The feet you had as a teenager might not look or feel the same as you get older. As we age, our feet have a tendency to get wider and longer. We often find that people think they are a size smaller than they actually are.
Wearing shoes that are too small is one of the major reasons why people come in with ingrown toenails. The best way to get the right size shoe for your foot is to have a professional measure your feet. This gives you a starting point to make sure that you are trying on the right size shoes.
Most people have one foot bigger than the other
Usually your bigger foot is the opposite of your handedness. A right-handed person usually has a bigger left foot. A left-handed person will usually have a bigger right foot.
When you have your feet measured, make sure to fit the bigger foot first. You can always adjust the bigger shoe to fit the smaller foot. You never want to have one shoe that is too tight.
A size in one brand may feel different than another
Just like in clothes, some brands of shoes run big and some run small. A size 9 with one brand might be bigger than a size 9 in another brand. After your feet are measured, try that size on first. You can always go up or down in size to adjust for the difference in the cut of the shoe.
Your foot shape may determine what brand of shoe feels good
There are different types of foot shapes. Not every shoe is going to be good for everyone.
If your foot is:
- wider in the front, look for a more square shaped toe box
- thinner, look for a shoe that isn’t as deep
- narrow, look for a shoe that is more tapered or ask if the shoes come in narrow
Don’t buy shoes that are too tight
Don’t buy shoes that are too tight thinking they will stretch. What usually ends up happening is that the shoes never really stretch enough and you still have shoes that are no good for your feet.
How Much Space Do I Need In The Front Of My Shoe?
You want to have about a 1/2 inch of space from the end of your shoe to your toe. A good guide is to press down in the toe area and use a thumbnail’s length.
Making sure that your shoes don’t slip in the back can be just as important as making sure they aren’t too tight. Shoes that don’t fit properly in the back can lead to rubbing and uncomfortable blisters and callouses.
Now that you have the right size and shape shoe for you – take them for a spin. Make sure they are comfortable while you walk around the store. When you get them home, try them on a carpeted service for a little while to see how they really feel.
If you find that no matter what type of shoe you buy you are still uncomfortable in shoes, it may not be the shoes! Call our office at (845) 298-9074 to have one of our doctors see why you are having discomfort.
Hollowbrook Foot Specialist, serving the Hudson Valley from Wappingers Falls
by David Schlam
