- Have your feet measured! One of the best ways to ensure a proper fit is to know the length and width of your feet.
- Just say “NO!” to break-in periods. Because, honestly, there’s no such thing. Granted, with time a shoe may stretch to accommodate the size of your foot – which is something that can also cause foot pain and damage.
- Feeling pinched or pushed? Then it’s NOT the right shoe for you! Think about it – if your toes are already feeling an uncomfortable pinch or it seems as though one is being pushed over another after only a few minutes, what on earth are your feet going to feel after a few hours in those tortuous contraptions???
- How’s the build of the shoe? Make sure that the shoe bends in the toe box as opposed to the shank (arch) and that you’re not able to easily squeeze in the heel surround on a new pair of shoes.
- A square toe box is the most desirable shape, followed by a rounded toe box (a pointed toe box falls at the very bottom of the list). However, it’s not just about the shape but also the depth – a deeper toe box will have more room to accommodate a wide forefoot, hammertoes, or bunions.
- Shoes that lace, buckle, or Velcro (or have some other type of strapping mechanism) will lend more support to your arch.
- Shoes with removable insoles are ideal due to the fact that an orthotic or more cushioned insole can be added if desired. Along those same lines, shoes that don’t have a tongue attached to the upper of the shoe will yield a better fit – it’s difficult to add orthotics or extra insoles to shoes with an attached tongue.
Hopefully finding the right shoes for you will go a long way to resolving and/or preventing some of the most common foot problems. And, remember – we’re here to help you with all of your foot and ankle concerns!