Fashion Footwear & Foot Health
What foot issues are commonly caused by women's fashion footwear? Many. Among the most common are bunions, plantar fasciosis (often inaccurately referred to as plantar "fasciitis"), hammertoes,... Read more
This article was co-authored by Robyn Hughes, ND, and Correct Toes inventor Ray McClanahan, DPM, and it appears on the Correct Toes Blog in a slightly different form.
Myths abound in the footwear industry, and many types of shoes that are purported to be “good for your feet” can actually lead to foot pain and problems. In this article, we take a closer look at clogs, a style of shoe that many believe promotes foot health but is, unfortunately, a common contributor to a variety of foot ills. Read on to learn all about clogs and why they fail to live up to their reputation as builders and preservers of optimal foot and toe health.
From restaurants to offices to hospitals to healthcare clinics, clogs are ubiquitous footwear in work and casual environments alike. A traditional clog is made solely from wood, while contemporary clogs incorporate wood soles (or no wood at all) with upper materials such as leather, which allows for more versatility and greater comfort. Today’s clogs (such as Danskos) are inspired by that original wood-style design, and they are sometimes backless, almost always have a heel and pitched toe box, and are usually stiff-soled.
Clogs are a traditional part of many cultures throughout the world, including Dutch, Swedish, and Japanese cultures, and are worn for several key reasons, including protection, fashion, and for certain types of dance. The popularity of clogs has increased in recent years, as many consumers have been persuaded that clogs are a practical and foot-healthy option.
But is this belief fact or fiction? And are clogs really any different from “conventional” footwear? Let’s find out.
Many doctors (including podiatrists) recommend clogs to patients who have foot ailments. Some of the design characteristics that have earned various types of clogs this high praise include anatomically contoured arch support, rocker-bottom soles, and heel elevation—the latter an attribute that some doctors believe eases the strain on leg and back muscles.
It’s no wonder, then, that clogs have gained an almost mythic reputation for being foot-healthy footwear. Sadly, this reputation is built on an incredible amount of misinformation that touts arch support, bizarre sole construction, and heel elevation as beneficial shoe design features. The idea of clogs as beneficial footwear has gone mainstream, but the underpinnings of this belief are nothing more than regurgitated shoe industry myths about what constitutes a healthy and stable home for your feet.
The truth is, clogs are among the most harmful or injurious shoe types available to consumers. And most clogs share many of the same unfavorable and damaging design elements that other conventional shoes possess (please see the section immediately below for more detailed info about these elements). Clogs, like other conventional shoes, strip your foot of its inherent power, destabilize your main foot arch, and contribute to common toe deformities and problems, such as hallux valgus, bunions, tailor's bunions (bunionettes), hammertoes, and clawtoes, among others. Clogs also make it difficult for you to experience much (if any) tactile feedback from the ground you walk on, due to their extraordinarily thick and rigid soles.
You won’t hear this truth about clogs from many other sources, which is why it’s so important to heed this warning: Clogs, like other types of conventional footwear, cause or contribute to many foot and toe problems, including neuromas, plantar fasciosis, and ingrown toenails. And they do this because they hold your foot and toes in an unnatural, compromised position for many hours at a time. It’s only by examining the harmful design elements included in most clogs, though, that you’ll get a better sense of how clogs actually impair foot health and cause problems.
The following design elements are common inclusions in most clogs (as well as in other types of dressier footwear). These elements, either individually or collectively, alter foot anatomy and function in unfavorable ways and should be avoided:
The above shoe design elements, found in all clogs, do indeed wreak havoc on the foot, but what are the long-term effects of clogs and other conventional footwear?
Clogs and other conventional footwear can cause both immediate and long-term discomfort and foot problems. Some research also indicates that the loads on hip and knee joints are significantly higher in people who wear conventional footwear than in those who go barefoot. A 2006 study published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism states that conventional footwear may be contributing to the prevalence and progression of hip and knee osteoarthritis in our society. Osteoarthritis is an extremely painful joint problem that’s associated with excessive joint wear and tear. This health problem can significantly affect your quality of life and keep you from enjoying your favorite physical activities.
Foot-health-positive footwear (i.e., footwear that respects normal and natural foot and toe anatomy) allows your toes to splay and can help prevent or address foot and toe problems by staying out of the way of your foot and toes and allowing your foot to function the way nature intended. Foot-healthy footwear possesses the following key characteristics:
One of the first steps in preventing or addressing common foot problems is to adopt foot-healthy footwear. At Natural Footgear, we take great pride in featuring men’s and women’s footwear that best supports and preserves natural foot health. Every shoe that appears on our site is Natural Footgear Certified, which means it lives up to our expectations for what constitutes a healthy piece of footwear. We are extremely picky when it comes to the footwear we feature on our site, and not many brands or models make the cut.
