PODIATRIST PROVIDES TIPS ON SELECTING WALKING SHOES

To find reliable shoes that can bring fun and comfort back to your adventures, Bustle asked a podiatrist just what to look for in a shoe. Bruce Pinker, DPM, a board-certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon at Progressive Foot Care, recommends you choose a shoe with a rubber outsole and make sure that it has “adequate traction for proper gripping of the walking surface. “Choose a midsole made from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA),” suggests Dr. Pinker. This material “provides shock absorption and cushioning, which helps to make for enjoyable walking and ... to prevent injury. [It is] highly recommended for the midsole.”

 

Dr. Bruce Pinker

 

Giving plenty of thought to the insole is important, especially if you have custom or favorite inserts you like. “Some insoles are removable,” says Pinker. “[This] is preferred, as it allows for the placement of a custom-made orthotic (if necessary).” When it comes to the toe box, “mesh material is preferred to allow for the exchange of air to prevent increased temperatures.” Not only does that air exchange make for happier and more comfortable feet but “if the foot becomes very warm and sweaty,” he says, “tinea pedis, onychomycosis, and verrucae may develop.” 

 

Source: Christina X. Wood, Bustle [1/21/23]  

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News