Wear the right shoes for a healthy walk

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise as it is beneficial for overall health. However, it is important to buy and wear the right shoes for walking.

Wearing the wrong type or uncomfortable shoes can cause all kinds of health ailments instead of building good health.

This vital fact is often overlooked. As a result, many suffer from temporary or permanent health problems or severe injuries in the feet, ankles, legs, hips and lower back.

Therefore, make your walk painless and injury free by wearing the right pair of shoes that fit your feet well.

Choosing the right pair of shoes is not an uphill task. Pick the ones most comfortable and spend wisely.  Do not compromise on the price.

Spending on the right shoes is a valuable investment because it affects your overall health. Its price cannot be compared with the cost you would have to pay for your injuries.

According to a study by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, you should replace your shoes every 350 to 400 miles or about every six months.

Here are a few tips you should consider while buying the right pair of shoes:

Make sure that shoes fit properly from heel to toe. Your feet should fit snug but not tight. The upper part of the shoe should feel comfy and secure around your instep.

Your feet should be able to move side to side in the shoe’s forefront.

There should be a thumb’s width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Your toes should wiggle free up and down.

The shoe should be flexible. It should bend and crease along the same line your foot flexes. Lack of flexibility leads to arch pain. The shoe should have a super flexible toe that makes it easy to quicken the pace.

Walkers who want to jog should opt for running shoes that are flexible enough for the rolling motion of walking.

Feel the shoes you have chosen before buying. Put them on and walk on the sideway of the sore or down a hallway. You can do a quick jog too if the store has a treadmill.

A natural feeling support under the arch of your feet should be satisfactory. If you feel your arch cramping, don’t go for that shoe.

Your shoe should complement and support the style of your walk. Make your feet feel comfortable mile after mile, try a variety on and finally opt the shoe that fits well, is stable and feels best on your foot.

Source: The Statesman