So you've come back for another lesson in shoe talk, eh? You must be getting good at shoe lingo by now. You may even be able to stump the shoe salesman with your shoe encyclopedia knowledge. Aw, c'mon, you know you are eager to try it out at least once -- or twice. Shoe parts, shoe-making processes, specialty collections and more have been discussed. In this week's lesson, you will be following that trend with a medical foot condition, a type of shoe measurement, a synthetic material and a style of shoe with safety in mind.

Safety Shoe

Safety first, right? The safety shoe is one designed specifically with the consumer's safety in mind. Most safety shoes have steel toes. Safety shoes can also include other safety features, such as waterproofing and oil-resistant fabrics and materials. Designed for the professional, the Timberland Pro collection of work boots and shoes is an example of safety coupled with comfort and style. The Timberland brand is well known among the pros for its safety and durability.

Polyurethane (PU)

Polyurethane, or simply PU, is a chemical-based synthetic material. It is commonly used to create faux leather. Hey now, when I said "PU," that was not a reference to a foul odor. Although, if you've got an odor problem, you may wish try some odor-fighting polyurethane shoes.

Shaft Height

The shaft height is the inside measurement of the boot's shaft from bottom to top, starting at the arch. If you were at thinking of a mine shaft instead, you may want to pick up a set of climbing shoes before you head off to explore.

Neuroma

Neuroma is a foot condition that a person could be born with due to a defect. It can also be caused by wearing shoes too narrow for the foot, wearing high-heeled shoes, or injuries. If you have neuroma, this means that the two metatarsals on your feet have pinched the nerve located between them. The pinching action causes a tissue mass to form on this nerve. That mass is known as a neuroma.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network.

Let us undertake another fun session of shoe encyclopedia. If you've been following along, you've already learned so much. You should be proud of yourself. You may have already discovered that shoe talk can be, not only fun, but very useful. Let us continue on with this fifth installment of the shoe encyclopedia. You'll learn about the approach shoe, exactly what supination is, and the definition for blucher.

Approach Shoe

The approach shoe is not going to walk up to you by itself. Rather, an approach shoe is one that will help you approach that mountain top with greater ease. It is actually a shoe designed with a special grip on the sole that is meant to aid rock climbers on the trail back and forth from the climbing area.

Supination

Supination is not a shoe or a shoe feature. Instead it's an action that can be done by the foot. It is when, during walking or running, the outermost part of the heel touches the ground as it's supposed to, but instead of rolling inward, like in a normal walking pattern, the pressure stays on that outside part of the heel. This causes pressure on the smaller toes and the lateral side of the foot. To help with this problem, supinators (those who walk or run with supination) can try neutral running shoes.

Blucher

A blucher is a shoe that features two side flaps of fabric or other material. These two materials feature lacing to hold them together. For instance, many tennis shoes feature the blucher style, as can dress shoes and even boots. In other words, many, or even most, shoes that contain laces display this style.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network