Buying the right shoes is an investment in foot health. But how do you find ones that fit properly and provide adequate support?
Start with your own feet! Stand barefoot on a piece of paper or cardboard, and trace the shape of each foot. Now take your shoes, one by one, and place them on top of the drawing. If you’re like most people, your “comfortable” shoes will closely match the outline of your own feet.
Identify the shoes that cause pain. If you’re a woman, most of these will be shoes with narrow toes or high heels. Check to see if the toe of the shoe is narrower or shorter than your own toes.
When you’re ready to replace some of that uncomfortable footwear, wait until the afternoon to shop for shoes — your feet naturally expand with use during the day and may swell in hot weather.
Make sure you have enough room to move your toes. It’s so hard.. but try to avoid pointed toes, often found in certain boots. This pointed style will prevent your toes from lying flat. This causes a condition known as metatarsalgia: pain and inflammation in the metatarsal bones and in the ball of the foot.