INTRODUCE  BROGUES & FOOTWEAR WOES!
A brogue is defined as a durable, comfortable shoe with a low heel often having decorative perforations and a wing tip( the bird-like feature with perforations) see Right tan brogue. To know more about them if interested see this website: www.liveabout.com. 

I posted on Instagram about why I wear brogues also called wingtip shoes in America. I struggled with foot pain for a long time, some of it being occupational related and the foot pain woes began. interestingly the main foot that causes me issues is the left foot(see image below). I am generally flat_footed and I would probably wear Size 6 shoes too if my arch was raised.

True foot posture is lower pic(flat arch) & top pic is forcibly done.

A cousin of mine laughed at me once when I was wearing completely flat shoes by saying I have cankles. I knew it was not normal for me to be having cankles at my age & again when I am not pregnant. Like the famous cankles, Kim K got from pregnancy the picture.

Kim Kardashian ankle cankles during pregnancy

I went to see the podiatrist/chiropodist who are specialists trained in minor feet surgery and care. This is where they first informed me that I should only wear shoes with a slightly raised low heel and laces to secure my feet firmly or velcro plus an insole to raise the arch if I am wearing flats. They advised me never to wear flat shoes completely as this will cause foot pain. I was initially stubborn as I love a cute flat shoe (see flat pump as you scroll page) and as a lover of lovely fashion looks, this felt like a limitation. Oh boy! did I learn a big lesson when I started to get knee pain associated with flat feet and wearing the wrong shoes. My feet would ache at night & I would worry so much about "What if I have arthritis?"

This is when it dawned on me to start wearing the shoes I have been advised to wear and to buy insoles. In all honesty, I had been informed by a Doctor when I was 21years old that I have flat feet & should wear insoles to help prevent problems in my joints. It was a time I had started a new job where I was standing for very long periods and ended up with a condition called Plantar fascitis(link below). I bought trainers called sneakers, canvas shoes, runners or gym shoes and put my insoles in them. I wore them daily and even at work and gradually the foot pain started to lessen. Eventually, the pain disappeared and even the cankle on my left foot disappeared 👍 which was great and more attractive for my legs. If I became stubborn the cankle would return + the pain. To cut a long story short, this is why I wear brogues and I like them a lot.

For those who may not be aware of what a trainer is, see picture on the left. They are also an example of what a velcro shoe is. Velcro is the fastening which secures the shoes without shoelaces making it hassle-free. Most children's shoes and trainers are velcro fastened as it is easier for children to coordinate.
To buy these check out various websites and search for Adidas Stan Smith shoes. They come in various colours and will cost you about 75-pound sterling(UK).





On the right is what a flat pump looks like. Pumps are originally high heeled shoes but in millennial modern times, I find most people talk about their flat pumps. In this post, I will call them flat shoes. As much as I like these shoes a lot and wished I could wear them, my feet sadly rejected them. 

They are very trendy with other styles such loafers, ballerina flats, boat shoes, mocassins which can all look very classy + girly smart. The reason I could not wear them was that they do not support my arch as they are too flat. They also do not firmly hold an insole in a firm immovable position which means the insole will be ineffective in its function to support my arch. Wearing an insole in a flat pump can cause more pain than it is worth especially in the knees and at times I would find my lower back would also start ache. Flat pumps, you may look simple, smart and trendy but I have had to say goodbye to you. Black ballet pumps available at H&M for approximately 30 pound-sterling (UK).

On the left is what a raised arch insole does. Some of these can be bought pre-designed from a good pharmaceutical store in a small foot, medium foot, and large size ranges. There is no one size fits all so it is a case of buy, try and review. I Initially bought some chiropody designed pharmacy insoles which cost about 20-pound sterling in UK money. Then when I felt I was still struggling when I was being naughty wearing flat pumps, I saw a high street chiropodist who custom made long raised arch insoles for both my feet priced at 180pounds. Talk about expensive, and they were full length so could only be worn in trainers. As this became a diagnosed condition, I asked my Dr to refer me to a National Health Service(NHS) podiatrist and they same,  custom made me some half raised arch insoles for both feet. I have been using these ever since interchangeably in different shoes.  I must admit, I have been very compliant with looking after my feet since. I have ensured I do the following:

• wear flats with a slight heel.
• wear flat shoes fastened with shoelaces.
• wear trainers/sneakers for long walks/stroll. Trekking.
• wear my raised arch insoles in flat shoes at all times.
• change my insoles when needed as they can become less effective through frequent usage. As foot pain or swelling starts, I know it is time to buy new insoles or at least every 3 months.

An example of trainers/sneakers that I would usually buy is like the Black Adidas Original X_PLR simple but elegant and trendy which are fastened with shoelaces. I simply place my raised arch insole in them and I am good to go. Wearing these has been very therapeutic for my feet. These can be purchased by searching on various websites as the name has been given and they will cost you about 70 UK pounds sterling.       
                                     

A few flat feet facts we may not know are the following : 
Flat feet can be genetic which is my case as my mother has flat feet. Children tend to have flat feet and this usually corrects itself as they grow. Pregnancy, excessive weight, Diabetes, wearing incorrect sports shoes and some musculoskeletal conditions can predispose us to get flat feet. As I mentioned earlier, knowing that one has flat feet is the most important 1st step to managing them and enjoying healthy feet all your life. Insoles were developed to help manage flat feet and prevent some of the flat feet related pain and symptoms. If you suffer from flat feet there are many ways to manage flat feet so you can enjoy wearing shoes and walking pain-free again. As I am not a chiropodist /podiatrist my advice is simply for your information only but if needing professional help please contact your personal Doctor or visit your local podiatry/chiropody clinics.       

I will put links below to get you started with your journey to great flat feet care

Info on 

Flat Feet:  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168608.php   
          

Info on insoles:

National Health Service(NHS) advice(UK based):https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flat-feet/

Podiatry/Chiropody role:https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/foot-problems-and-the-podiatrist/

We have only one pair of feet and surgery to correct flat feet is usually very risky and at times not beneficial. It is therefore important to care and look after our feet as we need our feet immensely. As a lover of fashion and fashionable looks, I am also an advocate for wearing clothes and shoes that will not affect your physical health and wellbeing. It is difficult to cover up bad feet when the damage is done as opposed to body scars. Let's care and look after our feet the same way we would our faces. I have been thinking of going for regular professional foot massages as well as massage therapy helps with muscle relaxation and removal of tension which can make us prone to foot injuries/pain as part of foot care. Since I have written this I am setting myself a challenge to get this done and review results with you later on in my blog as I revisit this issue.

Disclaimer: This blog article is in no way aiming to provide professional healthcare advice which is only delivered by qualified Doctors, chiropodists or feet therapy practitioners. If by reading this blog you can relate to some of the problems, do visit your Doctor or seek other professional advice. 

Thank you for reading my blog and hope this has inspired you in caring for your feet.

                                                                  💗Faith Faden

                                                                    Founder: VAAC