Shoe shopping can be confusing and sometimes, frustrating. Each brand or model can fit differently. Also, shoes have various shapes that may feel different on your foot versus someone else’s. No matter your style, the fit of the shoe should be the most important factor when choosing a new pair.
Why is the right fit important?
We wear shoes outdoors and often indoors all day long. Many people even wear slippers or sandals in the home to help relieve aches and pains in the feet. If the shoes and slippers we wear are not supportive, or are the wrong fit, that foot pain won’t go away. In fact, by wearing the incorrect shoe fit we can actually make it worse.
What constitutes a “perfect fit” ?
Assessing Length: Measuring length and width on a shoe measuring “Brannock” device is one of the best ways to find out what the right fit looks like for you. When trying on the shoe up to half an inch of space is normal at the toe; more than half an inch is probably too long. A shoe that is too long may cause slippage at the heel or rubbing along the underside of the foot as it slides with walking.. As long as you do not feel the tip of your longest toe rubbing against the front or top of the shoe, the length is acceptable.
Finding the Right Width: Finding an appropriate shoe width can be difficult. When the shoe is too wide, there will be diagonal creasing across the toe as you walk. Additionally with a longer shoe, when standing, you will be able to grip extra fabric across the toe box. The shoe will feel sloppy and loose along the whole of the foot. Alternatively, if the shoe is too tight you might see spillage over the sides of the shoe and bulging of the material around the foot. You may also feel a squeezing sensation across the toes or forefoot and be unable to move them freely in the shoe.
Feeling for the Correct Depth: Depth of the shoe is a less noticeable feature until it’s not there. Whether you have orthotics or not, making sure your foot has space within the shoe is crucial. If you have a hard time getting your foot into the shoe or feel pressure on the top of your foot once it is on, it may be a sign that the depth isn’t there. Toes may rub against the upper material, and if the shoe does not have laces or velcro straps to adjust, the shoe can cause redness, irritation and squishing of the joints. Especially if you have contracted toes/”hammertoes”, you will want to find the right depth before a corn appears from pressure points.
Look for a shoe that truly holds your foot – no heel slipping out the back, no toes crushed against the top of the shoe and no pulsing pressure through the foot.
Key footwear features
Adjustable enclosure – laces or velcros straps to adjust the size of the shoe opening to facilitate getting your foot into the shoe. Also, it allows for adjustment of how tight the shoe can be held against the foot. This is key, especially for thicker foot types that may have trouble fitting into a conventional slip on, or those with a narrow heel that slips and rubs against the heel. This feature also accommodates swelling in the feet. Many people’s feet do swell by end of day.
Firm heel counter – This is less a feature for slippers, but may be found in orthopedic slipper brands. The heel counter is what wraps around the back of the heel of your foot. When it is flimsy and easily bends, it does not offer support or control to your heel. Therefore, it would not hold your foot in the correct position or offer support to that pivotal structure. When it is firm, it sits snugly around your heel, cupping it to control and support the rearfoot.
Supportive arch – You should not be able to bend or twist the arch or middle of the shoe. If it is too flexible you are not getting any support through the midfoot when you walk. For flexible feet this can spell disaster as your foot is able to move in any way, at any time, predisposing you to injury. When the arch is firm, however, it supports the structures of the midfoot throughout gait and ensures better support and control of the foot overall.
To help you navigate these features and fit, reach out to your local BioPed clinic. They are happy to help you find the right fit, in the right shoe, for your feet.
