Ballerina Flats - Just Good for Ballerinas!

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A shoe trend started a few years ago. Women and girls started wearing flats, commonly known as ballerina flats. They have a very flat sole and are rounded at the toe, just like a ballet slipper.  You see them everywhere, on women and girls of all ages. Just this morning, on the subway in downtown Toronto, I counted 4 pairs.  Unfortunately, as shoes go, this is one of the worst kind for your feet, especially if your arches flatten when you walk (also called pronation).  There are a couple of reasons for this:

1. Ballerina flats don’t provide enough support to your foot when you’re walking. For people with flat feet, they are problematic.  They cover just enough of your foot to not fly off when you walk. Sometimes they have a very flexible sole.  In this case, there's no support even for the bottom of your foot.

2. Also, these kinds of shoes tend to have absolutely no heel at all or even a negative heel.  A small heel is important to someone with a flat foot as it helps their foot move more efficiently when walking.  This helps prevent fatigue, as well as foot pain, knee pain and even the hip pain.   If you take a look at your running shoes, you’ll notice that even they have a heel.  (Of course a stiletto heel - 3 inches and above - is too much heel and can cause other problems with foot and back pain).

The good news is that there are some companies that take this into account by making ballerina flats with a small heel on them and more support and a healthier step.  The look is still the same but the effect on your feet and your body's personal wellness is much better.  We spend most of our days on our feet. We want to look good but it’s important that you also do some good for yourself. Happy feet give you happy days!