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Shoes

Over our entire lifetime, we take tens of thousands of steps and without proper fitting shoes, pain and deformity can occur in our feet. We need to make sure that you're wearing the right type of shoe for the type of activity you do most. As a podiatrist, Dr. Peng is trained to examine the foot and ankle and recommend the right type of shoe to be sure your feet are comfortable.

Women are more likely to have foot problems than men due to the type of shoes they wear. Many women enjoy wearing high heel and pointy toed shoes which can cause an undue amount of pressure of the foot, but men are not excluded because they can get corns, callouses, and blisters from poor-fitting shoes. Whether you're 3 or 93 years old, wearing the right shoes is important.

Here are some general guidelines on how to choose the right shoe:

• The shoe itself should have these 3 characteristics: (see diagram)
  • It should only bend at the toe joint when the shoe is upright.
  • The heel portion or cup should not be able to be flattened easily
  • You should not be able to bend the shoe in the arch area when you flip the shoe around by grabbing the ball and the heel.
  

• Laces are good for support. If those are not available, Velcro and buckles are just as good.
• You should have about ½ inch space in front of your toes especially the longest toe. ½ inch space corresponds to approximately a thumb nail length.
• The arch shape in the shoe should correspond to your foot.
• Although heels are not a great shoe, you should not have any more than 1 1/2 inch of a heel. If you must wear a higher heel due to work, etc., Dr. Peng suggests wearing them for a limited amount of time.
• Lining of the shoe should be smooth and without rough seams.
• You should go shoe shopping at the end of the day. Your feet are more swollen at the end of the day and provide you with a better shoe fit than at the beginning of the day.
• Bring a pair of athletic socks if shopping for an athletic type of shoe. For example, if you're purchasing a soccer shoe, bring your soccer socks so you can get the best feel of the shoe with the socks you'll be wearing.
• Always be standing and wearing your socks when getting your feet sized with the Brannock device seen in the picture.
  

• When trying on shoes, always wear both and walk around the store to see how the shoe functions and feels on the feet.
• Always buy for the larger foot. Feet seldom are the same size.
• Don't rely on the size of the previous pair of shoes. Our feet do change over a period of time and there is some variability in the sizing between the manufacturers.
• Be sure the shoe fits well in all areas of the foot. Make sure the widest part of the foot corresponds with the widest part of the shoe and check to see that it doesn't pinch your toes.
• Make sure you can use the shoes immediately instead of having it "break-in".
• If you have a pair of custom orthotics or a brace, be sure to remove the insole in the shoe you're considering and put the orthotic/brace in to make sure it fits. You should not have to go up a size to fit an orthotic or a brace.

Keep this general principle in mind when selecting the right shoe; the shoe should fit you comfortably and conform to your foot, but your foot should not confirm to the shoe. If you're still having trouble finding the right shoe or have "hard-to-fit" feet or can't find a shoe to fit your orthotics or brace, then please visit healthyshoestore.com. There you will find a shoe that are made to fit these devices and are made to fit the "hard-to-fit" feet. Over 90% of their shoes will fit an orthotic and/or brace.

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