Printer Friendly

10 Points of Proper Shoe Fit

Treat your feet right. They support you. You need to support them. Wear shoes that fit properly.  Poorly fitting shoes can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammer toes and other foot problems. You can prevent some of these problems by paying attention to how you select your new shoes.

Here are some suggestions on proper shoe fit from the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society.

1. Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Don't select shoes by the size marked inside the shoe. Judge the shoe by how it fits on your foot.

2. Select a shoe that conforms as nearly as possible to the shape of your foot.

3. Have your feet measured regularly. The size of your feet changes as you grow older. For women, it may change during pregnancy.

4. Have BOTH feet measured. Most people have one foot larger than the other. Fit to the larger foot.

5. Fit at the end of the day when your feet are largest.

6. Stand during the fitting process and check that there is adequate space (3/8" to 1/2") for your longest toe at the end of each shoe.

7. Make sure the ball of the foot fits comfortably into the widest part (ball pocket) of the shoe.

8. Don't purchase shoes that feel too tight, expecting them to "stretch" to fit.

9. Your heel should fit comfortably in the shoe with a minimum amount of slippage.

10. Walk in the shoe to make sure it fits and feels right! (Fashionable shoes CAN be comfortable!)

     

Page last updated: January 2008