Educational Articles: Fashion

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 contributer to a variety of foot ills. Read on to learn all about clogs... Read more

The flip-flops discussion—are they healthy, are they not—seems to come up every year once the weather turns nice. There are wide-ranging opinions on the merits and pitfalls of flip-flops for foot health, and many healthcare professionals possess strong views on this ubiquitous warm weather footwear. In fact, the topic of flip-flops often generates a lot of controversy, seemingly out... Read more

This is the first installment in what will be an ongoing series of articles examining classic research studies in the field of natural foot form and function. Many of the articles that will be reviewed here were published in reputable journals that still exist today. Many of these studies, which range in size and design, were published over 40, 50, 60, or, in this case, 100 years... Read more

Keeping your feet and toes warm during the cold winter months is an important consideration, and so too is keeping your feet and toes healthy and pain-free. Winter is no time to forget about natural foot health principles, and the footwear you use during the cold months should receive the same high scrutiny your warm-weather footwear receives. In this post, we'll discuss... Read more

Foot binding, the practice of tightly binding the foot to stifle foot growth, was performed on young, upper class girls in China to make their movements and gait appear more feminine, and it was practiced even well into the 20th century. This practice caused extreme pain and long-term disabilities in those who underwent the procedure, and some elderly individuals in China may still suffer from the debilitating... Read more

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, neuromas, and ingrown toenails. There are three main "features" of fashion footwear that, over time, cause foot problems in women. These design elements are heel elevation (the heel is elevated above the forefoot), tapering toe box (the toe box gets... 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 look fierce, maybe even sexy. You’re aware that wearing your fashionable heels may result in painful footsteps, but, well, you’re willing to squeeze them on for the sake of good looks. If this description mirrors your experience and thoughts, you... Read more

This insightful video offers several simple and effective techniques you can perform to keep your feet healthy while you're at work. These techniques include going barefoot in your office as often as possible, bringing flats or sandals into your workplace, keeping some foot massage tools under your desk, and performing the Big Toe Stretch and Toe Extensor Stretch as well as other exercises that help strengthen the intrinsic... Read more