Getting a good fit
Everything from serious foot disorders to the more common foot and ankle conditions can be aggravated (or even caused by) footwear that’s either inappropriate, poor quality or ill-fitting (or any combination of these). Properly fitted shoes will pay large dividends in terms of good foot health.
Follow the following tips, when buying shoes, to reduce the risk of foot problems as a result of poor footwear.
- Don't make feet conform to the shape of the shoe. The shoe needs to conform to the shape of your foot.
- Fit new shoes to your largest foot. Most people have one foot larger than the other.
- Foot size increases as you get older. So have both feet measured every time you purchase shoes.
- Make sure there’s half an inch of space from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe.
- Buy shoes in the middle or end of the day. Your feet normally swell during the day, which makes for a better fit.
- Don’t buy shoes that are too tight. There is no such thing as a "break-in period."
- Be aware of the dangers of high heels
- Judge a shoe by how it fits on your foot, not by the marked size - sizes vary among shoe brands and styles.
- Be sure to try on both shoes and make sure they’re comfortable.
- When wearing the shoes, you should be able to freely wiggle all of your toes.
