Footnotes / Blog

Ballet Flats are often women’s shoe of choice when going for comfort and style. However, the lack of support and constrictive nature of these shoes can lead to a myriad of problems with your feet.

Below are some of the most common issues caused  by continued use of ballet flats.

• Plantar Fasciitis
  • The lack of arch support causes the plantar fascial ligament to be under unusual stress. This pulls on the insertion of the ligament on the heel, creating significant inflammation.
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• Achilles Bursitis
  • Ballet Flats create an inflammation of bursa on the back of the heel. Either the shoes are too tight and rub on heel, or the back of the shoe is too firm and doesn’t cushion the back of the heel. This creates pain whenever anything touches the area.
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• Bunions
  • The constrictive nature of the toebox in this type of shoe puts pressure on the big toe pushing it towards the middle of the foot. This can create a bunion deformity at the big toe joint.
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• Knee/Hip/Back Pain
  • The lack of support in ballet flats creates an issure with shock absorption. The force that should be absorbed through the heel is sent up the biomechanical chain, and cause pain higher up in the body.
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When buying shoes, be sure to examine the insole, and make sure there is support along the arch. You may also want to slide an orthotic into the shoe to provide proper shock absorption. Also, take care to make sure the back of the shoe doesn’t rub improperly along heel of your foot. Also, buying shoes with a wider toebox can help prevent the formation of painful bunions.

If you are experiencing pain caused by wearing ballet flats, visit the doctors at Innovative Foot and Ankle. They are all trained in caring for conditions of the foot and ankle and can recommend the right shoes for your foot type. We have locations in the northern New Jersey cities of Bayonne, Kenilworth, Little Ferry and Montclair.