Should Women Wear Shoes When They Exercise?

Dr. Jacoby shares if women should wear shoes while exercising.

Dr. Jacoby:
Shoes and the things that we do with our activity levels – I think the shoe should fit the activity. Lots of activities, however, don’t require shoes, yoga being one because it’s on a soft mat. So I think that’s safe to do. One of the problems I see without shoes in an activity is gymnastics. Even though there is a mat, there is a lot of force, and there’s a lot of injuries that I see from that. But I think each activity should require the shoe for that activity.

For instance, biking is another example. Even though it’s not a contact sport, it does cause mechanical problems with the foot if we don’t have the proper shoe. Running shoes, soccer shoes, basketball shoes, casual shoes–every activity requires a different shoe for that activity.

One of the problems I see with shoes and without shoes is balance problem. We are so used to wearing shoes that our balance is probably off when we go barefoot. That’s why Pilates is a good exercise for people who wear shoes all the time because it exercises the intrinsic muscles in the foot as opposed to the big muscles in the legs.

As since we live here in Arizona in Scottsdale, the exercises that are done in the pool, plaster in a pool is very irritating to the skin and the feet, and we use aquatic shoes–shoes that can be accommodated to the foot even in a watery environment.

About Dr. Jacoby, D.P.M.:
Dr. Richard Jacoby, D.P.M., graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his residency at Parkview Hospital, Philadelphia, specializing in foot and ankle surgery. Board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeons, he is currently president of Valley Foot Surgeons in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition, Dr. Jacoby is chairman of the board of Healthcare Networks of America.

Dr. Jacoby has been named the 2010 President of The Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.

Visit Dr. Jacoby at Valley Foot Surgeons