The wrong shoes can cause or aggravate foot ailments. The right shoes can often prevent problems. So wearing the right shoes is vital to foot health. Follow this checklist when you buy shoes. Be sure they measure up.
Construction
Leather is the best material because it breathes like skin and molds to your foot. Athletic shoes with netting also allows the feet to breath and is usually less binding as the foot swells during activities. Canvas can be a good alternative to leather but if you are very active make sure that there are no pressure points that can cause blistering or irritation. NEVER wear plastic shoes, they can cause sweating that may lead to fungal infections, they do not breathe, they do not conform to the foot and do not absorb the jolts of walking on hard surfaces.
Insoles should be cushioned, if you are wearing high heels add a gel or foam metatarsal pad to the area under the ball of the foot to help reduce the pressure on the area and decrease the formation of calluses. If the insoles in a pair of shoes have wear or even holes, in most cases the shoes need to be replaced.
Arch supports distribute weight over a wide area. They help reposition the foot to a proper alignment to alleviate various biomechanical problems. Arch supports placed in flimsy shoes will not work properly; they need a shoe with a solid shank to hold them in the correct position. Over the counter supports are generic and may help reduce problems but every foot is slightly different and only a true custom orthosis can accommodate a patient’s individual needs. Custom functional orthotics are made from a computer image during gait and offer the best support.
Only you can tell if shoes fit. If they aren’t comfortable, don’t buy them. If they do not fit properly they will create pressure areas on the feet, this often leads to blisters, bursitis, corns, neuromas and cramping. Do not trust sizes, different models of shoes are made from molds that may differ from one manufacturer to the next. Shoes can run wide, narrow, long, short or any combination and so it is important to try on both shoes for proper fit. Most people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other; therefore, it is very important to try on both shoes. . If you are having your feet measured, always check both feet for size. Always fit the larger foot. If you own shoes that feel tight have them professionally stretched by a shoe repair shop.
Feet spread with age, sizes change, often over time feet become wider. A pair of shoes that may have fit a year or two ago may no longer be the proper size today. Go shoe shopping at the end of the day when your feet are already tired, achy and swollen; then if you find a comfortable pair of shoes, buy them in every color if possible. Too often people by shoes that felt wonderful in the shoe store to later discover they can’t walk in them. Remember size depends on shoe make and style. Don’t insist you always wear one size if the next feels better. Most shoes are manufactured overseas and their forms may be sized slightly smaller. The toe box should be roomy enough to wiggle all your toes. Your foot should not be wider than the shoe. The heel should fit without gapping and the instep should support your arch.
Children’s feet grow very rapidly and so constantly check the shoes by pressing down on the distal aspect of the shoe, it should be at least ½ inch space from the tip of the shoe to the toes. If the toes are jammed right to the end of the shoe then they are much too small. Shoes should be flexible and made of leather or canvas not plastic. Children should be able to wiggle their toes inside the toebox of the shoe. The orthopedic stiff leather shoes of the 50’s were too constricting, all studies in the past decades agree that today’s sneakers are the best shoes a child can wear. Shoes protect the feet during walking; therefore shoes are unnecessary until a child begins to walk. It is important to check the socks; tight socks can constrict the toes.