Finding footwear (especially for women) that's both foot-healthy and attractive by society's standards (for the workplace and for formal use) is very challenging. We're always on the search for foot-healthy dress shoes. If you know of a model that fits our criteria for foot-healthy footwear, we would be happy to hear from you. In the meantime, here are a few of our favorite, dressier options that are currently featured on the Natural Footgear site:
This comfortable, Mary Jane-style minimalist shoe has one of the most generous toe boxes of any women's shoe we've ever seen, and its super flexible sole ensures that your foot can become strong on its own. The Ahinsa Ananda Barefoot Ballet Flat both looks nice and supports natural foot health, making it a rare find for women seeking a dressier shoe for work or around town.
SHOP AHINSA BALLET FLATThe Lems Nine2five is one of the most comfortable shoes we've ever tried, comes in a variety of sizes (including larger ones for bigger-footed men), and can easily be worn in both office and casual settings. It has a very wide toe box that easily accommodates Correct Toes and a zero drop platform that helps enable natural arch support. The Nine2five covers a lot of bases, and we think you'll love this shoe as much as we do.
Other possible foot-healthy fashion footwear options include the Lems Mariner for men and women and the Lems Boulder Boot in Leather Raven and Leather Russet for men and women. More about these models here:
The Lems Chukka is an attractive and versatile casual boot that offers your foot a comfortable environment in which to flex, bend, and move. This boot, with its stylish cut and fashionable design, is an excellent choice for any number of occasions or settings, whether it be for trips around town or for meetings with clients in your office or co-working space. With its accommodating upper and injection blown rubber sole, this minimalist boot is incredibly comfortable and lightweight, and it also packs away easily, making it a great option for longer trips.
SHOP LEMS CHUKKAThe Lems Boulder Boot in Leather Raven is a unisex boot that you can wear in many different ways. It possesses an upper that's made of durable 1.8 mm full-grain leather to help improve foot comfort, and it sports a generous toe box that's compatible with Correct Toes, which allows you to experience the foot health benefits that come with natural toe splay. This lightweight, barely-there boot contains no heel counter, toe counter, or shank, and it packs away easily, preserving space in your travel bag or luggage.
SHOP MEN'S SHOP WOMEN'SThe Lems Boulder Boot in Leather Russet is identical to the Leather Raven boot in every respect except for its color. It's another excellent choice for fashion-conscious folks interested in building and preserving natural foot health.
SHOP MEN'S SHOP WOMEN'SIt’s also important to restore normal, healthy foot and toe anatomy after years of wearing conventional footwear. A toe spacing device, such as Correct Toes, can help you do just that, as can metatarsal pads and toe socks. Certain foot and toe rehabilitation exercises are also important, including the Toe Extensor Stretch, Big Toe Stretch, and Hammertoe Stretch, as well as the Hacky Sack Grab and Short Foot Exercises.
SHOP CORRECT TOES SHOP INJINJI TOE SOCKS SHOP METATARSAL PADSClogs are not what they are touted to be. And wearing clogs is not a way for you to improve or preserve your foot health, as most clogs include design elements that actually cause foot pain and problems, either in the short term or down the road. To truly preserve foot and toe health, seek out men's or women's foot-healthy footwear that is lightweight, is flat from heel to toe, possesses a toe box that’s widest at the ends of your toes, and has a sole that can be easily bent and twisted. Your feet will thank you!
Disclaimer:
The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.What foot issues are commonly caused by women's fashion footwear? Many. Among the most common are bunions, plantar fasciosis (often inaccurately referred to as plantar "fasciitis"), hammertoes,... Read more
You’re a contemporary fashionista who dresses to impress. You faithfully don your high heels to conform to business dress standards, impress your employees, boss, or coworkers, and... Read more
I read the article about clogs and wondered what your opinion of Croc type shoes is. Many have the features you encourage, and I realize with their growing style selection not all fit the natural footwear concept. For a basic roc though, could you share your opinion?
Also, any word on children’s correct toes? My daughter (11) needs them very much. She currently wear size 4 still from the children’s sizes (not yet women’s size yet).
Thank you!
Dana
Hi, Dana,
Thank you for your message. We were early adopters of Crocs back when they were the only foot-healthy shoe option available, and we still like certain models of Crocs, especially the Rx Relief model, though many models no longer support natural foot health (as you noted in your comment).
