Daily Mail, Tuesday, August 13, 2019 Page 45
BUNIONS AND
UNDERFOOT PAIN
Strive Capri sandals
£48.30, debenhams.com
CLAIM: These leather,
slip-on sandals with
a toe-loop design
are said to ease the
discomfort of plantar
fasciitis — pain in the foot and
heel produced by inflammation of the
soft tissue along the bottom of your foot
— and disguise bunions. The midsole is
made from a cushioning material called
ethylene-vinyl acetate, which the(^) manufacturer says gives the sensation of
‘walking on air’.
EXPERT VERDICT: Plantar fasciitis can be
caused by over-exercising or prolonged
wearing of very flat shoes.
The insole of this shoe is made from
soft, cushioned leather that contours to
the foot and holds it in an improved
position, reducing tension on the plantar
fascia ligament.
The midsole provides excellent
shock absorbency, reducing the
impact of each step as you walk.
This, plus the durable outer
material, means this shoe will
provide good grip, absorb shock
and minimise pressure on your
heel when you walk — and can
ultimately help alleviate pains
associated with plantar fasciitis.
This is one of the best sandals out
there for people who suffer with
bunions, providing both comfort
and disguise. 10/10
Kenkoh Soul 2
massage sandal
£82.70 (plus U.S. shipping),
kenkohrelief.com
CLAIM: The
insoles have
around 1,000
rubber nodules,
which massage the
foot and are said to
provide relief from conditions such
as metatarsalgia (pain and inflam-
mation in the ball of the foot).
The maker says the sandals
mimic the effects of ‘healing
reflexology’ (the theory that
different points on the foot
correspond to parts of the body),
improving overall health.
EXPERT VERDICT: These are a bit of
a gimmick. I’m not sure what the
benefit is of a shoe that claims to
massage your feet as you walk, but
if you can tolerate the rubber
nodules, they won’t do you any
harm. If you believe in alternative
therapies, then you can try these
for the reflexology claims — but
there’s no scientific evidence that
reflexology footwear offers any
health benefits. 4/10
Sole Bliss Georgia heels
£159, solebliss.com
CLAIM: With a peep-
toe design and an
adjustable back
strap, these
suede, heeled
sandals help to
conceal bunions.
They feature a
‘Bunion Bed’ — a
concealed, cushioned panel — and
a three-layer, anti-bacterial,
memory foam sole with a panel
that the manufacturer claims will
counter pronation (an inward
rolling of the foot when you walk,
which can exacerbate bunions).
EXPERT VERDICT: Bunions can
increase foot width by up to an
inch — but many dressy sandals
are quite narrow in style.
These have a wide front and are
made from soft leather so there is
more room for the bunion,
reducing pain and irritation.
A small heel will also help to
prevent pronation, as flattening
of the arch can sometimes
push the bunion even more
into the shoe.
Bunion sufferers will always
struggle to wear heels for long
periods, but these are perfect for
that occasional formal look. 7/10
FitFlop Lulu glitter
toe-thongs
£50, fitflop.com
CLAIM: A flip flop which, according
to the manufacturer, produces a
similar effect to walking barefoot,
but with a degree of shock absorp-
tion. The sole contains cushioning
‘Microwobbleboard
technology’
that slightly
destabilises
your usual
gait, forcing your
muscles to work harder.
EXPERT VERDICT: These are excellent
at shock absorption, which helps
to relieve metatarsalgia and heel
and tendon pain. 10/10
BAD BACKS AND
TOE ARTHRITIS
Joya ID Cairo
£139.95, thebadback
company.co.uk
CLAIM: This has a ‘motion sole’: a
curved, moulded insole that causes
the foot to sink in when stepping,
forcing the hips to drop down on
that side, relieving pressure on the
joints and back.
The rocker sole — thicker than
normal with rounded heel — is said
to encourage the natural
roll of your foot as you
walk, relieving the
pressure on the
heel and toes.
EXPERT VERDICT:
These look very
comfortable because of
the moulded inside. The rocker
sole may help the foot and
ankle to work better for those
with restricted joints — as in
arthritis in the big toes, ankle
pain and metatarsalgia — but I
think it would take a bit of getting
used to.
