Flat Soles No Longer Protect Feet in Urban Environments

Urban streets have become so rigid and unyielding that traditional flat footwear can no longer provide the protection the human foot needs. This conclusion comes from insights shared by orthopedic specialist Anton Stalnov , whose commentary was published by EcoSever. He explains why the same flat sole behaves one way in nature and quite another in the city.

Flat Shoes Work Well Only in Natural Environments

According to Stalnov, thin, fully flat soles are naturally suited to soft outdoor terrain. Surfaces like sand, soil, grass, and forest floors allow the foot to move fluidly, adjusting to contours without resistance. These environments act as their own cushioning system, absorbing impact before it reaches the joints.

"Flat shoes with a thin, flat sole are ideal for natural ground. They don't interfere with the foot’s ability to follow its own curves. Out in nature you have sand, grass, sticks — all of that softness supports the foot’s movement," said Stalnov.

On such surfaces, the body experiences a gentle distribution of pressure. The foot works in its normal physiological pattern, and even simple footwear causes no strain. Natural terrain does the shock-absorbing, not the shoe.

Why Cities Require a Completely Different Sole

Modern urban flooring — asphalt, concrete, paving tiles — offers none of the resilience that natural ground provides. The force of each step travels directly upward, and flat soles lack the structure to counteract that impact.

Stalnov notes that in earlier centuries, walking on soil meant even minimal footwear provided adequate comfort. But cities have transformed the landscape, altering what the foot needs to stay healthy.

"People used to walk in bast shoes because the ground was soft everywhere. Today we walk on asphalt and concrete, so the sole must be at least one centimeter and two millimeters thick. A flat sole cannot provide shock absorption — and that is its biggest drawback," he explained.

Impact protection, he stresses, is now the defining requirement for urban footwear.

What Flat Soles Do Not Cause

Stalnov also addresses common misconceptions. Flat soles alone do not lead to flat feet, nor do they worsen posture. Many patients attribute their orthopedic concerns to footwear when, in reality, different biomechanical issues are at play.

The most frequent condition, he explains, is not flat feet but the valgus alignment of the foot — a shift in the heel’s loading pattern that changes gait mechanics.

"Flat soles cannot ruin your posture. What we see most often is not flat feet but valgus foot positioning. More pressure goes to the center of the heel, which can lead to plantar fasciitis and heel spurs," he said.

Footwear reflects a person’s existing biomechanics; it does not create them. The shoe reveals how the foot behaves — but does not cause the underlying alignment issues.