This year, the society questioned 499 women between the ages of 20 and 50 about what shoes they wore to work. Participants were selected at random. The participants held a variety of jobs, ranging from bankers, lawyers and engineers to salesclerks, factory workers and secretaries. Sixty-nine percent said they wore flat shoes to work, including 23 percent who wore athletic shoes. No job category contained a disproportionate number of women who wore high heels, Dyal said.
Younger women appear to be much more likely to choose shoes for comfort.
If that trend continues, it is likely that during the next couple of decades, the number of women in their forties, fifties and sixties having foot surgery will go down, said Coughlin. That will make me happy, because I'll have done something for women. Choosing Shoes That Fit Poorly fitting shoes are painful and can promote foot problems. To make sure new shoes fit properly, follow this advice from the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, the National Shoe Retailers Association and the Pedorthic Footwear Association. Sizes vary among brands and styles.