How does today's mass-produced footwear harm feet?

Do you know the feeling when you return home after work in your stylish, shiny shoes and your legs throb with pain and fatigue? Or maybe you've worked out at the gym in regular sneakers or, even worse, in high-end Adidas with a lifted heel, and now you feel like you’ll never be the same again?

We don't want to scare or upset you, but chances are, wearing such shoes is doing a lot of damage to your feet. Your favorite high heels may simply be... ruining you.

We wrote about high heels in this article, and today, we'll expand on the harmful effects of poorly fitted shoes that cause foot deformities. You’ll also learn how today’s footwear is damaging your feet.

Why do we usually have poorly fitted shoes?

"Move your toe,"
"If you walk a bit more, they will stretch out."
"Don't be so delicate, blisters are a sign you're not being lazy."

Sound familiar? Unfortunately, in most Polish families (and worldwide), there is still very little awareness about the impact of shoes on the body. When buying shoes, we typically consider a few factors: price, whether they match other clothes, if the brand is well-known, and the size. Other factors are usually just overlooked, because who thinks about how a heavily padded heel (you know, those trendy sports shoes?) affects the natural movement of the foot? Who considers whether those amazing shoes might actually harm the feet?

From a young age, we are taught to make "bad" shoe choices, and later we repeat these mistakes in adulthood. Fortunately, the barefoot ideology is becoming more and more popular, fighting against "fast fashion" while promoting health without compromising on quality and appearance.

How shoe type affects the foot

If we want to answer the question "how do shoes harm," it's important to understand that different types of footwear lead to different problems. Of course, in the end, all types of shoes can lead to similar issues like bunions (hallux), hammer toes, muscle and tendon inflammations, or back pain. However, we can all agree that wearing high heels will tire the feet faster than sports shoes. Simply put, when we exercise or run in poor-quality footwear, we are postponing the problems to later.

The choice of good footwear is especially important during childhood when the foot is still developing and is more prone to deformities than an adult foot. You can find more information on this topic in the article about children's minimalist shoes.

"Adidas" shoes
"Adidas shoes" (or simply sports shoes) have one common problem — most of them have a raised heel. In theory, this is meant to help cushion the heel, which, in itself, lacks any "support." If you stomp your heel hard, you'll feel the vibrations even in your head. For this reason, running "on the heel" is the worst possible way to run. Unfortunately, shoes with raised heels teach us to run on our toes, which, in the long term, is also not suitable for our feet. A human should naturally run... from the midfoot. Only then do we have an even distribution of body weight, without overloading the toes or the heel. Humans are built for long-distance running, and while toe-off allows for acceleration, we would not be able to run far if we only used our toes.

With sports footwear, if we get used to having our heel always raised and protected, we forget that we should be protecting it ourselves. That’s why poorly chosen sports shoes for children can cause a lot of problems.

High heels
High heels, or stilettos, are definitely the least healthy type of footwear. The very unnatural position of the foot causes pain, muscle fatigue, calluses, and blisters. People who frequently wear high heels and don’t experience any "immediate" problems are at high risk of joint issues, tendon weakening, and an increased risk of degenerative diseases in the future. The consequences of wearing high heels may include conditions like bunions, hammer toes (which cause the toes to bend), excessive pronation or supination of the foot, but also spinal diseases, hip joint issues, and an overall misalignment of the posture. Now, think about it — is it worth wearing high heels for a moment of attention in a social setting?

Elegant men's shoes, like coffin shoes/crocodiles

Elegant men's shoes operate on a very similar principle to high heels, but while some high heels may have "open" toes, this would probably look quite funny on men. That's why most men's shoes are made from stiffer materials, "rigidly" shaping the foot, and squeezing the toes as much as possible. Tight shoes not only cause blisters but also get the foot accustomed to an unnatural position, leading to inflammations, bunions, and other foot problems. If you've ever had to walk several kilometers in new "patent leather" shoes — we sympathize with you!

Low-quality sneakers

The fact that your feet may have more freedom in sneakers or tennis shoes doesn't necessarily mean it’s healthier. The world is now accustomed to "fast fashion," and large corporations create hundreds of thousands of new pairs of shoes just to drive sales. Low-quality simple footwear, while perhaps better than, say, high heels, has its problem in its quality. These shoes will not protect your feet in any way, and they will also break down quickly. If you have any deformities, like flat feet, wearing these shoes will only exacerbate the issue.

What are "healthy shoes"?

What does the term "healthy shoes" actually mean? Is it therapeutic footwear recommended by physiotherapists and podiatrists? Not necessarily, because therapeutic shoes are designed to heal a specific problem. However, we cannot wear such shoes for a lifetime. Or maybe all we need is to choose the right size? Unfortunately, that's not the case either! Even perfectly fitted shoes, if they have a shape that is too narrow, will cause foot pain over time, leading to deformities.

Healthy footwear has several common features that are worth paying attention to when choosing shoes:

Flat sole, or zero-drop. This is the most important feature of healthy shoes, and it's the key characteristic of barefoot shoes. This type of sole teaches the natural movement of the foot, making us walk from the midfoot and distribute body weight evenly. Without heel cushioning, the shoe doesn’t cause the foot to curve from back to front. While getting used to such shoes may take some time, you’ll eventually notice a visible difference, even in the structure of your foot.
Wide toe box, offering lots of space for the toes. These shoes typically provide enough room for the toes to spread freely. This way, the toes don’t suffer from the pressure of the big toe. This reduces the risk of developing foot problems. Over time, you’ll notice that your toes begin to "spread" and return to their natural position!
Flexibility. Shoes should protect your foot, but not restrict it! The foot has many muscles and tendons that need to move, and restricting them leads to diseases over time.
High quality. Shoes should definitely last more than one season. A lot depends on how you care for them. High-quality materials are essential for the shoes to last longer.

How to choose the right footwear?

If you want to start taking care of your feet and begin your barefoot journey, we invite you to visit the Magical Shoes store, where you will find a wide range of sports shoes, everyday shoes, winter footwear, and more!

All our shoes are:

Completely flat (zero-drop) – helping to maintain proper posture.
Breathable and very lightweight – you won’t feel like you’re wearing them.
Incredibly flexible – your foot can finally move naturally.
Wide at the toes – the shoes don’t pinch or squeeze your toes.
Made from the highest quality materials – the shoes will last a long time.
Fully functional – you’ll get rid of the weight of uncomfortable, rigid footwear.