If you are currently in recovery from bunion or hammertoe removal surgery, or even if running just isn’t your thing, walking is a good way to keep your body moving without the intensity of running. However, just because it isn’t as intense, doesn’t mean that it won’t place pressure on your feet – in fact, many people who develop bunions or hammertoes aren’t vigorous exercisers, and get these deformities simply from walking around in bad shoes. This is why many people don’t understand how they’ve found themselves in dire need of bunion or hammertoe removal. To prevent this problem, here are some tips on walking shoes.
The first thing you need to do is identify your particular gait (way of waking).
- Pronators: people with relatively flat feet (low arches), which causes the ankle to roll a bit more dramatically during walking. These individuals require shoes with more support mid-foot and a reinforced heel counter to maintain foot support and stability.
- Supinators: high arches, which puts a lot of weight on the outsides of the feet. Natrually, these individuals require shoes with arch-support, cushion at the ball of the foot, extra shock absorption & reinforcements around the ankle and heel
- People with “normal” feet can wear any type of walking shoe, providing it’s a good quality shoe with a balance of support and flexibility.
When you walk, your foot will gradually roll from heel to toe, with your foot bending at the ball on each step. Therefore, a good walking shoe should give some slack when your bend the fall of your foot. When you push the shoe on a flat surface with the toes, the heel should come up with your foot.
As a final note, if you are starting to walk again after hammertoe or bunion surgery, you will likely have a special shoe prescribed to you, and your doctor will show you how to walk among other guidelines.