There has never been a simple answer to questions about the feet. If you find the wrong specialist, you may not be able to treat yourself correctly! Today, a professional foot and ankle surgeon personally wrote nearly a hundred illustrations, in addition to a complete explanation of the various intractable diseases of the feet, but also to crack your wrong stereotypes about the health of the feet!

Ｑ1 Air cushion shoes must be good for health?

When the feet are deformed or unstable, for example, the feet are tilted inward or outwardly very severely, just like a person with a collapsed waist sleeping on a soft bed, the waist will collapse more and the waist will be more painful. The same is true with shoes. If your feet have been tilted inward or outward, when you wear softer shoes, the inward or outward tilt will become more serious.

Ｑ2 What symptoms of feet should avoid wearing shoes that are too hard?

If the bones are protruding and cause too much pressure, or the more serious high arched feet, or diabetic feet, etc., it is necessary to avoid wearing shoes that are too hard. Because the bones are protruding, the pressure is too high, and the blood circulation is not good. If you wear shoes that are too hard, that part will be prone to foot pain, and even diabetic patients are prone to ulcers. At this time, you must wear soft-soled shoes.

Ｑ3 If the shoe has an arch design, it must be better?

Shoes that do not have arches are better, depending on personal needs. For example, over-stiff flat feet will be uncomfortable to wear shoes with very prominent arches; soft flat feet will feel very comfortable because of the support of the arch on the inside.

Theoretically, arch pads can help our feet maintain a more natural and balanced state (with arches) when walking on hard roads with shoes, and the tendons of foot extension and flexion are therefore more balanced. But not everyone is suitable. For example, I had a diabetic patient who wore arch pads and caused foot ulcers.

Ｑ4 Wearing wide-lasting shoes is more comfortable on your feet?

not necessarily. The main problems are: first, if the shoes are not good-looking, you don’t want to wear them at all; second, the width of the last can move the toes better in theory, but some seem to be wide but the front toes are protruding downwards. If there is not enough space, it is useless, and if the last is too wide, the midfoot is insufficiently fixed and slides, which will cause tendon fatigue and pain.

Q5 Sandals also have a healing effect?

When you don’t want to have an operation on your toes, it’s more comfortable to wear fewer shoes, more slippers, or sandals with arches, because when the inner arch of the foot is raised, the pressure will be transferred to the outer side and not the inner side. Excessive friction at the valgus protrusions of the toes will improve the pain. Therefore, arch pads and shoes with good covering properties of midfoot may also improve the symptoms of valgus.

Ｑ6 Wearing high heels are bad for the health of the feet?

uncertain. Some people who have problems with the Achilles tendon or have heel pain will feel more comfortable wearing shoes with a heel or a higher heel and can get some rest and reduce pain.

Ｑ7 Shoes will get bigger and bigger, so buy tighter and smaller shoes?

If you still need to adapt, it means that this pair of shoes is not for you. In the past, there were few options for shoes, so I chose the more beautiful ones before adapting. There are too many choices now. Don’t buy shoes if they don’t fit well and feel uncomfortable.

Ｑ8 Old shoes are better to wear than new shoes?

When the shoes are worn to a certain degree, they should be replaced. Well-worn shoes will tilt your heels. If you continue to wear it to cherish your old shoes, you will learn more, which may cause problems. And if sports shoes are worn for too long, their shock absorption function will become worse!

Q9 What to pay attention to for various types of shoes

sports shoes

When exercising, sweat a lot and add socks to form a damp environment that is conducive to the growth of mold. In addition, another reason that the toenails of the athletic group are exposed to a high risk of fungal infection is the formation of “traumatic onychomycosis”. Li Yongyi, an attending physician in the Department of Dermatology at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, pointed out that the chance of onychomycosis on the feet is 25 times higher than that of the hands. Among toenails, the first and second toes are the most susceptible to infection, because the friction between the two toes is the most stressful. For example, when hitting a ball to kill a ball, the traumatic pain and poor blood circulation caused by hitting the toenail are all reasons for the formation of traumatic onychomycosis.

●Solution: Bring an extra pair of footwear to replace when exercising to remove stuffiness, keep dry, and trim your toenails promptly.

Leather shoes, boots, casual shoes

Many office workers wear leather shoes for a whole day. If the shoes and socks are not breathable enough, the mold will be ready to go, and the time will be large enough to invade the toenails. In addition, many people choose to wear rain boots or boots on rainy days and in winter, leaving their feet in a humid environment for a long time, forming a hotbed for fungal onychomycosis.

●Solution: Choose breathable shoes and wear indoor slippers in the office seat to help your feet breathe.

High heel

High heels or shoes that are too tight can also create a high-risk environment for “traumatic onychomycosis”. The pressure and friction of high-heeled shoes can easily cause damage to the nail surface, making it easy for mold to adhere. In recent years, crystal nails have become popular. Many women file nails during a manicure, which will also damage the nail surface and increase the risk of mold infection on the nails.

●Solution: When buying high-heeled shoes, focus on comfort, avoid too high or tight styles, and do not use nail art too often, so that the nails have time to recuperate.

Q10 There are risks if you don’t wear socks or shoes?

Many people are accustomed to wearing casual shoes or cloth shoes without socks. This is a very bad habit. Socks can be changed and washed regularly, but shoes are not good. Once there is mold on the shoes, it may infect Hong Kong feet or onychomycosis. If this habit is not adjusted, the mold is still lurking in the shoes, and even if the treatment is started, it is not easy to heal.
In addition, if you are accustomed to wearing slippers or not wearing shoes at home, you must also pay attention to floor cleaning and slippers cleaning to prevent mold from spreading in the home environment. In particular, nail mold infection is highly related to immunity. Elders with poor immunity have a higher infection rate. They need to pay attention to the replacement of slippers and observe the health of the feet and treat them as soon as the initial symptoms appear.

Warm and humid public places are also hotbeds for mold growth. People who often go to warm places, swimming pools, SPA hot springs, and other places are high-risk groups. You should pay special attention to the cleanness and dryness of your feet.

No matter what kind of shoes you usually wear, in addition to developing a good habit of putting on socks and shoes, choosing shoes that are good for your foot health, breathable and do not oppress your toes, and more importantly, check your toenails frequently. In the early stage of infection with molds such as thick and deformed, the signs of infection should be treated as soon as possible and actively treated.

People are highly adaptable. Sometimes the feet are allowed to be more natural and the pain is lessened. If there is a problem, you must consult a doctor. It’s as simple as that.