Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-17

Most foot trouble Is a result of
thoughtless abuse rather than disease.
Beginning when children, we grad
ually but systematically deform the
foot, while we increase the load 1t
must carry BY middle life, very
high per cent of our people have what
might definitely be termed deformed
feet. When this condition is reached
walking becomes irksome. In the
meantime, with diminished exercise
the body often tends to take on more
weight, further increasing the burden
on already incapable feet. Thus a bad
foot condition is automatically ag-
gravated.
Foot trouble often ties on to far
more serious body ills. Poor condi-
ton of feet leads to bad body posture
with it's attendant train of evil eff
fects. There is also constant danger
of some condition of Ill health arising
to remedy which exercise is neces-
sary. The patient with impaired feet
is not in condition to engage IN the
most natural and healthful of all forms
of exercise-walking.
Caused by Shoes.
Foot trouble stands in the least eX
cusable list of human ills. In most
part it is brought about by wearing
shoes shaped, not as feet are shaped,
but rather conforming to arbitrary
fashions and fadS.
In a surprising number of cases well
advanced foot deformity remedies
itself when offending type of shoe is
discarded. This was strikingly illus
trated during the war. Hundreds of.
thousan dS of young men came into the
Army so foot-crippled that a vemile
walk was torture. After a few weeks
wearing the Army shoes they found
themselves capable of taking a 20-mile
hike without foot discomfort.
The most common defect in shoes is
that they lack toe room. Toes are
flexible braces to the bony arch of the
foot. They should have room to f1eX.
Most important of the toes is the big
toe. To carry its load without strain
ii must point straight ahead. The
usual shoe bends this big toe sharply
in toward the other toes. In large
number of cases this eventually re-
suits in a so-called 'bunion" at the
joint, where the big toe joins the foot.
Even If the big toe does not develop
a bunion as a result of this sharp
bending inward, it's usefulness in
bracing the arch of the foot is greatly
impaired.
Advice i'm Buying.
The first point to remember in Sc
Letting a shoe is the inside line. This
line should be straight, so that the
big toe has an opportunity to point
straight ahead. Even people who
have already trained the big toe to
point over toward the other toes
should bear this point in mind. Ma
ture will do much to correct the de-
formity If shoe space is provided.
Shoes should also be ample in
length. Our feet are longer at some
times than at other times. They tend
to iengthen through the day. There
should be ample space between the
end of the toes and the end of the
shoe. A thumbs breadth is not too
much space to allow.
Short, tight-fittinG stockings also
tend to squeeze the toes out of line
and should never be worn.
The female of our species has to
contend with one deadly feature of
shoe fashion which is not usually
thrust on the male. 1t is the high
heel. High heels put the weight for
ward so that the ball of the foot and
toes carry an undue share. They are
usually associated with shoes so
shaped as to force the big toe inward.
The added weight put forward makes
all the more sure that toe deformity
is effected.
High Heels Dangerous.
High heels make for insecure and
ungraceful walking, with greatly in
creased ankle and general foot strain.
But there is still another and far more
serious effect of high heels. They
result eventually in a shortening of
the heel tendon.
Many people who have developed
weak arches wear metal braces.
Blocking up the arch is now consider
ed the last resort in treatment. 1t