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Foot note
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A few tips before you buy those walking shoes
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WALKING IS the safest exercise, but it too requires appropriate shoes. But right shoes need not mean the most expensive ones.
Before buying a new pair, determine what kind of arches your feet possess.
Foot arches result from the arrangement of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons in the feet, and they form the characteristic curved shape of the under surface of the foot. They help distribute body weight evenly across the foot, and they are flexible enough to help the foot adapt to different surfaces.
Dip your feet in water and then walk a few steps on the floor. What do your footprints look like?
If you can see most of your feet in the footprints, you probably have flat feet or low-arched feet. Flat feet have a tendency to roll inwards while walking, and because they do not support the foot well they cause ankle and knee joint problems. Flat-footed people need shoes that support the ankle well and prevent excessive sideways rolling.
If you can barely see your feet in the wet footprints, you have high-arched feet.
High arches strain joints and muscles excessively and they are not effective shock absorbers. Therefore, people with high-arched feet need shoes with very good shock absorption. Good cushioning need not mean thick fat heavy shoes. Walkers need lightweight shoes, so spend a little extra for well-cushioned shoes that feel light.
Normal arches require shoes that have firm mid soles and curved ends. The back of the foot needs more support than the front.
Most feet are unequal in size, so have both feet measured. If one foot is larger, wear shoes that fit the larger foot best.
If the disparity in sizes is too big, wear shoes of different sizes, as long they feel comfortable on both feet. You should be able to wiggle your toes in a pair of shoes that fit.
Space problems
There should be at least one cm free space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. The shoe should be wide enough to feel comfortably snug.
Always buy shoes in the evening when your feet will have swelled to their maximum size. And wear the socks you intend to go walking in. Walk around for a few minutes in the shoes before buying them. Make sure your feet are not sliding in the shoes as you walk, and your heel feels comfortably enclosed.
Replace walking shoes, even if they still feel comfortable, after walking 500 km in them.
RAJIV. M
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