{"id":9062,"date":"2023-11-25T08:19:50","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T01:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9062"},"modified":"2023-11-25T08:19:50","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T01:19:50","slug":"can-shoes-be-too-comfortable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9062","title":{"rendered":"Can Shoes Be Too Comfortable?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">T<\/span>he age of the max-cushioned shoe is very much upon us. And if you\u2019re as much of a fan of a tall stack of foam underfoot as I am, it\u2019s possible that you\u2019ve lovingly described wearing your favorite sneaks as feeling like you\u2019re \u201cwalking on pillows.\u201d But as we enter the era of super-soft footwear, it begs the question: Can shoes be too comfortable?<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, cushion lovers, it may be time for a reality check. \u201cThe problem with walking on pillows is that our body was not designed to [do that],\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drlizaegbogah.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.drlizaegbogah.com\/\">Liza Egbogah, DC, DOMP<\/a>, a posture expert with <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSSY-1133195%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.drlizashoes.com%252Fcollections%252Fall&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fcan-shoes-be-too-comfortable%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.drlizashoes.com\/collections\/all\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=104860X1561639&amp;xs=1&amp;xcust=STMSSY-1133195&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.drlizashoes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall\">her own collection of orthopedic shoes<\/a>. \u201cIf you think about walking on an actual pillow, your ankles are going to roll in, it\u2019s hard to balance, and you\u2019re going to feel a strain on your knees and your back. Because most people are <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/22474-overpronation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/22474-overpronation\">overpronators<\/a>, the last thing they need is a shoe that feels like a pillow because that\u2019s going to accentuate the [rolling inward of your foot toward your arch].\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Encouraging overpronation is just the beginning\u2014here are the downsides of wearing shoes that are too comfortable<\/h2>\n<p>The human foot is designed to walk barefoot on surfaces like soil, says Dr. Egbogah. In our modern age, cushion is key to act as a shock absorber when walking or standing on harder surfaces, but too much of it, and you begin to lose the support and stability you need underfoot for proper balance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"\">\n<hr\/>\n<div class=\"experts-in-article noskim py-[24px] px-[40px]\">\n<p>Experts In This Article<\/p>\n<ul class=\"!ml-[18px]\">\n<li> <a href=\"\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\">Liza Egbogah, DC, DOMP<\/a>, body and posture experts, manual osteopath, chiropractor, myofascial release therapist, clinic director of the[fix], designer of <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSSY-1133195%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fdrlizashoes.com%252F&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fcan-shoes-be-too-comfortable%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/drlizashoes.com\/\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=104860X1561639&amp;xs=1&amp;xcust=STMSSY-1133195&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrlizashoes.com%2F\">dr LIZA shoes<\/a>, and guest lecturer at OCAD University. <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/luxepodiatry.com\/about-us\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/luxepodiatry.com\/about-us\">Suzanne Fuchs, DPM<\/a>, podiatric foot and ankle surgeon at <a href=\"https:\/\/luxepodiatry.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/luxepodiatry.com\/\">Luxe Podiatry<\/a> in Jupiter, Florida <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<hr\/><\/div>\n<p>You also run the risk of losing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/foot-mobility-exercises\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/foot-mobility-exercises\/\">strength in the muscles and ligaments on the bottoms of your feet<\/a>. \u201cOnce you have those really cushioned shoes, people start to rely on them because your own body isn\u2019t doing the work to stabilize or strengthen,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/luxepodiatry.