Shoewawa: Ballet flats are bad for the feet, say podiatrists

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Ballet flats are bad for the feet, say podiatrists

Looks like podiatrists have cottoned on to a fact we shoe lovers all knew already: that flat shoes aren't necessarily more comfortable than heels. That doesn't mean they can't be very, very cute, of course: the ballet flats pictured above, from French Sole, for instance, look every bit as appealing to me as some stilettos, but anyone who's walked a mile in totally flat shoes will be able to tell you that they have no arch support, and can also hurt the ball and heel of the foot thanks to the thin soles and close proximity to the pavement.

Now The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists are claiming that flat shoes can actually be as bad for the feet as high heels, with spokesman Mike O'Neil commenting that, "When pumps are worn for long periods the feet slide forward causing cramping of the small toes."

What do you think? Do you find flats more or less comfortable than high heels?

[Source]

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