As chiropractors who regularly assess and treat individuals, we encounter a diverse range of people, granting us ample opportunities to observe the various footwear choices they make. We are aware that patients experience optimal well-being and improved outcomes from chiropractic care when their bodies receive adequate support through customized stabilization. Nevertheless, numerous popular women’s shoe designs pose challenges for accommodating custom orthotics due to their snug, low-profile configurations. In the context of this discussion, I’d like to address a sensitive topic, particularly for female patients – the matter of wearing “high heels.”
For some chiropractors, this subject is considered off-limits, with a strict stance that women should abstain from wearing high heels altogether. However, taking a more pragmatic approach, we recognize that high heels are a common choice for many women. Therefore, it’s crucial to engage in a conversation about and offer support to our female patients regarding their decision to wear high heels, particularly when they can benefit from custom flexible orthotics specially designed for such footwear. This brings us to the revamped 5th Avenue Collection, tailored to meet their needs.
In today’s contemporary world, high heels continue to symbolize professionalism, style, and fashion. We will inevitably encounter patients who regularly wear heels. So, what’s the crux of the matter? Let’s commence by discussing the anatomical distinctions between men’s and women’s feet.
Anatomical Foot Variances Based on Gender:
Women and men exhibit differences in numerous aspects, and the feet are no exception. Examine the image below to discern the divergent physical characteristics between a woman’s and a man’s feet.
Women typically possess a more streamlined, triangular-shaped foot compared to the square-shaped foot of a man. In another illustration, we can observe that women’s feet tend to feature a more curved medial area with a heightened medial arch and a shallower big toe when compared to men’s.
From a clinical perspective, these anatomical distinctions translate into women being more prone to forefoot issues compared to men. Conditions such as bunions, hammer toes, calluses, neuromas, and metatarsalgia are more prevalent among women. These ailments often find their roots in the footwear choices women make, which frequently involve tight-fitting shoes with narrow toe boxes.
In a typical flat shoe worn by women, the foot bears approximately 50% of the weight on the ball and the remaining 50% on the heel. While we understand that overpronating feet can skew these percentages, it is helpful to maintain this 50/50 weight distribution for the sake of clarity. However, when a foot is encased in high heels, the biomechanics of weight distribution undergo a significant transformation.
The Hazards of High Heels:
Yoursole Insole has undertaken a comprehensive reimagining of their beloved 5th Avenue Custom Orthotic Collection, introducing new features to elevate fit, comfort, and support.
The sleeker and slimmer design now ensures an improved fit in a wider array of women’s shoes, even accommodating those with more slender dimensions and smaller toe compartments. These custom orthotics furnish patients with unparalleled support and comfort, catering to an extensive range of shoe styles. The 5th Avenue One Inch model, engineered to support all three arches, proves ideal for dress flats and heels measuring up to 1″. On the other hand, the 5th Avenue Two Inch variant supports two arches (excluding the lateral), offering a thinner and narrower profile designed for shoes with heels ranging from 1″ to 2″.
For optimal outcomes, it is recommended that patients acquire both custom orthotic styles from the 5th Avenue Collection and match them to their diverse shoe collection based on heel height. It’s important to emphasize that a patient should not acquire a pair of the 5th Avenue Two Inch orthotics and employ them exclusively in all their other shoes, as this particular orthotic is purpose-built to provide support at the specific angle of a 1″-2″ heel. In flat shoes, it would not provide adequate support. Given that most women possess a wide assortment of shoes in their wardrobes, having both orthotic styles in their collection ensures continuous support across all their footwear.
How does the Yoursole Insole Dress Luxury Custom Orthotic differ from the NEW 5th Avenue Collection?
The Dress Luxury Custom Orthotic has been my trusted choice for both men’s and women’s dress shoes ever since its inception as the “Profile” orthotic many years ago. It has been a constant favorite for both my patients and me. I have consistently found the Dress Luxury to offer excellent support for all three arches, ensuring comfort for everyone while fitting seamlessly into dress shoes and heels up to 1″.
With the introduction of the new 5th Avenue Collection, I have promptly incorporated it into my prescribing routine. This line is intricately tailored to suit women’s feet, making it a valuable addition to my repertoire. The 5th Avenue custom orthotics are notably slimmer, boasting a novel “rounded cut” at the end. Furthermore, the revamped microfoam bottom has seemingly enhanced comfort, a feature that has garnered praise from early female testers.
The Dress Luxury Traditional Dress-length product features a more “flared cut” and is wider compared to the 5th Avenue, making it less slender. It’s advisable to maintain samples of various orthotics in your office, particularly the ones most frequently prescribed, allowing your patients to touch and experience their quality firsthand. You likely already possess a sample of the Dress Luxury custom orthotic, so now, it’s simply a matter of requesting both of the redesigned 5th Avenue custom orthotics. When examining these three orthotics side by side, you’ll readily discern all the differences we’ve highlighted above.
In Conclusion:
In summary, the overhaul of the 5th Avenue Collection presents chiropractors with two valuable additions to an already established line of flexible, custom orthotics with three-arch support. Offering specially designed, well-crafted, and comfortable options for flats and heels up to 1″ as well as shoes with 1″-2″ heels, this development enables our patients to access the highest level of support for every shoe in their collection.
Ideastep Insole is an orthotics manufacturer, Offer OEM & ODM.
Your Sole Insole Shop provide Orthotics for flat feet, High arch, Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Pain…