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/luxepodiatry.com\/\">Suzanne Fuchs, DPM,<\/a> a podiatric surgeon in Florida. \u201cThe foot muscles become weaker over time, which could cause a decrease in the height of the arch of the foot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When those weakened feet find themselves <em>not<\/em> in cushioned shoes\u2014like walking barefoot on hardwood floors\u2014they will be more susceptible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/plantar-fasciitis\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/plantar-fasciitis\/\">plantar fasciitis<\/a>, a painful inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the foot that connects the heel bone to the toes, says Dr. Fuchs. Though putting those sneakers back on may temporarily relieve the pain, Dr. Egbogah says that the lack of support can cause the plantar fascia to twist and strain, leading to more inflammation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-shoes-be-too-comfortable\/\" current-title=\"Wait, Is There Such a Thing as Shoes That Are *Too* Comfortable? Experts Say \u2018Yes\u2019\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/GettyImages-1307717764-425x285_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-05-24\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-shoes-be-too-comfortable\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-shoes-be-too-comfortable\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-shoes-be-too-comfortable\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Too much cushion can also compromise our control, balance, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/proprioception-exercises\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/proprioception-exercises\/\">proprioception<\/a> (your ability to sense where your body is in space), says Dr. Fuchs, which could lead to an increased risk of ankle sprains. (Dr. Egbogah says she saw an uptick in ankle and foot fractures during the pandemic, which she attributes to people forgoing their more supportive formal shoes in favor of wearing cushiony sneakers all the time.) The exacerbated overpronation that can come with super-cushioned shoes can also put pressure on the inside of the knees, and cause hip and back pain further up the leg, says Dr. Egbogah.<\/p>\n<p>Given this, it&#8217;s not surprising to discover that overly cushioned shoes can be especially problematic for those who already overpronate. Dr. Egbogah says even those with a perfect gait could see issues like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/metatarsalgia\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20354790\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/metatarsalgia\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20354790\">metatarsalgia<\/a>, weakened arches, and misalignment. \u201cIt can push your whole posture forward because you\u2019re sinking into the shoes,\u201d she says. \u201cYou could have the same issues with back pain and knee pain, even if you don\u2019t have overpronation.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>How to tell if your shoes are too comfortable<\/h2>\n<p>Not all cushioning is bad\u2014in fact, you very much need <em>some<\/em> cushion for shock absorption, especially if you\u2019re running or jumping, standing on hard surfaces, or have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sneakers-for-arches\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sneakers-for-arches\/\">high arches<\/a>. But how much is too much? There are a few easy ways to tell: For one, when you put your foot into the shoe, it shouldn\u2019t feel like your foot is sinking into it\u2014you should feel some resistance and support, says Dr. Egbogah. (She likens it to the feeling of sitting on a firm mattress with a soft topper.)<\/p>\n<p>If you feel more unstable or unbalanced after putting on the shoe, or like there\u2019s an increased load on either side of your ankles, that\u2019s probably a red flag, too, says Dr. Fuchs, as is a shoe that\u2019s both super cushiony <em>and<\/em> heavy, as that combination can lead to even more instability.<\/p>\n<p>You also shouldn\u2019t be able to easily bend your shoe in half, or twist it like a towel. And if you push your thumb into the insole for a few seconds and it leaves an imprint rather than retaining its shape, that\u2019s a sign the foam is too squishy, says Dr. Egbogah.<\/p>\n<p>While you can sometimes judge a shoe by the thickness of the cushion, the <em>quality<\/em> of the foam is what\u2019s really important. \u201cThe cheaper foams are the ones where you really sink in, versus a high-density, good-quality foam that has spring-back,\u201d says Dr. Egbogah. Most running shoe brands\u2014Nike, New Balance, Brooks, Asics, Saucony, etc\u2014are typically a safe bet, she says, since those companies use higher-quality foam (like EVA) that\u2019s been performance-tested. But these rules apply to any type of shoe, not just sneakers. As a general rule, anything that\u2019s labeled an orthopedic shoe is also a good option, Dr. Egobogah says, as those are designed to provide sufficient support.<\/p>\n<p>And cushion addicts, fear not. Wearing your pillowy shoes every once in a while probably isn\u2019t going to hurt you. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely okay to wear your pillowy, fluffy shoes if you\u2019re just on your feet for 10 or 15 minutes\u2014they\u2019re not going to cause permanent damage.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The age of the max-cushioned shoe is very much upon us. And if you\u2019re as much of a fan of a tall stack of foam underfoot as I am, it\u2019s possible that you\u2019ve lovingly described wearing your favorite sneaks as feeling like you\u2019re \u201cwalking on pillows.\u201d But as we enter the era of super-soft footwear, &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9062\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}