Swollen feet, heavy legs… The right choice of shoes changes everything when it’s hot. We interviewed Fabien Beuzon, chiropodist-podiatrist, to find out which ones to favor and which ones to avoid.
Our feet hate heat. They swell as the hours pass, our legs become heavier and our shoes, comfortable in the morning, end up turning into real torture. It’s difficult, come evening, to feel comfortable. To see things more clearly and make the right choices, Fabien Beuzon, chiropodist-podiatrist, gives his advice to Journal des Femmes.
If our feet swell in the heat, it’s because of circulation. “In our body, the arteries carry blood from the heart to the feet, and the veins, which have small valves, ensure the return of blood to the heart”recalls the specialist. In summer, due to the heat, a phenomenon of vasodilation is triggered “and the veins dilate more than necessary”. The blood then stagnates in the lower body, due to gravity. The veins, which must act against both vasodilation and gravity, have difficulty keeping up. Result: venous return is less effective, and the foot swells.
To avoid being embarrassed, you should ban certain shoes. Top of the list: flip-flops. “Especially when you wear them all day, because the foot is not supported and has to force your way.” Moreover, “the small straps between the toes compress and can create a sore”warns Fabien Beuzon. Same caution with “anything mules and sandals with lots of straps”. Exit the Spartans. When the foot swells, the straps “can cause injury”. Also avoid: models that are too sharp, but also “shoes that are too flat and too thin”, because “for a nice step, you need a small heel”. Finally, it is better “avoid anything that is plastic, which promotes perspiration and maceration”. And above all, “In summer, it’s not appropriate to wear new shoes all day”.
Where to turn, then? “The trap in summer is choosing a shoe only because it is open”warns the podiatrist. “The right choice is a shoe that lets the foot breathe and does not compress it, so it still needs support.” This maintenance goes through “sandals with straps. But this time, they have to be adjustable”with a back strap “which tightens the rearfoot and helps you take the step”. In terms of materials, favor “textile, canvas, a bit like the canvas of espadrilles”with “a rather cushioning sole, or a small heel”. Last tip: “When you buy shoes in summer, you should do it in the evening and not in the morning”to take into account the swelling of the foot during the day.
A few simple actions can also relieve swelling. “When it is very hot, you must not trample”recommends the podiatrist. And “as soon as you can, you have to elevate your legs”. Certain positions allow you to regain a feeling of lightness after a hot day. In the evening, time for Scottish showers: “An alternation of hot and cold so that it creates a vasoconstriction system: we go down from the front, we go back up from the back, from the feet to the thighs included. And this for two minutes, ending with the cold.”
