Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, The Liberal, Copyright September 20, 1989


Last week my column dealt with the growing trend toward ours becoming a ‘ running shoe society.’

Everyone now wears them and most experts who deal with such things agree that this is a good thing. They are comfortable, lightweight, offer good support, traction and usually ‘breathe’ well.

Most people who wear good running shoes throughout the day will feel better because of it at the end of the day. Most people who don’t wear running shoes all day don’t because they can’t. Their bosses will not let them. They think they will look dumb.

“How can you possibly wear running shoes with a skirt?” is the question often asked.

My answer is always the same: I don’t really know. Nor do I care. Just do it if it will help your health.

Anyone who must be on their feet for more than a few hours at a time should be wearing running shoes. I do, and so do most other doctors, pharmacists, waitresses and sales clerks. They even make running shoes so they don’t look like running shoes.

They really do make a difference and anyone who owns a pair and uses them for casual use will never go back to their old shoes.

What to buy and where to buy? Go to a store with a large selection of athletic footwear. Tell the salesperson what you want the shoes for and listen to their advice.

Athletic shoes are one product where it still pays to buy brand-name goods, even though you are paying a few extra dollars for the name and the specially-designed stripes which will tell anyone who cares enough to look at your feet that you are one who cares enough to wear the best.

A pair of shoes which looks and feels identical to the brand-name product, but sells for $20 or less, might be a waste of money if, after two months, the seams start ripping apart, the foam arch support buckles and the inside stitching starts to rub against your dainty toes.

Blisters, tendonitis, metatarsalgia, neuralgia, bursitis and shin splints are just a few of the scary-sounding things you can get if you try to save the $20.

If you just want the shoes for walking, you can’t go wrong with a good pair of jogging shoes.

These shoes are made to withstand a lot of pounding stress, are lightweight, cool, comfortable and have good traction. Not all running shoes are good to walk in.

Baseball shoes with metal spikes, for example, are not too proper to wear to a board meeting, unless you want to spike the company president.

If jogging shoes look too much like running shoes for your tastes, most companies now make a walking shoe which has many of these same features, but looks a bit more like a dress shoe.

As you can see, the days of lacing up the ‘keds’ and running through the mud are gone forever.

Specific use, high tech footwear, replaces the old-fashioned notion of just a ‘running shoe’. Now, if we can just teach our kids to step completely into the shoe and then do up all the laces, all will be perfect.

Allan Horowitz, D.C., is a chiropractor and writes this public service column. He will attempt to answer readers’ questions on a variety of topics including back pain, headaches, nutrition, sport injuries, and preventive medicine.

Address your questions to Allan0 Horowitz, care of The Liberal, Box 390, Richmond Rill, L4C 4Y6.