If you are experiencing foot pain, you are not alone! 75% of Canadians will experience foot pain at some point in their lives! Your feet are the foundational building blocks of the human body. Improper footwear can lead to malalignment of the foot and ankle complex in addition to the rest of the body.
Poor Alignment + Stress & Strain on muscles & Ligaments + Aches & Pains
What can we do to prevent these issues and protect ourselves from future issues to come?
Buying a new pair of shoes or orthotic sandals can be quite challenging, because you have to make a lot of considerations. Here are some helpful tips when buying new shoes:
- Wide Toe Box. Make sure the shoe is wide enough for the ball of your foot. AVOID: Pointy toes which forces
- the toes into an unnatural position leading to bunions or achy forefeet.
- Proper Length. Ensure there is 1 thumb width between the end of the toes and the shoe. While walking, your foot spreads out & lengthens approximately 1cm in all directions
- Proper Heel Height. A lower heel height increases comfort while walking. Higher heel heights increase pressure on the ankles and balls of the feet, which can cause injuries, calluses and bunions over time.
- Removable Footbed and sufficient depth. As the day progresses, feet swell and there needs to be sufficient room for this to occur without causing pain or discomfort. This is also very important if you wear orthoses, as they take up space in the shoe.
- Firm Density Midsole. The midsole plays a crucial role in reinforcing proper foot support and alignment.
- Rigid Heel Counter. This keeps the ankle in the correct position when walking by preventing the ball of your heel from rolling/slipping away from the shoe when running or walking fast.
- Minimal Torsion/Twist. Shows that twist easily do not provide adequate arch or base support that feet need
Best Time to Try on Shoes:
- Towards the end of the day when your feet are tired and swollen.
- Try on both shoes when purchasing footwear since one foot is usually larger than the other.
- When measuring your foot, stand up! Our feet and arches splay when we are putting our body weight through our feet.
- Stand and walk around in the shoes before buying them to be sure they are comfortable.
- Don’t rely on shoe sizes, each brand makes their shoes on different lasts. Always try your shoes on.
- Have each foot measured regularly, since feet tend to get larger with age.
- Purchase shoes that are comfortable when you first try them on. Do not expect shoes to stretch or “break-in.”
https://www.ontariochiropodist.com/Public/foot-facts.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17391-proper-footwear
Image: https://www.strideshoes.com.au/blog/choosing-right-pair-orthotic-friendly-shoes