WHAT’S A PROPER SHOE TO DO?
Your impressions and expectations of the shoe you decide to
wear encourages use based on discerned benefits and perceived
comfort. Such factors as shock absorption, cushioning assessment, resistance to compression set, flexibility, friction of inlays
and linings will affect the comfort level of your feet. Shoe Inserts
and style construction such as high heels effect pressures and
increases some of the forces reacting on the foot. The comfort of
precise engineered shoe is essentially determined by the match
of foot shape to shoe shape.
Footwear can enhance performance if a shoe is designed and
constructed to comply with the foot’s special functions. It must
perform under a wide variety of static and dynamic conditions,
and must balance in contributions to cushioning of shock,
decreasing shifts in pressure and absorbing stresses allotted to
the foot. Correct footgear contributes to foot function and a
functional gait.
The precisely made shoe aids in body alignment and symmetry. During engaged activities such as sports, sports specific
38
Pedorthic Footcare Association www.pedorthics.org
shoes enhance performance. In addition, professionally fitted
therapeutic shoes incorporate such elements as an elongated
rigid heel counter, torsional rigidity and are rigid or flexible in
exacting areas.
Among all the purposes of footwear it also must provide eye
appeal and fashion for you to use for the protection of your
feet. The foot is an integral part of the body and wonderfully
designed to help us walk and stay upright and should not be
changed by fashion, as in the example of the art of Chinese foot
binding or the modern day high heel. High heel shoes are sugar
for the feet and like sugar, can be toxic.
The shoe should not be solely dictated by fashion alone. Footwear accentuates body image and can establish social status
and even define roles, including gender and sexuality. Footwear
communicates beauty, elegance, refinement and extravagance
which has powerful consequences ۈ