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Finding the right shoe can be tough! And as a teacher you need something that fits and feels just right to get you through a long day on your feet. Today we will talk give you a few tips on how to find the right shoe and a few options to consider.

What To Look For:

Find the Right Fit!

First things first, shoe size. Fit means everything. When picking out shoes the “rule of thumb” is to have a fingernail’s width space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. This will help to prevent your feet from pushing against the end of the shoe throughout the day and will allow for room for swelling of the feet. But don’t just think only about shoe length, think about width too! You don’t want pressure on the foot from the sides. Nobody wants bunions!

Firm Midsole

You can think of a great pair of shoes as the foundation for your body. And with any strong foundation, stability is key! And this applies to shoes too. When looking for shoes, do the “twist test”. This involves twisting the base of the shoe like wringing out a cloth, and if the base can twist/bend greatly there’s a good chance your foot will do that too. When putting orthotics into these types of shoes, this twisting can occur there too, making the orthotics less effective.

Heel Counter

Any great shoe should have a strong heel counter. This is the portion of your shoe that wraps around the back of your heel and works to control ankle motion during gait. One simple way to test the heel counter is to simply push down on the back of the shoe and see if it is collapsible. The heel counter should not buckle inwards. Control through the heel is essential especially when dealing with or preventing plantar fascia pain!

Rocker Sole

A rockered forefoot sole can be described as when the sole of the shoe is rounded upwards from the ball of the foot to the toes. This simple feature helps promote your foot to toe off during gait, which is important to help you move faster and take pressure off your forefoot. This feature can help with metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma and many other lower limb conditions. Most shoes will have this, but the best way to look for this is to push down on the very front tip of the shoe, and this should cause the shoe to quite literally rock forward.

Brooks Ghost

Comfort is key with the Brooks Ghost, a shoe built to do it all. With great aesthetics, you can also expect a softer yet still secure ride, there’s no way the kids will leave you behind in gym class!

New Balance 990

Providing both fashion and comfort, this shoe is a winner. Good for a board meeting, yet still comfortable when you are covering recess at lunch don’t miss out on this staple in fashion footwear from New Balance.

Mizuno Wave Rider GTX

For when field trips go off road, this shoe can be great to bring in the new school year. Made with goretex, it will be sure to keep the feet happy and dry, even when the conditions outside are damp.

Come see us today!

If you’re suffering from knee pain or anything else lower limb related, please book an appointment today! At BioPed Footcare we are here for you. With our on-site lab there is nothing we can’t do! Meet with one of BioPed’s lower limb clinicians to see how you can keep your feet and legs healthy!