result in foot arch pain, or worse. From sore feet to developing shin splints, the results can vary widely.

It may help to think of footwear as shock absorbers and, based on body type and gait, some of us need more shock absorption than others, Dr. Peden says. “If you have sore feet—or have had foot problems in the past—wearing a pair of what I call 'house shoes,' or 'house slippers,' is a good idea.”

The higher your heel, the more pressure and torque on your joints the shoes inflict. Doctors agree that high heels over 2.5 inches in height are the most dangerous shoes on the market. Tall high heels also put extra pressure on your heel, which can lead to serious conditions such as plantar fasciitis.