Don’t get caught flatfooted

With temperatures reaching 25 degrees this Eater long weekend, Torontonians can ditch their winter boots and break out the spring foot ware. While the weather’s on your side for showcasing your flip-flops and flats down Yonge Street, you might be asking for discomfort later down the road.

Elma Bucan, a first-year nursing student at Centennial College wears flats whenever she can, even if they're sometimes uncomfortable. “I know they’re not very supportive and I get blisters from them all the time but once you break them in they’re not so bad,” said the 19-year-old.

But blisters are just the beginning of what can result in some serious health risks.



Flat shoes can "strain the Achilles tendon that runs from the back of the heel as well as the calf muscles in the back of the leg", said Mike O'Neill, a spokesman for the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, in an interview with the Guardian, adding that, "the strain can then result in pain in as little as two weeks."

For Toronto chiropodist, Dr. Eddie Yuen, a key feature of good supportive shoes is one with stiff heel counters. “It’s found at the back of the shoe and should be very stiff and non-compressible. This will control the motion of the foot,” said Yuen.

Samantha East, 20, works at Spring and understands why people buy flats despite the health risks. “It’s spring time, you want to look fashionable, show off some skin and in that process comfort gets sacrificed for style.”