Workplace Fitness: The power of shoes

There are all kinds of jobs in the world, and all kinds of work attire and dress codes. If you're into health and fitness then you've probably been trying to make some adjustments at work, like eating healthier lunches or managing a workout routine around your hectic job responsibilities. But something you may not have thought about is the effect your shoes can have on your health, maybe in more ways than you realized. Estimates are as high as $2 million each year for surgery related to footwear, and the majority of that figure is for women.

Although any shoe that doesn't fit correctly can wreak havoc on your joints, posture, and muscles, high heels are the biggest culprit. In today's world high heels are almost a requirement in some jobs, and although I think they're horribly uncomfortable I admit I do have several pairs in my closet because they just look so darn good. But fashion comes with a price in the form of foot pain, foot deformities, knee pain and arthritis, changes in back posture, and impaired balance.

Some experts suggest women avoid high heels altogether, and according to statistics more and more women are doing just that everyday. But whether you're shopping for flats or 4" stilettos, you should read these tips for finding the best fit. One that surprised me was the fact that many shoes are based on a man's foot shape, and since men's feet are shaped differently than women's the shoes may end up being too narrow in the front and constricting your toes. The answer to this problem is not to judge the fit by the heel area alone, and you can ask whether the shoe was made from a man's mold (called the "last") or a woman's. Other tricks for getting the best fit include making sure you stand up when trying on shoes (who doesn't???), shopping near the end of the day when your feet are biggest, measuring both feet (they might not be the same size), and allowing 1/2" between the end of your biggest toe and the end of the shoe.