• Why and How Should a Shoe
Fit?
• What's Important Inside the
Shoe?
• A Sense of Style – And Comfort
Too
• What Makes a Good Shoe
Why and How Should a Shoe Fit?
Shoes that don't fit correctly can cause plenty of problems.
Shoes that are too narrow squeeze the toes together, leading
to corns and even inflamed nerves (called neuromas).
Shoes that are too short compress the toes and the bones in
your feet. Those that don't provide enough support can cause
heel spurs and plantar fasciitis.
Wearing ill fitting or poorly designed shoes can lead to
knee pain, hip pain, back and neck pain, and the worsening
of disease related conditions. The most common problem?
-- Plain old tired feet. Your feet are the foundation of your
entire body. If you don't give them the support they need
you will feel discomfort throughout your entire body.
How To Get a Good Fit
• Have both feet measured, as you stand, every time
you buy shoes.
• Allow 3/8" to 1/2" room between the end
of the longest toe and the end of the shoe; your foot continues
to move forward inside the shoe even when the ground stops
the shoe from moving. (By the way, the most common mis-fits
are shoes that are too short. When you walk, your foot lengthens
inside the shoe. That's why shoes that seem to fit just fine
when you're standing in them or test-walking in a store, turn
out to be toe-crunchers when you really start walking in them.
From standing still to walking, you need up to a half-inch
extra room in front of your longest toe).
• Select the shape of shoe that matches the shape of
your foot. (Don't worry - we'll help you with this. SHOES-n-FEET®
staff is highly trained to recognize whether a shoe is correct
for a particular foot).
• The bed of the shoe should cradle the foot, providing
support at all the correct points. Some good shoes are designed
with anatomically correct footbeds to support your foot. If
you have orthotics, however, our staff is trained to fit them
into our shoes. If you don't have orthotics we may recommend
an over-the-counter arch support that fits your foot better
than the footbed that comes with the shoe. This is one way
we customize the shoe to your foot.
• The size your foot measures is your foot size, not
your shoe size. The shoe size may be different; each
brand, style and pattern fits differently. Judge each shoe
by how it fits.
• The ball of your foot should fit at the widest part
of the shoe. This is where the shoe is designed to flex.
• Walk in the shoe to make sure it fits without being
too tight at the front of the foot. Some heel slippage may
be unavoidable due to the inflexibility of new shoes. Excessive
heel slippage should be avoided. The SHOES-n-FEET®
staff can also adjust the shoes to help prevent heel slippage
without making the shoe too tight in front.
• Never wear shoes that are too tight, expecting them
to stretch.
• Alternate footwear daily to reduce the risk of repetitive
pressure and shear that can build up when wearing one pair
of shoes. It is unlikely that different pairs will cause the
exact same pressure.
• Wear new shoes no more than one hour the first day,
increasing the time worn each day by one hour. This will reduce
the impact of new stresses which may occur as a result of
wearing the new footwear. Check for any redness or "hot
spots" which the new shoes may cause.
• Maintain shoes in a hygienic manner to maintain optimum
shoe fit. Use cedar wood shoe trees when shoes are not being
worn to absorb moisture and maintain shoe fit and shape.
• Finally, as we age, our feet tend to flatten out and
get longer, so your size will change over the years. A shoe
fit evaluation should be conducted on a regular basis to make
sure that shoes haven't become too tight due to change in
the foot shape and size. Also, make sure the shoes have not
stretched and become loose, or the linings haven’t worn
out at points of excess pressure.
What's Important Inside the Shoe?
The environment inside your shoe also plays a large part
in how your shoes feel and how good they are for your feet.
Stick your hand into a pair of shoes and feel around. You
shouldn't feel anything that will stick into your feet, such
as thick seams, wrinkles, or ridges. The lining should be
smooth and soft. A padded tongue will allow you to tighten
your laces without putting unnecessary pressure on your instep.
Padding along the top edge of the shoe adds to the comfort
in your ankle area, too.
Did you know that your feet can sweat as much as a half-pint
each per day? A shoe must be able to handle moisture in order
to keep you comfortable and protected against blisters and
athletes foot. There are two considerations here, the material
used inside the shoe, and the way the shoe is constructed.
Inside the shoe, leather is best because it wicks moisture
away from your feet and allows it to evaporate outside the
shoe. Leather "breathes" too, which helps to regulate
the inside temperature. This makes the shoes more comfortable
while you're wearing them, and minimizes the breeding environment
for bacteria.
Some shoes, such as athletic shoes, cannot have full leather
uppers. In those cases it is especially important to make
sure you are wearing socks that will help wick moisture away
from your feet.
A Sense of Style - and Comfortable Feet
Too!
For years, when people thought of comfort shoes they imagined
those chunky clunky old orthopedic shoes. These shoes were
comfortable but they never won any fashion awards.
Times have changed.
First, the shoes you'll find at SHOES-n-FEET®
are designed to be good for your feet. Take a quick look around
the store and you will see that they can also be stylish,
unique, and incredibly attractive.
Second, our Shoe Fitting Specialists are professionally trained
to be able to correctly fit shoes. In the stores we have the
know-how, the technology, and the equipment to alter shoes
for proper fit.
Podiatrists, orthopedists, physical therapists, chiropractors,
and other medical professionals refer many of our clients.
These doctors and therapists have great confidence that SHOES-n-FEET®
shoes will meet both the physical and the fashion requirements
of their patients. We can usually fit even the most difficult
to fit feet into attractive shoes. That's why the doctors
trust us.
Style does matter. It's usually the primary reason most of
us buy a particular shoe. But sometimes, no matter how much
you like a shoe we just have to refuse to sell it to you.
This doesn't happen often, but it does happen.
It happens because we're in the business of comfort and good
health as much as we're in the business of helping you look
good. Often, people come into the store with a particular
shoe in mind. They saw it in the window. They saw it on their
friend's feet, and they think the same shoe would look great
on them.
Our staff is trained to recognize which shoes will fit best
on a particular foot. Because of the natural shape of a person's
foot and the foot conditions they have developed over the
years, some styles are simply a poor choice. They may look
great in the store. They may even feel "okay," but
they won't be comfortable in use, and they may aggravate an
existing condition or introduce a new one.
How do we find a great looking shoe for you that feels great
and will protect you for miles to come? First, we carry a
large selection of great shoes in a range of prices, brands
and styles so that we have something for nearly everyone.
Next, we talk with you. What do you do? What do you need
from a shoe? What kinds of special considerations might you
have? We can tell a lot by looking at someone's feet, but
we learn a lot more by taking the time to understand your
needs. Together we’ll find the right shoe with the right
fit; the one that feels good on your foot, and that you’ll
love wearing. That's what we're about at SHOES-n-FEET®.
These are a few of the things to consider when looking for
shoes. If you have any questions, or simply want more information,
please contact us.
What Makes for a Good Shoe?
A good shoe can be hard to find. It's easy to spend hundreds
of dollars on shoes that look great but cause agony within
a few days. There are two primary factors that determine whether
your shoe is going to provide comfort - how the shoe is made
and how the shoe fits. Listed below are some items you should
look for when purchasing shoes.
A good shoe should help support your foot and help keep the
bones and joints in proper alignment. That doesn't mean the
shoe should feel constricting - your feet need room to move.
They do, however, require stability in order to prevent excessive
motion that can lead to injury. There are four tests that
we recommend doing in order to evaluate the ability of the
shoe to provide your feet the support that they need. These
tests hold true for both athletic shoes and dress shoes -
although since you are usually putting more force on your
feet in athletic shoes, it is particularly important for them.
To learn more see The
Shoe Test.
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