Balance and Summer Footwear

The summer months are approaching and the weather is getting warmer. Keeping your balance is still just as important as it was during the colder months and the footwear you choose this summer can contribute directly to your ability to balance.

Falls are the leading cause of injuries among older people and good balance relates right to the avoidance of falls. It is important that when selecting shoes to purchase for balance, certain guidelines are taken into consideration. When looking for a shoe for balance, press down on both sides of the heel area to make sure that the heel is still and won’t breakdown. You should also bend the shoe to check for toe elasticity. In the toe area, the shoe should not bend too much but it should also not be so stiff, that the flexibility of the toes is gone. Lastly, twist the shoe and if it very easily twists in the middle, it will not help with balance. Use these guidelines when deciding what shoe to purchase for balance assistance.

It is important that when trying a shoe on, you are automatically comfortable and feel like the shoe gives you a steady balance. Do not think that you will be able to eventually break the shoes in and then they will help you to feel more com

fort. If it doesn’t make you feel balanced and comfortable immediately, they won’t in the future either.

During the summer months, it is common for people to wear open toe shoes that are normally unsupportive and non-contributive to the help of balancing. Try to look for shoes that fit your personal preference, but that have earned the APMA Seal of Acceptance. APMA grants seals to products that are found to promote good foot health, so any shoe with this seal, will help to improve the balance and health of your foot during the summer months.