Guide to proper foot care

Like ergonomically correct chairs and computer accessories, shoes promise styles with body alignment in mind. 

Ergonomically correct shoes have been around for decades. But advertising surges, more fashionable shoe designs and celebrity photos of Debra Messing and Katherine Heigl in their ergos have given this niche footwear a dramatic rise in popularity.  

Local foot specialists say there are definite benefits to ergonomically correct shoes, but whether or not they are worth the investment largely depends on the needs of the consumer. The shoes can cost between $50 and $275.    

For that, all ergonomically correct shoes simulate the feeling of walking barefoot on soft ground instead of on concrete. And soft ground more closely matches the conditions for which our feet were originally designed.

While technology and designs vary among brands, all ergonomically correct shoes share these five basic goals:
•    Properly distribute body weight
•    Improve posture and spinal alignment
•    Improve balance
•    Relieve back pain
•    Tone muscles

Here is a primer for ergonomically correct shoe lingo, popular styles and brands.


The Negative Heel

Negative heel technology is a prominent feature of Earth footwear, an eco-friendly shoe brand.  The concept is the opposite of high-heels. The heel sits slightly below the level of the toes, leading to increased arch support and better spine alignment.

“A lot of people find them very comfortable,” said Dr. Marlene Reid of the Family Podiatry Center in Naperville.

The negative heel provides a lower-leg stretch similar to the feeling of walking on sand.  Earth brand shoes feature Kalsø Negative Heel Technology, which positions toes 3.7° higher than the heel, according to the company’s Web site.  

This stretch increases flexibility and tones calf muscles. Reid said a negative heel also helps to offset the harmful effects of high heels. She recommends people alternate heel heights and said a negative heel would be great in one's weekly shoe rotation.

“The only time when the negative heel is not good is when people have a problem with the Achilles tendon,” Reid said. “If you have pain at the heel, don’t wear them.”

The shoes cause the Achilles tendon to stretch.  The additional stress could be very dangerous for people who already have a tendon problem, she said.

It should be noted that Birkenstock shoes’ “deep heel cup” and “contoured footbed” offer similar benefits. But the heel height is neutral, not negative. Neutral means the shoe keeps the foot flat instead of inclined.

The Rocker Bottom

Another style of ergonomically correct shoes is called the “rocker bottom.”  Rocker bottom shoes have a curved sole that resembles a rocker, reduces pressure and improves spine alignment.

Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) is the original and most famous rocker bottom brand.  Sketcher’s released a rocker bottom called Shape-Ups just over a month ago.  They are currently sold-out online but will be more widely available stores and online in May. 

Since Shape-Ups are new, foot specialists talked about MBTs when discussing the rocker bottom.

“[MBTs are] a great shoe for somebody who stands all day,” Reid said.  “I think they’d be great for somebody like a tollbooth worker, not so much from a foot perspective but from a back and posture perspective.”

“People with arthritis would benefit from them,” she said, “as would people who have joint problems and have trouble bending their ankles.”

While the rocker bottom is great for standing and performing activities such as Pilates, Reid said she doesn't believe the design is necessarily good for walking. The rocker bottom doesn't bend and, thus, prevents the foot from bending normally at the ball while walking, she said. This, in turn, restricts the ankle’s range of motion.

“The shoe will force people to walk heel to toe because that’s how they are designed,” she said.  They will not lead to permanent changes in stride, however, because people will still revert to their natural tendencies.  

Andy Sajdak, a shoe salesman at Hanig’s Footwear Evanston store and others, grew up with the shoe industry.  He wears MBTs to work and said some customers have reported that MBTs are the only shoes they can walk in.

The rocker bottom uses a fulcrum to balance the body in proper alignment. People feel like they’re falling if they start to slouch.

While the shoe is good for supporting backs, heels and arches and for recovering from injuries, Sajdak said the rocker bottom is not for everybody.

“People with vertigo should not try them,” he said.  People whose feet roll inward may not get enough support; they may prefer something like a New Balance tennis shoe.

While MBTs generally cost about $250, they are extremely durable. “They last three to four times longer than your regular shoes,” Sajdak said. “They are resolable and they don’t wear on the heel.”

The FitFlop

The FitFlop is a specific brand of ergonomically correct shoes and hit the market about two years. The shoes look like regular sandals, so it's hard to guess by looking at them that they guide the body into alignment using "micro-wobbleboard" technology. A micro-wobbleboard is a variation of the wobble board, a balancing device found at most gyms.

“It’s all about your body trying to find the center,” Sajdak said. “By creating imbalance, you find balance.”

Unlike typical flip-flops, FitFlops offers great support for walking. They are very structured and include a midsole that cushions the ball of the foot and stimulates muscles. This gives the feeling of standing on a tight trampoline or stress ball surface.  

“It’s a great recovery, post work-out shoe,” Sajdak said. “It takes the pressure off and helps get your muscles in that great alignment.” It would be wonderful for walking around Disney World, he said.

Since ergonomically correct brands and models have distinct benefits and drawbacks, a doctor or shoe salesperson should be consulted when shopping.  

Shoe experts agreed that different shoes are better for different people and different purposes. “Even within this group of ergonomically correct footwear, there are different kinds of shoes for different activities,” Sajdak said. “You couldn’t wear [any] of these shoes all the time.”

In that sense, the shoes are like other athletic shoes, geared toward specialized uses.  

Sajdak said to give muscles a chance to adjust to ergonomic shoes. He advises first time buyers to wear their new shoes for only thirty minutes on the first day and gradually increase the time. Brand websites advise a similar process.

“The shoes cushion and also align and on top of that, you get a workout,” he said. “You actually get sore when you first wear them because [they work] muscles you don’t usually use,” Sajdak said.