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'J • •> s*'* i i . PLA1NDEALER Advice from experts . . . Choosing a versatile shoe is the key to America's favorite exercise Americ­ ans walk for exercise. Another 62 million walk to enjoy nature. Some 28 million more hike and backpack. What keeps all these people going? Probably die least com­ plicated equipment required for any exercise or pastime: a suit­ able pair of shoes. As winter approaches, dur­ able and comfortable shoes be­ come even more important--- with damp cold days impend­ ing. A good pair of shoes can keep the walker on his track even on die poorest days. "This is the single fundamen­ tal requirement," cautions Bruce katz, director of Rock- port Research Group, Marlboro, Mass. "Pay close at- i tention to shoes or you won't walk much, very far, or hap- % Richard Schiller, of Cali­ fornia College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, agrees that appropriate shoes "deliver the one physical activ­ ity that spans all ages and abili­ ties and pocketbooks." "Originally, shoes were strictly protection," Katz re­ lates. "Hides in cold climates, sandals in hot. Then shoes be­ came fashionable in many cases at expense of comfort. "Today's public is demand­ ing style and comfort and dura­ bility for walking. People will no longer tolerate uncomforta­ ble shoes. "They want versatility: style, comfort, and durability. Shoe­ makers are responding. Rock- port meets these needs by designing lasts that look like feet.' An example of a shoe that fits the foot is the moccasin-toe, Dr. Schiller and Katz agree, whereas the pointed-toe shoe does not. The walker should fa­ vor the moccasin design. Katz and Dr. Schiller offer these added suggestions in se- , lecting shoes for walking: • Avoid exaggerated fea- , tures. Extra wide toes can be as harmful as pointed toes. Toes ! should feel secure. j Make sure the shoe holds your five toes in line, not too snug or too loose. Danger sign: i a ridge under the toes that forces ! your foot to splay. • Heels. Your heel isn't flat on the bottom. It's slightly rounded. The inside of your shoe should match this shape. When you press the inside heel area of a shoe, it should de­ press slightly in the middle. This cradles the natural padding of your heel. Shoes that are flat inside force this padding away from where it is needed. lb test the outside heel, hold the shoe at a 45° angle--the edge of the heel against a hard surface. Push straight down and i make sure it gives. You want a heel that absorbs shock--particularly in the area where you exert the most pounding. • Soles. If your walking will be mostly on sidewalks you need some spring in your shoe role. Crepe, a natural rubber product, does the best job. If vou want a more stream­ lined, dressier appearance, choose lighter weight shock-ab­ sorbing soles.' • Hiking in rough terrain calls for harder soles with a tread design to protect your feet [and provide gripping power for rock climbing and dirt trails. • Flex. Hold the shoe straight up and down with the toe toward the floor. Push straight down. Does the shoe bend about one third of the way up? It should. The area under your heel and arch should remain straight. This means the shoe will bend where your foot bends. Crepe-sole shoes often use a wedge design to provide stabil­ ity and flexibility in the right places. • Arch support giv*s your foot better contact with the shoe to avoid twisting. But most po­ diatrists agree that arch support that forces your foot unnaturally high is not helpful. • Fit. Try the shoes on un­ tied. Stand in them. If your feet PAGE 7 -FRIDAY. DECEMBER 14, 1J7B feel they're being held without ! any tight spots, you're on your way to proper fit. • Leather uppers let your feet breathe. Leather should feel soft, almost buttery, for comfort and durability. But be careful: some soft leathers are too thin to give support. • Workmanship. Shoes should look and feel smooth in­ side. No rough seams, loose or unfinished linings. Shoes that look carefully made will usually last longer and will also be more comfort­ able. • Boots or shoes? If you are always going to walk on rough terrain, in all kinds of weather, boots are a better choice. Other­ wise, you may find boots too constricting. What if you follow this ad­ vice and still have problems? "A podiatrist can help by ex­ amining your feet and prescrib­ ing special inserts called ortnodic devices," concludes Dr. Schiller. "These adjust your foot to the shoe." Timely Warning You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future. -Sun, Sac City, la. YOU CAN TAKE IRS TO COURT <fi}A recent rule change lets tax­ payers ask the U.S. Tax Court to referee disputes with IRS amounting to $5000 or less in added taxes. 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