Properly Fitting Shoes Are Important to Health
Buying shoes that fit properly is both a matter of comfort and health. The majority of foot problems such as calluses, bunions, hammer toe, heel spurs, ingrown toenails and corns arise or are aggravated because of ill-fitting shoes. So pain and costly treatments, including surgery, can be prevented or diminished with the right shoe fit.
When people buy tight shoes and expect them to fit after stretching, they are simply creating misery for themselves. They’ll have to replace the shoes or endure discomfort, because shoes don’t stretch in length. Finding the right shoe can be time consuming, but the alternative is not attractive. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society has guidelines on shoe fitting, and some of the information below has been adapted from them.
The first thing you should understand about shoes is that each brand and style may fit differently, regardless of the size it states. Most people find that their feet tend to fall within several sizes of shoes. So try more than one size for the right fit. Also, don’t assume that you know your size because feet can change as we age.
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