Add a pointy toe and you can have even more discomfort. These can produce the same problems as higher heels, just to a lesser degree.
Kirsten’s Pick: Earthies, a new line of high heels by earth footwear that features a cupped heel, anatomical arch and cradle toe area to distribute weight evenly. In a study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, Hannan found that women with a history of wearing high heels also experienced more foot pain later in life than those who opted for healthier shoes. Risk – as well as the frequency of low back pain – rose with the height of the heel, according to their study, presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics. Researchers at Iowa State University in Ames measured forces on the knee in women wearing flats and wearing 2-inch and 3.5-inch heels. Women who made a habit of wearing high heels had an increased risk of knee joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis, or OA. Studies show wearing stilettos and other heels contributes to both foot pain and arthritis. They’re hard on the arch and ball of the foot and can wear down joints,” says Bryan West, a podiatric surgeon who practices in Livonia, Mich. “High heels are bad for everyone’s feet, and for people with any kind of arthritis, they’re even worse.
Here’s to healthier feet! Reviews for the Best and Worst Shoes for ArthritisĮxperts are united in their low opinion of high heels, defined as heels higher than 2 inches. To help keep you on your feet comfortably, we teamed up with medical experts who weigh in on the pleasing and painful points of 10 different types of shoes, and with Kirsten, who recommends her top picks in each category. It includes video demonstrations of the author in action. After years of struggling with foot pain from rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, diagnosed in her 20s, the former teacher started a website and blog, Barking Dog Shoes, which showcases frank reviews of a variety of shoe styles that Kirsten has personally tried. “The right shoes for arthritis can reduce or eliminate foot pain, which has a huge impact on the body’s function and mobility,” says Hannan. The wrong shoe worn by someone with arthritis in their hips, knees, ankles or feet can exacerbate existing problems and, down the road, cause damage and complications to many joints beyond the feet, she adds. “People should start thinking of their shoes as a factor they can modify to help minimize pain and maximize their ability to get out and do things.” Making healthy choices for your feet, much like eating a nutritious diet or getting regular exercise, can add up to big improvements in quality of life, says Marian Hannan, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-director of musculoskeletal research at the Harvard-affiliated Institute for Aging in Boston. Why It’s Important to Choose the Best Shoes for Arthritis That’s especially true when choosing shoes for arthritic feet. Anyone who has worn a fabulous pair of shoes for a special occasion, only to tear them off at the first possible moment, knows how painful a bad shoe decision can be. Yet we often neglect and even abuse them – forcing them into footwear that doesn’t fit, that sacrifices function and comfort for style, or that is simply the wrong shoe choice for our particular feet. Our feet, with their 52 bones, 66 joints and more than 200 muscles, tendons and ligaments, are high-precision instruments that connect us to the earth, support our skeleton and provide balance and mobility.
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