I see many patients in my practice who wear tie shoes and they do not tie them, or perhaps more accurately, they do not untie and then retie them when removing and putting them on.  

One tie lasts as long as the shoe. This is not exclusive to children but many adults are guilty as well.

In many cases, but not all, one of the pieces of advice I give patients who are guilty, to help them to help reduce their foot pain, is simply to have them tie ( or retie) their shoes.  Keeping your feet in your shoes when you walk is a basic principle allowing the shoes to do their job (which is not to make your feet look good), to support your feet, protect them from the ground and provide stability.

Shoes that slip on are not shoes that simply don’t have ties, they have a different design, typically with elastic someplace in the upper to hold the shoe on your foot.  Some slip-on shoes are acceptable; many are not (stability wise).

A good shoe will be rigid around the heel (the area called the heel counter) allowing the first part of a step, when the heel contacts the ground, to keep the foot stable as it accepts the force of walking and then transfer of the weight of your body to the front of the foot.  If your foot moves in the shoe, there is decreased stability in the step.

Keeping the foot where it belongs also reduces slipping in the heel which equals less chance of a blister forming. 

Shoes have flex points that, when a shoe is properly fit,   flexes where your foot does.  This keeps the foot balanced and increases traction, decreasing stress in the tissues and reduces the risk of a fall.  

There are different techniques for tying a shoe depending on design and use and what issues you may be having.  Click this link to see a video of three options that can help you on your way.

Then, go tie your shoes. 

Dr. Gauntt