(NEW YORK, NY) — What shoes do you wear when you show an open house? Random question, right? Well, what if we told you that the pain you feel throughout your body when you wake up isn’t from a bad sleep, but from what you’re putting on your feet?
The common rule of thumb is to not wear shoes that are too high, but shoes that are too flat are just as bad for your joints.
Dr. Zwiebel, an experienced podiatrist working out of the New York Stem Cell Institute, is on a mission to help people fix their feet. I had the privilege of speaking with him about what we’re doing wrong and how to fix it.
Shocking revelation: it’s better to show a house in a slight heel than in a flat shoe. But don’t tune out yet. Any heel that is over 2 inches does not apply to this finding. In fact, if you are wearing a heel that is over 2 inches, you expose your body to very unpleasant consequences like bunions and hammertoes.
It’s not just heels that are causing damage. For all the boat shoe lovers, don’t wear them. Unless you want to expose your body to tendonitis, bunions, and plantar fasciitis, you need to add elevation to your foot. Other popular shoes like moccasins, Uggs, ballerina flats, loafers, and driving moccasins are just as flat and just as dangerous.
When shoes are too flat, the lateral arch is strained. If someone has flat feet, a flat shoe will exacerbate their conditions. This exposes the person to things such as tendonitis and pain in the foot. A very slight heel will give the mechanical advantage of opening up the ankle joint and pushing the person forward. In other words, it makes walking easier.
If flat shoes are in style and you don’t want to give up your boat shoes this spring, we propose one word: orthotics. You know those comfy, squishy imprints of your feet that go inside your shoe? Those squishy things—orthotics—will give your feet proper elevation and allow you to wear your shoe of choice stress free.
And now for the next question: is this common?
Working out of the Midtown office, Dr. Zwiebel handles patients who spend a lot of time walking around New York City. And get this, most of them are 20-30 years old. He offers in-house x-rays, diagnostic ultrasounds, physical therapy, and orthotics because the answer is yes, this is very common.
Professionals in the real estate industry spend a lot of time walking. If you feel pain in your feet, you should address it immediately. Slipping orthotics into your favorite pair of shoes can help prevent a whole lot of pain in the future.
If you’re looking to improve how you’re walking New York City, call (646) 480-1259, or visit nycstemcells.com
About New York Stem Cell Institute:
NYC Stem Cell Institute is on a mission to improve the health of New Yorkers with the help of diverse doctors and state-of-the-art medical equipment. Specializing in trauma, orthopedic surgery, infectious disease, neurosurgery, diabetes & endocrinology, cardiology, rheumatology, and chiropractic & physical therapy, patients at the institute are attended to by some of the most acclaimed doctors in the city. Among those professionals is Dr. Alexander Scheer who is known among the industries best as an expert in sports medicine and pain management.
At NYC Stem Cell Institute, scientists, health care professionals, and biomedical researchers work together to deliver the promise of quality medical practice. They believe that together they can improve the health of our communities and patients around the world.
