With all the content available online these days, it can be hard to figure out what’s real and what’s hype.While we don’t always have the answers, we have a direct line to people who do — which is why we present to you our series The Internet Made Me Ask, where we have experts break down the truth about some of the buzziest trends on our timelines, like whether honey is good for your skin.Jazz shoes are having a moment — but it’s happening outside of the dance studio.
It’s the latest fall footwear trend and it borrows the sleek, low-profile silhouette of classic jazz shoes without the thin, flexible sole built for spins and slides.Brands are reimagining the look with street-ready soles and everyday materials, which raises an obvious question: are they actually built to support your feet? I talked to podiatrists to find out whether this trend holds up outside the studio, and rounded up a few pairs worth considering if you want to try it yourself.Are jazz shoes bad for your feet? According to podiatrists, it depends on how often you wear them.
“This particular type of shoe is usually not supportive enough for full-time everyday wear, especially if you walk long distances, stand at work, or have a history of foot pain,” says Dr.Mike Daniels, a board-certified podiatric surgeon and the president and chief medical officer of We Treat Feet Podiatry.
In other words, the trend’s flat, flexible build — while stylish — wasn’t designed with hours of pavement-pounding in mind.The construction itself is the issue.
“They have virtually no arch support, minimal cushioning, and no structured heel counter,” says Dr.Ammar Saymeh, director of lower extremity services and orthopedic surgeon at Alliance Orthopedics.
“Worn occasionally for a few hours, they’re low-risk.Worn as a daily, all-purpose shoe, they function like a thin ballet flat and offer none of the shock absorption or stability the foot needs for repeated impact on hard pavement.” T...