You could get Arthritis when they are worn-out
Nov 09, 2008
OUT of every five people you meet on the street, at least two have worn-out shoe soles. They are too pre-occupied with other things to realise that such shoes can cause them pain in the ankles, back and hips.
By Thomas Pere
OUT of every five people you meet on the street, at least two have worn-out shoe soles. They are too pre-occupied with other things to realise that such shoes can cause them pain in the ankles, back and hips.
Jacob Ejoyi, a security guard, says there is nothing wrong with wearing shoes with worn-out soles. “Since I was born, I have seen people wearing worn-out shoes. Apart from making one look shabby and miserable, I do not see anything wrong with it.â€
Some people buy worn-out second-hand shoes, but studies have shown that such shoes have negative health effects on the body.
Dr. Mark Charrette, in the World Chiropractic Alliance, says shoes whose sole wear begins close to the heel indicates the side of greatest rotational movement of the foot.
Further examination of the wearer will reveal that he has weak muscles of abductors and neck flexors on that side.
He says restoring balance to the pedal foundation can be accomplished if a patient is instructed to use good lace-type shoes with a firm counter.
However, he should make sure that his shoes fit properly where the ball of the foot is at the widest point of the shoe.
Remove any generic in-soles from shoes before inserting custom-made orthotics (materials placed inside a shoe to maintain balance).
Make sure worn-out shoes are thrown away. While buying shoes, squeeze them in the heel area.
“A firm counter around the heel would help in supporting the feet,†he says.
Charrette says when correcting pedal imbalance using orthotics, your feet or other parts of your body may ache for about three months.
But this is normal because your whole body is being affected toward a new, healthier alignment, and muscles, tendons, ligaments take time to adjust.
“When an ache continues for over three months, take the orthotics out for three to five days and put them back. The ache might return, but with less intensity,†he advises.
Repeat this process until the soreness goes away. This allows your feet and body time to adjust. Besides causing disturbed body mechanics, the Journal of Physiological Anthropology from Kyushu University in Japan says: “One-sided worn-out shoes increase energy usage compared to new shoes.
They also reduce lower leg stability during walking, causing a negative effect on shock absorption.â€
Baingana Bala, the principal health tutor at the school of physiotherapy in Mulago Hospital, says: “Normal weight distribution is where the heel touches the ground first when walking (heel strike) and when the toes touch the ground first when taking off.
Shoe wear depends on the body weight bearing of an individual. There are people whose shoes wear on the inside because their body weight is inside, while for others, it is outside or straight.â€
“Shoes which wear on one side disturb the mechanics of the body which include the bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. These are affected by wear and tear which leads to arthritis.â€
Arthritis refers to a condition where the joints are inflamed. Disturbed body mechanics in the long run lead to pain in the lower back, hips, knee, ankles and foot.
“When you have a shoe sole that is worn-out on one side, take it for levelling or buy a new one. Unfortunately, people always find it hard to spend on repairing or buying new shoes that would help them avoid future repercussions. Remember, prevention is better than cure.†Bala says.
OUT of every five people you meet on the street, at least two have worn-out shoe soles. They are too pre-occupied with other things to realise that such shoes can cause them pain in the ankles, back and hips.
Jacob Ejoyi, a security guard, says there is nothing wrong with wearing shoes with worn-out soles. “Since I was born, I have seen people wearing worn-out shoes. Apart from making one look shabby and miserable, I do not see anything wrong with it.â€
Some people buy worn-out second-hand shoes, but studies have shown that such shoes have negative health effects on the body.
Dr. Mark Charrette, in the World Chiropractic Alliance, says shoes whose sole wear begins close to the heel indicates the side of greatest rotational movement of the foot.
Further examination of the wearer will reveal that he has weak muscles of abductors and neck flexors on that side.
He says restoring balance to the pedal foundation can be accomplished if a patient is instructed to use good lace-type shoes with a firm counter.
However, he should make sure that his shoes fit properly where the ball of the foot is at the widest point of the shoe.
Remove any generic in-soles from shoes before inserting custom-made orthotics (materials placed inside a shoe to maintain balance).
Make sure worn-out shoes are thrown away. While buying shoes, squeeze them in the heel area.
“A firm counter around the heel would help in supporting the feet,†he says.
Charrette says when correcting pedal imbalance using orthotics, your feet or other parts of your body may ache for about three months.
But this is normal because your whole body is being affected toward a new, healthier alignment, and muscles, tendons, ligaments take time to adjust.
“When an ache continues for over three months, take the orthotics out for three to five days and put them back. The ache might return, but with less intensity,†he advises.
Repeat this process until the soreness goes away. This allows your feet and body time to adjust. Besides causing disturbed body mechanics, the Journal of Physiological Anthropology from Kyushu University in Japan says: “One-sided worn-out shoes increase energy usage compared to new shoes.
They also reduce lower leg stability during walking, causing a negative effect on shock absorption.â€
Baingana Bala, the principal health tutor at the school of physiotherapy in Mulago Hospital, says: “Normal weight distribution is where the heel touches the ground first when walking (heel strike) and when the toes touch the ground first when taking off.
Shoe wear depends on the body weight bearing of an individual. There are people whose shoes wear on the inside because their body weight is inside, while for others, it is outside or straight.â€
“Shoes which wear on one side disturb the mechanics of the body which include the bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. These are affected by wear and tear which leads to arthritis.â€
Arthritis refers to a condition where the joints are inflamed. Disturbed body mechanics in the long run lead to pain in the lower back, hips, knee, ankles and foot.
“When you have a shoe sole that is worn-out on one side, take it for levelling or buy a new one. Unfortunately, people always find it hard to spend on repairing or buying new shoes that would help them avoid future repercussions. Remember, prevention is better than cure.†Bala says.