Choosing Shoes - What to look out for

Footwear is such an important component in our foot health. We spend most of our day in a pair of shoes, so it is important that we are wearing a shoe that is comfortable and looking after our feet in the long term.

So where to start.

Style

There are many different styles of shoe. When choosing a shoe, look for something that features a firm method of fixation to your foot such as laces, a buckle, or velcro. It is important that your foot is held firmly onto the base of the shoe to ensure the shoe will support your foot when walking and standing.

Slip on shoes should be avoided. They may fit firmly in store, but I assure you that after 2-3 weeks of wear they will loosen, causing instability of your foot within the shoe and potentially greater risk of ankle sprains and falls.

Fit

The fit of the shoe is crucial in preventing injury and ensuring comfort. When you are shopping for shoes, ensure you have your foot properly measured for size.
Once you have the appropriate size shoe, look for adequate length – about half a thumbnails length at the end of the shoe should remain, and ensure that you look for this when standing as your feet will be different when weightbearing.
The width of the shoe is very important in preventing long term problems. A narrow-toed shoe that compresses your foot has been shown to increase the risk of developing bunions, and other painful conditions such as Mortons Neuroma, and Intermetatarsal Bursitis. Trust me, a pointy toe shoe isn’t worth the pain!

Support

A supportive shoe will allow appropriate movement of your foot during walking, and provide a stable base for your feet.
Try these three tests when looking for a supportive shoe:

Press down on the back of the shoe, the area that would sit against your heel/Achilles area – it should be firm.

Give the shoe a bit of a twist – it should not collapse in on itself.

Holding the shoe firmly, push the toe of the shoe upwards – it should bend in the area where the ball of your foot would sit (approximately half way between the middle and toe of the shoe).
If the shoe fails any of these tests, move on, it’s not going to look after your feet.

Finally I understand that you may be unable to wear a shoe with all of these qualities for everything you do. When going out for dinner, or a party on the weekend, it is absolutely fine to throw on a pair of heels or some dress shoes.
Just remember to have a pair of well fitted, supportive shoes on when you’re on your feet for day-to-day activity. This includes work, exercise and the daily jobs, when you are racking up the kilometres. Believe me, your feet (and Podiatrist) will thank you for it!