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What you need to know about physiotherapy and podiatry.
Physio&SoleClinic
Sports Injury
November 30 2017
This article is adapted from our presentation to Standard Chartered Marathon participants in 2017.
During running and walking, our feet act as a shock absorber, a mobile adaptor to uneven ground, as well as a rigid lever to propel the body forward. Shock absorption is especially important during running because our feet experiences 3-4 times the normal peak pressures as compared to walking. The impact is mainly on the heels, forefoot and big toes.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to wear supportive and comfortable shoes to protect the feet as wearing inappropriate footwear not only hinders our daily activities, it could also cause injuries. Ill-fitting or inappropriate footwear can cause a whole host of issues, with blisters, corns and calluses, heel pain and forefoot pain the most common foot conditions we see in Physio and Sole Clinic.
What is the optimal shock absorption or cushioning in shoes?
Given the amount of pressure the feet absorbs daily, you may think that more cushioning may be better for our feet, but think again.
What to look out for when choosing shoes?
We should aim for a balance between comfort, stability, cushioning and durability when deciding on a pair of shoes. Choose shoes that offer optimised shock absorption, which means they provide cushioning in peak pressure areas, and stability in other areas.
Here are some general tips in choosing appropriate footwear.
Other factors to consider when choosing shoes:
Next time you shop for new shoes, do spare a thought for your feet!
If you…
do consider seeing a podiatrist!
Photo by Jordan Andrews on Unsplash