Foot Support in Sandal Design

Tag : Flat Sandal
Foot Support in Sandal Design
Angela West
One size does not fit all when it comes to sandal foot support.Most problems with our feet are caused by ill-fitting footwear, soit is important to determine what kind of feet you have, and thenpurchase the appropriate footwear for your foot. So much is ridingon those feet that you don't want to risk them!
When you are talking about foot support in sandals, one needs torefer to proper support for the average population and propersupport for those with what is commonly referred to as "flat feet".
Birkenstock conducted a study* of subjects with both flat-footedsubjects and regular subjects, and its scientists came to thefollowing conclusions;
Flat Feet Need Higher Arch Supports
For the flat foot, or pes planus, a moderately high arch supportwill result in faster walking speeds and a more powerful footoverall. It is highly recommended that those with flat feetpurchase a sandal with arch support.
Average Feet Need Room
The Birkenstock study was inconclusive about what would be best forthe normal foot - most of the subjects in the study (twenty out oftwenty-seven to be exact) had flat feet. What does the normal footneed to make a properly fitting sandal?
First of all, the sandal should have some extra room. Nothingshould be too tight, and your feet should not be touching the edgeof the sandal. Make sure that there is 1/8 to 1/4 inch of space allthe way around your foot.
Secondly, one should avoid flip flops if proper foot support isparamount. Flip flops produce aches and pains in the feet if wornfor prolonged periods of time that are signals that bad things arehappening to your feet.
Which Straps Tie You Up?
If the sandal is being worn in a dressier kind of situation,leather and suede straps will do. If you intend on replacing yoursneakers with sandals, you will need a cloth or synthetic strapthat allows your foot room to move.
Cup That Heel
The best sandals for fit have a heel cup, a cup underneath the heelthat cushions the heel. This cup absorbs the extra stresses put onthe heel, especially by us heavy walkers!
Leave Room on Top
Just as you've left room for your foot around the edge of thesandal, you need to make sure that you leave an extra inch or so ofstrap on top of your foot to account for activity and consequentswelling. A little slack keeps your feet healthy!
Heavier? Get Arch Support
If you are overweight you are more subject to plantar fasciitis, orpain in the heel caused by overstressed feet. This will tend tospike you in the feet first thing in the morning.
Take some of the load off with a moderately high arch support,similar to that prescribed for flat feet. Your heels will thank youwhen they don't hurt anymore! Plantar fasciitis can actually feellike you've stretched a muscle or tendon, because that isessentially what is going on. If you've just started an exerciseregimen, stretch your feet more; this is probably the cause ratherthan your footwear. You just need to keep on moving and the painwill go away.
* DOES SANDAL ARCH HEIGHT EFFECT FOOT AND ANKLE BIOMECHANICS?Howard J. Hillstrom, Jinsup Song, Esther Kim, and Benjamin HeilmanGait Study Center, Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine