peoria • pekin • east peoria • bartonville
Common Disorders
Properly Fitting Shoes
Your feet bear the tremendous pressures of daily living. An average day of walking brings a force equal to several hundred tons to bear on your feet. In fact, your feet are subject to more injury than any other part of your body, thus highlighting the need to protect them with proper footwear.
SHOE SHOPPING TIPS
- Have your feet measured while you are standing.
- Always try on both shoes and walk around the store.
- Always buy for the larger foot; feet are seldom precisely the same size.
- Do not buy shoes that need a "break-in" period - they should be comfortable immediately.
- Do not rely on the size of your last pair of shoes when you are purchasing new shoes. Your feet do get larger and there are differences in manufacturing.
- Shop for shoes later in the day. Feet tend to swell during the day, and it is best to be fitted when they are at their largest.
- Be sure that the shoe fits well (front, back, and sides), to distribute weight. Select a shoe with leather upper, still heel counter, appropriate cushioning, and flexibility at the ball of the foot.
- Do not buy shoes that pinch your toes.
- Try on shoes while you are wearing the same type of socks that you expect to wear with the shoes.
- Wear the appropriate shoe for a specific activity, such as running shoes for running.
Improperly fitted shoes can cause pain, deformity, and limitation of activity. See a podiatric physician if foot discomfort persists.
Source: APMA