Some wearers report less knee
and back pain as the rocker soles
can improve their posture. But
these are very expensive. 7/10
FLAT FEET
Vionic Leo arch
support sandals
£90, vionicshoes.co.uk
CLAIM: This
strappy sandal
is designed to
help reduce
common foot
pains linked to
pronation or flat feet
(when the arches of the
foot roll inward or downward
when walking).
An orthotic built in to the insole
hugs the arch and controls the
foot, providing relief from heel,
knee or back pain.
These have a leather upper and
ethylene-vinyl acetate sole for
shock absorbency.
EXPERT VERDICT: Vionic is a well-
respected brand. This is a good
walking sandal with an ankle strap
to keep it secure and good shock
absorbency to reduce impact.
It has a deep heel seat to keep
the foot in a good position and
stop it rolling over the edges, and
adjustable straps so it can
accommodate most foot sizes and
any lumps and bumps.
These are much better than flip
flops thanks to their ankle and
arch support. 9/10
DIABETIC ULCERS
AND SWOLLEN FEET
Bullen Healthcare
Easy On Sandals
£9.99, ebay.co.uk
CLAIM: A synthetic,
open sandal with
stretchy, Velcro
straps to accom-
modate swelling,
lumps and clinical
dressings often used on
diabetes patients.
EXPERT VERDICT: Diabetes sufferers
can experience nerve damage
known as diabetic neuropathy,
which means they lose sensation
in their feet.
As a result, they can injure
themselves, often without
knowing, and the wounds can
become infected. The toes can
also change shape.
These sandals are good for
people who have swollen or
difficult-to-fit feet. They have a
thick sole, good cushioning and
the Velcro
makes sure the
foot and ankle
are supported
— they’re
adjustable, too,
so useful if you
have dressings on your feet.
They are not terribly attractive,
though, and if you do have
neuropathy and are prone to
knocks, these won’t protect your
feet — for better protection use a
trainer or closed shoe. 6/10
HAMMER TOE
Bingley extra
roomy sandal
£82, cosyfeet.com
CLAIM: A hand-finished
leather sandal
designed for
hammer toes (a
deformity that
causes your
toe to bend or
curl downward) and swollen feet.
An adjustable strap helps them
to fit misshapen feet; it opens
outward, making the sandals easy
to put on and take off.
EXPERT VERDICT: These are very
helpful for people with hammer
toes, oedema (a build-up of
fluid in the ankles) and
swollen feet. The soft,
cushioned foot bed and lining is
comfortable and accommodating.
The Velcro keeps the foot in
place and ensures the shoe fits
well to give support. 8/10
Original Yoga
Beech Sandals
£22.99, zumshoes.co.uk
CLAIM: These
flip flops are
designed to
separate and
stretch the toes ‘to
promote youthful and
agile feet’.
The manufacturer claims: ‘The
toe posts will realign and
straighten the toes to improve
bunions and hammer toes whilst
also correcting posture and
reducing aches in the back and
the legs.’
EXPERT VERDICT: I hate everything
about these sandals. Having just
one thong or separator between
two toes can be irritating. Having
them between all the toes would
be much worse and I don’t see
what that would achieve.
If you have misshapen toes then
anything between them will make
you feel even worse. 1/10
SUMMER is sandal season, but
finding the right pair can be
difficult if you have problems
with your feet. Here, ANGELA
EPSTEIN asks Michael O’Neill,
a consultant podiatrist at BMI
The Princess Margaret
Hospital in Windsor, to assess
a selection of sandals
designed for foot conditions.
We then rated them.
STORING UP TROUBLE
ThiS week: Keep tomatoes out of the fridge
‘EVEN once it’s detached from the plant,
tomato fruit will continue to ripen and
become richer in the antioxidant
lycopene [a plant pigment that protects
the cells from damage],’ says James Wong,
a botanist and author of How To Eat Better.
‘However, the chemical reactions
responsible for this transformation will not
occur below 10c. Tomatoes can almost double
their lycopene levels if stored at room
temperature for a week or two.’
Storing tomatoes on the kitchen counter
will also boost taste. A 2016 study at the
University of Florida, in the U.S., found that
keeping tomatoes below 12c hampers the
enzymes that develop flavour, leading to
the fruit tasting a bit washed out. Apples,
berries and watermelon also develop extra
nutrients if left out of the fridge.
The way you handle food
can have effects for health
Which summer
shoes stamp out
bunions
and
foot pain?
Picture: GETTY