Favorite Footwear Sites

When you visit me for a first reflexology session, I measure your feet and take ink prints to show how and where you are putting pressure on specific parts of your feet. The measurements help to make sure you are wearing the right size shoe and the ink prints provide a clear visual and help create awareness about posture and movement. This initial information helps to guide the session plan and, if you are wearing ill-fitting shoes, it provides another step you can take to improve your foot health and overall sense of well-being. 

To help you on your path to more comfortable footwear, I wrote, “Five Tips for Healthy Shoes.” As more clients are asking about specific brands, I am sharing with you three of my favorite shoe lists. Each of these provides fantastic recommendations and I encourage you to compare the options on each to find shoes that match your specific footwear needs. 

Anya’s Reviews
Anya’s Reviews focuses specifically on “barefoot” and minimalist footwear. The author of the site (Anya) became passionate about healthier footwear after dealing with foot issues herself. My favorite things about this site are the easily understandable explanations for why she is recommending specific shoes, detailed lists for different footwear needs (including “Affordable Barefoot and Minimalist Shoes,” “The Best Barefoot and Minimalist Shoe Brands for Beginners,” and “All Time Warmest Barefoot Winter Boots - Zero Drop, Snow, & Waterproof,” and the balance of fashion and function. She also has a footwear store on the site, and the prices are comparable to buying the footwear directly from the manufacturer or through other larger third-party sellers.   

Correct Toes
Correct Toes is a toe spacer company and their product is designed by a sports podiatrist and is intended to be worn either barefoot or inside of shoes while being active. They have put together a footwear list that focuses on shoes that are wide enough for the toes to have movement, are flat, and are flexible. The list is updated frequently and includes categories for men’s, women’s, and kid’s shoes. There are also some helpful tips about each shoe model such as if a shoe runs small and should be purchased a size up, information about the materials in the shoe, and features such as waterproofing and breathability. 

Nutritious Movement
Nutritious Movement was founded by biomechanist and author Katy Bowman, M.S., as a way to encourage movement in daily life and to emphasize moving individual parts of the body in addition to the body as a whole to create well-rounded exercise routines. She has some informative resources regarding foot mechanics, restoring foot function and, making the transition into more minimalist footwear safely to avoid injury. On the shoe list page, she includes a chart with five factors to consider when determining how a shoe will impact your feet and therefore the movement of your entire body. The list is updated regularly and includes categories for adults, kids, and seasonal footwear.

Why am I so adamant that you consider footwear in your health and wellness routines? My goal as a reflexologist is for you to feel better as quickly as possible and for positive changes to be lasting. Many people (myself included before I learned more about footwear) wear shoes that do not fit. In a literature review of 18 peer-reviewed articles, Buldt and Menz (2018) assert, “The available evidence indicates that a large proportion of the population (between 63 and 72%) are wearing inappropriately sized footwear based on length and width measurements, and that incorrect footwear fitting is significantly associated with foot pain, poorer overall foot health, corns and calluses in older people and foot ulceration in older people with diabetes.” 

No matter how many reflexology sessions I schedule with you, the root cause of the pain, discomfort, and tension needs to be addressed. Reflexology shines when it comes to relaxing the entire body through the feet, hands, and ears. That relaxation is even more apparent when footwear is chosen to support movement and all of the activities you enjoy throughout your day. 

Buldt, Andrew K and Hylton B. Menz. “Incorrectly fitted footwear, foot pain and foot
disorders: A systematic search and narrative review of the literature.” Journal of 
Foot and Ankle Research, vol. 11, no. 43, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-018-0284-z. Accessed 12 Nov. 2018.