#NordicWalkingGuy came across an article that illustrated the importance of foot care. It turns out, a certain shoe style caused bunions in its wearers. Bunions happen when the big toe (sometimes the little toe as well) is forced inward, and the joint begins to protrude out.
Key point: “Researchers in Britain have unearthed new evidence that stylish pointed shoes caused a “plague” of bunions in the late medieval period.”
More about it:
- As if from nowhere: “While just 6% of individuals buried between the 11th and 13th centuries had evidence of bunions, 27% of those from the 14th and 15th centuries were hobbled by the affliction.”
- Not all change is good: “…shoe style changed significantly during the 14th century, when it shifted from a functional rounded toe box to a lengthy pointed tip.”
- Risk of falling: “…patients with hallux valgus has shown that the deformity makes it harder to balance, and increases the risk of falls in older people.”
Takeaway: Choose your shoes wisely. Think in terms of foot function, not style.