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History of Shoes
The first shoe was a simple skin sandal that protected the foot from cold and injury. But since those early times, shoes have more often been worn for status and style than comfort and function. Early Greek and Oriental actors used platform shoes to make the main character on stage stand above the supporting actors.
In the 16th century England, male dandies wore shoes with extremely pointed toes. Chinese upper-class women years ago, although it nearly crippled them, would bind their feet so they could wear tiny shoes (a sign of being well bred). Even today some of them still bind their feet.
Today's high heels are almost as rough on the modern women's foot, so it's no wonder that 80 percent of all foot problems occur in their feet.
Men's feet have their problems too though. The stress and inactivity of contemporary life often lead to obesity. These extra pounds added to the out-of-shape weekend athlete and not always wearing the right shoe for the right occasion causes men's feet to develop many problems.
Fortunately, most foot problems can be prevented.