SHOE TIPS FOR HEALTHY FEET

SHOE TIPS FOR HEALTHY FEET

The primary purpose of shoes is to protect your feet and prevent injury. But in order to do so, they must fit well. Poorly fitted shoes, shoes that are too narrow, too short or too large--can cause discomfort, injury and even permanent deformity.

Understanding the components of proper fit can help you make sensible shoe purchases for yourself and your family. This brochure describes the parts of a shoe and how they can affect fit. It also discusses special considerations related to children's, men's, women's, work and athletic shoes, and provides recommendations on footwear selection.

Although style is often a key consideration in choosing a pair of shoes, the most important quality to look for in shoes--from a practical standpoint--is durable construction that will protect your feet and keep them comfortable। In selecting shoes, keep this basic principle of good fit in mind: Your shoes should conform to the shape of your feet; your feet should never be forced to conform to the shape of a pair of shoes. Soreness, blisters, callouses, and, with time, permanent disfigurements can be caused by habitually crowding your feet into shoes that don't fit well.

Anatomy of a Shoe

A shoe is composed of different parts. Understanding the basics of shoe construction can help you choose intelligently from among the thousands of available styles.

The toe box is the tip of the shoe that provides space for the toes. The toe box may be rounded or pointed and will determine the amount of space provided for the toes.

The vamp is the upper middle part of the shoe where the laces are commonly placed. Sometimes Velcro is used instead of laces.

The sole consists of an insole and an outsole. The insole is inside the shoe; the outsole contacts the ground. The softer the sole, the greater the shoe's ability to absorb shock.

The heel is the bottom part of the rear of the shoe that provides elevation. The higher the heel, the greater the pressure on the front of the foot.

The last is the part of the shoe that curves in slightly near the arch of the foot to conform to the average foot shape. This curve enables you to tell the right shoe from the left. On occasion. An orthopaedic surgeon may prescribe a child's shoe that has a straight or reverse last.

The material from which the shoe is made can affect fit and comfort. Softer materials decrease the amount of pressure the shoe places on the foot. Stiff materials can cause blisters. A counter may be used to stiffen the material around the heel and give support to the foot.

Recommendations for Footwear

1. Because your feet may vary in size, ask the salesperson to measure the length and width of each of your feet.
2. Your feet expand when bearing weight, so stand while your feet are being measured.
3. Because swelling during the course of the day can enlarge your feet, have your feet measured at the end of the day.
4. The shoes you buy should be fitted to your longer and wider foot. Although the toe box should be spacious, too much space can cause the feet to slide around in the shoes, possibly causing blisters or abrasions.
5. Shoes should be fitted carefully to your heel as well as your toes. Check to make sure your heel does not slip out of the back of the shoe.
6. Walk around in the shoes to make sure they fit well and feel comfortable.
7. Don't select a shoe by size alone. A size 10 in one brand or style may be smaller or larger than the same size in another brand or style. Buy the shoe that fits well.
8. Select a shoe that conforms as closely as possible to the shape of your foot.
9. Have your feet measured regularly. Their size may change as you grow older.
10. If the shoes feel too tight. don't buy them. There is no such thing as a "break-in period." With time, a foot may push or stretch a shoe to fit. But this can cause foot pain and damage.
11. If one of your feet is considerably larger than the other, an insole can be added to the shoe on the smaller foot.
12. Fashionable shoes can be comfortable, too.

9 Points for a Proper Shoe fit

Treat your feet right. They support you. You need to support them. Wear shoes that fit. Poorly fitting shoes can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes and other foot problems. You can prevent some of these problems by paying attention to how you select your new shoes. Here are some suggestions on proper shoe fit from the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, the Nation Shoe Retailers Association and the Pedorthic Footwear Association:

1. Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Don't select shoes by the size marked inside the shoe. Judge the shoe by how it fits on your foot.
2. Select a shoe that conforms as nearly as possible to the shape of your foot.
3. Have your feet measured regularly. The size of your feet changes as you grow older.
4. Have BOTH feet measured. Most people have one foot larger than the other. Fit to the largest foot.
5. Fit at the end of the day when your feet are largest.
6. Stand during the fitting process and check that there is adequate space (3/8" to 1/2") for your longest toe at the end of each shoe.
7. Make sure the ball of your foot fits comfortably into the widest part (ball pocket) of the shoe.
8. Don't purchase shoes that feel too tight, expecting them to "stretch" to fit.
9. Your heel should fit comfortably in the shoe with a minimum amount of slippage. Walk in the shoe to make sure it fits and feels right! (Fashionable shoes CAN be comfortable!)