When it comes to shopping for shoes, there are two groups of people – one section is obsessed with good looks and the other, worried about the comfort factor. But shoe shopping isn’t about choosing the most glamorous shoes from the shelf. Satisfaction is when you pick a pair of shoes that balances the right appeal and doesn’t impact your foot health. But what if you are having foot pain after wearing your new shoes? Firstly, you should immediately consult experienced podiatrists in Mandurah and secondly, we’ll be honest, some of you have chosen the wrong pair of footwear!
While walking or moving, your feet carry double your entire body weight in each step. Wearing properly fitting shoes offers optimal cushioning and support required to keep your feet comfortable. On the contrary, ill-fitting shoes lead to foot issues like corns, calluses, Achilles tendons, ingrown toenails, etc.
At Peel Podiatry Clinic, we are here to share some crucial tips you should remember when shopping for your ideal footwear.
Top Tips to Remember When Choosing the Correct Footwear
1. Measure your Feet: Be sure to stand up when you measure your feet. When standing, your feet spread out more. Also, it is better to have someone else take the measurement because you need to stand tall and look straight ahead with your weight centered over your foot. Remember, how you stand can affect the size and shape of your feet. Don’t just measure from toe to heel. Measure the length of your arch, from your heel to the ball of your foot.
2. Check the Space: You do not want the back of the shoe too tight against the back of your heel. This may cause skin irritation and blisters. Make sure the shoes have about a 1/8 inch space between the back of your heel and the shoe. In addition to that, there should be about a 1/2 inch space between the end of the front of the shoe and the end of your longest toe.
3. Wear your Socks and Try: It is important to wear the socks or the hosiery that you would normally wear with the kind of shoes you are going to buy. The thickness of the sock or the hosiery can affect the fit of the shoe to a great extent.
4. Walk in Both Shoes: We are not asking you to go around the block, but take at least 10 steps back and forth on the fitting room floor. Do not be afraid to take your time and try on both shoes and walk around a bit before buying them.
5. Toe Box Size: According to the experienced podiatrists in Mandurah, no one should buy shoes without extra room for toes. A too narrow toe box will lead to the sort of friction that may lead to corns, calluses, neuromas, or deformed toes.
6. Avoid Shoes that Feel too Tight now but will be Fine After Wearing: Shoes need to feel comfortable at the try-on stage. They are normally designed to hold a shape, not to re-form themselves to your foot.If the shoes are too tight or rub your foot in the store, you will be miserable after wearing them even for a short time.
7. Don’t Forget About Orthotics if you Wear them: Foot orthotics Mandurah are shoe inserts designed to support, align, and improve the functions of the foot, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. Any kind of shoe insert takes up space intended for the foot. So, those who use orthotics need to buy shoes with some extra space, otherwise, the orthotics would not be able to function properly.
Wrapping Up:
We hope you do not have any doubts regarding the steps to choose your ideal footwear. At Peel Podiatry Clinic, our team consists of well-experienced podiatrists in Mandurah. We provide a wide range of podiatry services including skin and nail care, and specialised foot assessments for those who need orthotics or have sports injuries. For more details, call us on (08) 95863046.