Every year, when I buy shoes, I increasingly notice how pseudo-hipster designers are screwing around with new shoe models, making them worse and worse. Moreover, marketers present all this under the guise of new fashion trends. Sometimes I come across models so harmful to my feet (see photo below) that I want to slap the creators and everyone else who promotes this crap.
Let me explain why this is important. Our feet serve not only as a support structure but also as a sensory function. When we take a step, afferent (sensory) neurons in the skin of the foot transmit information about the surface we're stepping on to the brain. The more this information, the more activated are the various stabilizer muscles of the foot and the entire body! When there's insufficient information for the brain (no "feedback" from the foot), the necessary muscles that should cushion the step by raising the arch of the foot don't activate.
Moreover, it seems to me that flat feet are becoming more common every year. For example, there are a lot of people on the street with a "cow gait" in precisely this kind of poorly constructed shoes. This, in my humble opinion, wasn't even the case (and I'm not that old 
) when I was a child.
That's why choosing the right shoes and foot-weight regimen is so important, especially for children and teenagers. For example, here are my rules for choosing shoes:
The sole of the shoe should be fully flexible , and the inside should follow the contours of a healthy foot. There should be no heels or high platforms. Yes, I understand that there are exceptions, such as pumps, etc., but I try to wear these for a couple of hours at most.
The toe of the shoe should not be tapered . The toes inside the shoe should be in almost the same position as without the shoe.
Shoes shouldn't be loose on your feet. Crocs and flip-flops shouldn't be worn all the time! Only on special occasions, like to the beach or the pool.
Forget about orthopedic insoles and other "crutches" that podiatrists and other "knowledgeable people" try to force on you. They won't fix existing foot problems.
Also, try to walk barefoot as much as possible. For example, at home, walk barefoot only, no slippers.
If you live near the beach, walk barefoot on the sand. Here's a link to a study that confirms my words: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34838002/ The photo below shows examples of poor-quality shoes and good ones (the kind I wear) .
Shoes from "fashionable" brands for sheep (Nike, Puma, Adidas) are almost all bad. Don't buy them; you're paying a lot of money for damage to your feet! Just look at the unbending soles. However, brands that promote themselves less (Merrel, Cat, Columbia) have some decent models (although I notice hints of degradation and "fashionable" trends).
