Nothing is more important to your feet than a pair of shoes. Your feet are what keep you moving through life, from working that 12-hour shift to scoring the game-winning goal. Your feet are with you every step of the way. With foot care, one often overlooked thing is the significance of wearing properly fitted shoes. Today, we will dig into why choosing a properly fitted shoe is paramount to maintaining good foot health.
Proper Support
The right pair of shoes goes beyond providing comfort; it provides proper support. Whether your ankles roll in or roll out, a shoe can help to control them and make your feet more efficient at managing the pressure you put through them. The best part is that the effects of properly supported feet do not stop there but can be felt throughout your entire body! A well-fitted shoe can help to distribute your body weight, reducing pressure throughout the rest of your body. A poorly fitted shoe can do the complete opposite.
Can Footwear Cause Bunions?
The short answer is yes! Improperly fitted footwear is often regarded as the leading cause of foot deformities as we age. Shoe width, length, and toe box depth are often the main culprits. If your feet do not have room inside your shoe, there will be excessive pressure placed on your toes, which can cause them to move in less than desirable directions—often inwards towards each other! As a result, conditions like bunions, hammer toes, corns and calluses can be caused.
They can even help with circulation!
Proper blood circulation is crucial for overall well-being, and this applies to the feet as well. Shoes that are too tight may impede blood flow, leading to sensations of numbness, tingling, and coldness. Choosing well-fitted shoes facilitates unrestricted blood circulation, not only benefitting foot health but also contributing to overall body health as well.
But what do I look for in a properly fitted shoe?
Glad you asked! Properly fitted shoes are easy to find; you just need to know the questions to ask. When looking for shoes that fit properly, you want to look for a few key things:
- No pressure points anywhere. You shouldn’t need to break in a shoe. If you feel like you must, chances are it isn’t the right shoe for you.
- Get your shoe size measured with a Brannock device. Often, we are wearing shoes that fit too tight both lengthwise and widthwise. The rule of thumb for length is a fingernail’s width of extra space at the toes. For width, you shouldn’t feel any squeezing.
- Secured heel. When the shoe is fully laced up to the proper tightness, there should be no slipping at the heel. Extra movement here could mean blisters later.
- Deals are great, but happy feet are more important. As irresistible as the deal is, never go smaller or larger to save more.
Come See Us!
Don’t let lower limb pain caused by improper footwear get in the way of doing the things you want to do. Please book an appointment with us today! At BioPed Footcare, no matter the occasion, we can find the right shoe 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!
