Ballet flats are back. Here's why podiatrists don't like them — and how to pick a more supportive shoe.
Fashion month may be over, but the requisite, highly anticipated post-show trend discussion has only just begun. One of the more surprising fads flaunted down runways and across the streets of New York, Copenhagen and Paris fell in the footwear category: Gasp — ballet flats are back.
In retrospect, we shouldn’t be too surprised that the staple shoe of the aughts is making a return — Y2K fashion, in general, is increasingly popular. And although you can lament butterfly clips and low-rise jeans all you want, they at least don’t pose a ballet flats-level health risk. It may sound silly, but podiatrists have long waged war against the shoes, and for good reason.
Why ballet flats are bad for you
The problem is made clear in their name: They’re, well, flat — and often flexible to a fault. “They traditionally don't offer any arch support,” explains podiatrist Saylee Tulpule. “This lack of support can lead to common foot issues such as plantar fasciitis” — inflammation of the lower foot and heel tissue — “and can aggravate flat feet or joints in the midfoot,” she tells Yahoo Life.
Jason Gold, a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, Fla., adds that flats’ minimal cushioning and rear-foot control due to their lack of straps or laces can cause to shin splints, stress fractures, bunions, blisters and tendonitis. There’s also the fact that the toe box in most flats is rounded and narrow, which can cramp the toes, leading to numbness, hammertoes and thickened toenails, says Tulpule.
When people reach for ballet flats, they don’t think of the cons because the immediate pros are so obvious. Flats are easy to slip on and off compared with clunky boots or steep pumps, they’re easy to walk in relatively pain-free — for short periods of time, at least. Tulpule adds that flats also reduce potential for ankle sprains, given that there’s no heel to teeter on.
How to choose a more supportive shoe
If it’s not a good idea to wear ballet flats or heels, you may be wondering: What’s the best alternative? Tulpule has three boxes every good, supportive shoe should check:
a spacious toe box that provides plenty of wiggle room
a low block heel that lifts the arch and reduces tension (research shows that a low heel reduces foot strain more effectively than a completely flat shoe), and
soft, comfortable materials like pliable leathers that can make shoes easier to break in and expand on wide feet.
She even posted a helpful Instagram video for testing shoes in-store and picking the best ones.
Gold adds that ample cushioning — which you can also achieve with sole inserts — is essential for achieving maximum comfort and support, as are laces or straps that keep the foot securely in place. All of these characteristics minimize stress on the bones and joints, he says.
That said, if you must get in on the trend and wear fashionable flats, Gold recommends doing so only on occasion. “I’m a big believer in moderation,” he says. “For example, if you wear ballet flats for one day, then you should wear a more supportive shoe the next day.”
