WHAT goes around, comes around as far as fashion trends are concerned.
And to the joy – or dismay – of many, the early aughts’ most recognisable shoe is back in the running.
GettyBallet flats are back in the running but podiatrists warn they could wreak havoc on your feet[/caption]
That’s right – ballet flats have made their comeback. Seen on Fashion Week runways and TikTokers alike, it seems to be the season’s ‘it’ shoe.
Many of us who remember ballet flats’ heyday not so long ago might also recall how the dainty little shoes could leave our feet aching after just a few hours.
But you might push that memory aside to keep up with the fashion masses.
Before you pull your flats out of the back of your cupboard or splurge on a new pair, it’s worth heading the warnings of podiatrists, who’ve long waged war against the shoe.
Their name actually gives you a clue about why foot specialists dislike them – they’re too ‘flat’.
Podiatrist Saylee Tulpule said ballet flats tend to offer no arch support for your feet.
“This lack of support can lead to common foot issues such as plantar fasciitis and can aggravate flat feet or joints in the midfoot,” she told Yahoo Life.
Plantar fasciitis is caused by straining the part of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes and can happen if you wear shoes with poor cushioning or support, according to the NHS.
The condition causes pain on the bottom of your foot and around the heel and arch.
It’s likely you have plantar fasciitis if:
the pain is much worse when you start walking after sleeping or restingthe pain feels better during exercise, but returns after restingit’s difficult to raise your toes off the floor
See a GP if the pain is severe or keeps coming back, the NHS recommended.
Podiatrist Jason Gold told the outlet that flats’ minimal cushioning and lack of straps or laces can cause shin splints, stress fractures, bunions, blisters and tendonitis.
And if you think about it, the part of the shoe that your toes sit in – called the toe box – doesn’t leave you much wiggle room and it’s rounded and narrow.
Saylee said this can make your toes cramp up and leave them numb.
You can also get something called hammertoes – where your second, third or fourth toes bend to resemble a hammer – or even thickened toenails, the podiatrist added.
While ballet flats are easy to slip on and add the perfect accent to your outfit, they definitely wreak havoc on your feet if you reach for them too often.
Saylee said a good supportive shoe should tick these three boxes:
a spacious toe box that provides plenty of wiggle rooma low block heel that lifts the arch and reduces tension soft, comfortable materials like pliable leathers that can make shoes easier to break in and expand on wide feet.
Say you do go for a ballet flat – Saylee posted a video on Instagram to help you figure out what kind of shoe is likely to cause less damage.
Showing herself handling two different pairs, she advised you “do the twist test”.
This involves folding and twisting the ballet pump at the middle to “make sure the flat is more firm then flexible”.
“This will give you additional support, which is better for flat feet, heel pain, or tendonitis,” Saylee explained.
She also advised going for a ballet pump with a small block heel.
“This supports the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia better than one without a heel,” she added.