Definition: The purpose of a shoe is to move the foot foward to toe off at the great toe (big toe), protect against the elements, ground forces, heat and friction. Side to side movement should be minimal. The combination of added depth, high toe box, firm heel counter, connecting shank and rocker sole are attributes of the best shoes for foot function. Shoes without this attributes may be beautiful, expensive or feel fine , but they are not serving the feet as well as those with them.
Depth shoes, be they extra depth, double or triple depth, provide more support around a foot. Depth gives room for the foot to breathe and toes to wiggle. If the wearer has arch supports, diabetic insoles, a brace or other fitting aids, depth shoes will accomodate them. Rarely will regular depth shoes.
A high toe box is what gives the toes room to sit straight and wiggle within the shoe. In regular height toe boxes, toes tend to get squished together and/or rub at the top of the toes. If the wearer has less than perfect toes, corns and calluses are created and maintained in regular depth shoes. A toe box that doesn’t have space in it for toes to wiggle is a breeding ground for fungal and bacterial agents or creation of ingrown toenails.
A firm heel counter keeps the heel supported and moving forward. Soft heel counters allow side to side movement and where there is overpronating or oversupinating, the foot can actually incur damage over time. Soft heel counters are an element in many cases of heel pain caused by planter fasciitis.
Connecting shanks, formerly called steel shanks, connect the heel to the front of the shoe so the foot does not collapse unduly in midstep. Where there is no connection, the foot flattens and spreads in midstep. In comparing shoes with connections with those without, most can immediately feel the difference. Arch pain and plantar fasciitis are many times linked directly to wearing shoes without a connecting shaft.
Rocker soles “rock” the foot forward, making the toe off phase of the step easier. There are various kinds of rocker soles but generally, most shoes today have at least a toe rocker and sometimes a slight heel rocker. The flatter the shoe at front and back, the more work the foot must do to move forward.
Benefits: Shoes serve to protect our feet from the elements, to move our feet forward and allow our feet to breathe. This combination of shoe attributes provide the means for the foot to move forward at heel strike, midstep and toe off in the optimal foot motion and rotation. Shoes that allow side to side motion create dysfunction in the step that even good arch support cannot moderate. The higher toe box allows toes to lay naturally and breathe, reducing rubbing, friction, and moisture that contribute to painful toe or fungal conditions.
Text: Copyright 2010 Carole Romig
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