WASHABLE FOOTWEAR PROVIDES HEALTH ADVANTAGES

The advantages of a machine-washable shoe are many, ranging from sustainability to foot health. "Washing your shoes inside and out decreases the likelihood of developing fungal (i.e., athlete's foot), viral (i.e., warts) or bacterial infections in the feet," Nelya Lobkova, DPM, board-certified podiatrist at Step Up Footcare, says. "Washable shoes also tend to have softer uppers, which accommodates people with wide feet or forefoot deformities such as bunions or hammertoes."

 

Dr. Nelya Lobkova

 

That said, machine-washable shoes differ from non-washable shoes in that they have a single outsole that is stitched onto the upper material of the shoe and should be worn with that in mind. "These types of shoes do not have a separate midsole, which offers additional support and structure to the shoe," Dr. Lobkova says. "Thus, machine-washable shoes should be worn for shorter periods of standing/walking, and also they are not recommended for high-impact activity such as running."

 

Source: Kaitlyn McInnis, CNN [9/24/21]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News