Young people love wearing hard-soled canvas shoes, but prolonged wear may cause inflammation or even rupture of the plantar fascia. Dr. Lin Weilong, director of the Department of Orthopedics at East China Hospital, stated that frequently wearing shoes with heels that are too high or soles that are too thin and hard can easily lead to inflammation or rupture of the plantar fascia. Delayed treatment may also result in premature degeneration of the foot joints.
Wearing hard-soled shoes for consecutive days causes plantar fascia rupture
Recently, a female university student in Taiwan in her twenties wore hard-soled canvas shoes for several consecutive days. It is suspected that due to the soles being too hard and too thin, the plantar fascia on her right foot first became inflamed, then ruptured after stepping on a sharp object, causing her so much pain that she could not walk... According to the orthopedic doctor at Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Hospital who treated this case, the young woman’s right foot was almost unable to bear weight, and she had to be supported by a friend to enter the consultation room. She reported that she had recently bought a pair of hard-soled canvas shoes and wore them for several days while shopping and traveling, resulting in severe pain under the sole of her right foot, which was diagnosed as a rupture of the plantar fascia. Currently, in addition to ongoing medication, the university student also needs to use crutches to avoid further injury to the sole of her right foot.
The doctor analyzed that the young woman had been walking in shoes with relatively hard and thin soles for a long time, and the plantar fascia had already shown mild signs of inflammation. She may have stepped on a sharp object without noticing and continued walking for extended periods, leading to the fascia rupture.
Soles that are too thin or hard may damage joints and the spine
As the weather warms up, many young people, and even middle-aged and elderly individuals, enjoy buying canvas shoes because they are breathable and comfortable, making them popular among many. Especially online, many canvas shoes are brightly colored and inexpensive, making them highly sought after by the “student crowd.” However, reporters have also found that many cheap canvas shoes purchased online have soles that are both thin and hard.
Dr. Lin Weilong, director of the Department of Orthopedics at East China Hospital, analyzed that shoes need to have a certain thickness and incline; shoes that are too thin and hard are not good. Young people enjoy activities such as running and jumping, and if the soles are too thin, they may not provide adequate support, potentially leading to arch damage. Over time, this can even result in conditions like plantar fasciitis. In addition, if the soles are too thin, it may also cause reflective damage—the impact force from the ground directly affects the ankles, knees, joints, spine, and even the brain. When jumping or running, there is significant shock to the ankle joints, knee joints, hip joints, and even the spine, placing considerable stress on the joints.
Protecting joints and the spine starts with choosing the right shoes
“Shoes and how you move are very important!” said Director Lin Weilong. For young people who enjoy sports, preventing joint injuries is not only about warming up properly before exercise, but also about choosing the right shoes. He recommends selecting appropriate footwear based on the type of activity. For example: when playing basketball, it's best to choose shoes with air-cushioned soles that better absorb the impact from jumping; for basic exercises like walking or jogging, jogging shoes are an excellent choice; wear running shoes for running, hiking shoes for mountaineering—these are relatively safer options.
Wearing high heels for long periods can, over time, lead to joint degeneration or knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, avoid wearing high heels on long walks; instead, opt for thick-soled, elastic, soft-bottomed shoes to reduce the impact on the knee joints and prevent wear. From a biomechanical perspective, good shoes can effectively cushion impacts during walking or exercise, even reducing potential brain impact, thereby helping to prevent disease. Director Lin Weilong reminds the public that when selecting or wearing shoes, one should avoid wearing shoes with heels that are too high or soles that are too thin and hard for extended periods to prevent inflammation of the plantar fascia.