Children’s Correct Toes (www.naturalfootgear.com/products/correct-toes) are now available on the Natural Footgear site! They are the “Small” size.
Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC
Oh, wow, how hard it is to find shoes for those of us whose feet have suffered years of bad shoes and now need more than “only a very thin layer of material between your foot and the ground.” I agree I don’t need arch support and any other artificial positioning from my shoes, but I do need some padding in the sole to cushion my malformations while I try to heal them with proper shoes and exercises. So PLEASE tell the shoe manufacturers to leave room for more in the shoe than just my foot.
Hi, Callie,
We hear you! It takes a long time to rehabilitate the feet and toes after years of wearing conventional footwear, but the destination is worth the journey. I hope you are having success on your journey toward optimal foot health!
Best,
Marty Hughes, DC
I work long days in a retail environment on hard floors, almost no padding. Cushioning seems to help. What shoes would you recommend that don’t have the issues noted in this article, but still provide cushioning for the 8 and 10 hours days on a hard floor on my feet?
Thanks!
Hi, Stasia,
Thank you for your comment. Altra shoes (www.naturalfootgear.com/pages/altra-shoes) are a good option. The models possess varying degrees of sole thickness and cushioning, and they can be an excellent transition shoe from conventional footwear to more minimalist-like models.
Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC
Great article, and I suspect my years of wearing clogs are the reason for my present foot pain and deformed toes. I have just purchased you toes spacers, socks, and supports on line. I have been a Dansko wearer for 7 years and now have daily pain in my toes. When I look down at my toes from above, my 2nd toe from the big toe visibly curls to the left like a reverse C. It is extremely painful constantly and walking on it causes pain on the ball of the foot underneath. Will the toe spacers help?
Hi, Elizabeth,
Thank you for your comment and your kind words about the article. And thank you for your recent order! We appreciate your business.
In our experience, we’ve seen folks with all sorts of toe deformities, including curly toes, benefit from Correct Toes. How quickly you personally respond to Correct Toes and other natural foot health approaches depends on many factors, including your age, how many years you have worn conventional footwear, how regularly you use your Correct Toes (especially in a weight-bearing situation), and the characteristics of your body’s soft tissues (i.e., how rigid or flexible your connective tissues are).
Please see this page for more info on results and expectations: www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/product-info/17922240-correct-toes-results-expectations
I wish you the best of luck on your journey toward optimal foot health. If you have any additional questions, please do send them my way!
Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC
Good info. Just got into living “barefoot” style. Really loving it. I always loved my Croc clogs, but I see now that they were really bad in a bunch of ways. Life is much better with minimalist shoes.
Thank you for your comment, Kris! I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying your minimalist shoes and “barefoot” living. If you ever have any questions about natural approaches to foot and toe health, please do let me know; I’m happy to help out however I can!
Kind regards,
Marty Hughes
I just purchased some Danskos for my nursing school shoes. I have been trying to break them in, but they are hurting the top of my foot and do not seem willing to stretch out as advertised. I am about to send them back, if possible. Anyway, I have hard orthotics from a podiatrist that were fitted over a decade ago to deal with my extensive heel spurs/plantar fasciitis. I was told that the heel spurs came from wearing shoes that did not support my feet properly. The orthotics do make my feet more comfortable. I was told never to go barefoot again, as I used to do that often, and wear flats that had no arch support at all and no heel. I am very confused by all the different opinions I see. All I know is that going barefoot hurts my heels very much, even though I like it on the rest of my feet. I cannot imagine running barefoot–my heels would just die. Where can I go for information about MY feet? What should I look for in a podiatrist? They all seem to say different stuff.
Hi, Lori,
Thank you for your comments. You’re exactly right about there being contradicting information concerning foot health. Our approach involves addressing what’s most often the underlying cause of common foot and toe ailments: unhealthy footwear. Our goal is to restore proper foot anatomy and function by allowing the foot to function like a bare foot inside of the shoe. There are a lot reasons why this method is effective for most people most of the time, and if you read through the site, especially the Foot Anatomy 101 page (www.naturalfootgear.com/pages/foot-anatomy-101) and the Education section (www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education), you’ll find information regarding natural foot health methods.
Also, a lot of folks who experience heel discomfort benefit from incorporating heel cups (www.naturalfootgear.com/products/tulis-heel-cups) into their foot health routine.
If you have further questions, please just send them our way.
Kind Regards,
Andrew Potter