Are Your Shoes the Right Size?

Some foot health issues strike without warning and can't be prevented. Even the most careful of people can develop infections such as toenail fungus or plantar warts, often transmitted in public places. But did you know those preventable foot deformities can be due to spending extended periods in ill-fitting shoes? January 23 is National Measure Your Feet Day and an excellent opportunity to ensure your footwear provides you with the comfort and support you need for good foot health.

Feet change in length, and often in width, throughout a lifetime. Feet may widen, flatten, and splay. Kids' feet can grow as much as a half size every few months, and adults' feet can also change over time. The combination of gravity, the long-term effects of standing and walking for decades, and the weight many people tend to gain as they age can take a toll.

Pregnancy can also be a factor in foot growth. Some women notice their feet grow while carrying a baby but then go back to normal shortly after the child is born. Others report that their feet never return to their pre-pregnancy size.

Foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, and Haglund’s deformity are often attributable to badly-shaped, high heel stilettos that squeeze the toes into a cramped box and force the foot into an unnatural shape. It’s easy to understand how adding a poor fit to the mix would exacerbate these problems. Expert podiatrists such as Dr. Jason Grossman and Dr. Paul A. Osemene recommend you avoid such shoes and wear them infrequently if you can’t.

The best way to ensure a proper fit is to skip online options and head into your favorite brick-and-mortar store the next time you're shopping for shoes. Ask your salesperson to use a Brannock device – the familiar metal tool that's remained unchanged for nearly 100 years – to measure your feet. Once you have the information you need, choose a new pair in the size you are now, not the size you used to be. If your doctor has prescribed custom orthotics to keep you feeling great in shoes, be sure to bring them with you.

Are you concerned about the effects that your footwear is having on your feet, or do you have another concern about the health and wellness of your feet, ankles, or lower legs? Call the friendly Advanced Feet and Ankle Care staff at (732) 679-4330 or click here to schedule a convenient appointment with Middlesex County podiatrists Jason Grossman, DPM, and Paul A. Osemene, DPM, in our modern, comfortable offices in Old Bridge and Sayreville today.