•Take a look at the shoes you are wearing and identify the most worn areas.
•Get a shoe liner that matches your foot shape if you are wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Ever wondered why our shoe soles have varying shapes? Well, it may be helpful to understand the correlation between them and your posture.
Your shoe can show you how your foot flexes while you are walking, all one has to do is take a look at the shoes you are wearing and identify the most worn areas.
The base of your shoes can be extremely informative for podiatrists (feet specialists). They can reveal walking efficiency while also helping to understand how gait affects posture.
What is the link?
According to a study led by researchers at the University CEU Cardenal Herrera in cooperation with the University of Valencia, wearing poorly supported shoes could lead to problems with your spine, and affect your general posture.
“Our feet have a natural curvature designed to support our body. If your curvature ball is properly supported, your posture remains correct,” said Professor Pablo Salvador, co-author of the paper.
"The footwear with curved soles, which simulates an unstable surface, requires a constant muscle activity of the trunk to stabilize the lumbar area and maintain balance. This increase in co-contraction of the trunk muscles improves the stability of the spine, which can help prevent or ease low back pain."
The researchers say that having good posture means your back will be much less stressed and you will have less general pain.
“Your muscles will be relaxed as well as your ligaments when you move. Maintaining good posture should not require any effort and should not cause unnecessary strain on your joints or muscles. Your shoes should give you all the support you need to maintain good posture without you even realizing it,” the researchers say.
If you get accustomed to bad shoes, it will affect your posture.
How to improve your posture.
When sitting, experts suggest you keep your feet in natural positions. Get a chair that supports your lower and middle back.
Do not cross your knees or rest your feet behind your knees. Relax your shoulders and ensure your arms are parallel to the floor.
When walking, keep your weight primarily on the balls of your feet. Feet should remain at shoulder width and try to keep your stomach tucked in.
If you must stand for long periods, try shifting your weight from foot to foot or toe to heel.
In addition to finding a shoe that fits, stretch often before bed to ensure there is comprehensive blood flow to your feet.
Experts also recommend regularly replacing shoes as they wear through. Sole thickness and support decreases over time potentially causing harm.
Get a shoe liner that matches your foot shape if you are wearing uncomfortable shoes.
“If the liner doesn’t match the natural shape of your foot, then it probably won’t provide the right support. Ensure your shoes are not too big or too small.” Salvador says.
“Get shoes that are a quarter to a half of an inch longer than your longest toe.”