Ill-fitting shoes can cause many problems, from minor injuries to permanent deformity. Here, we offer some tips for good foot care when it comes to your shoes.

• Have your feet measured regularly: as you grow older, their size may change. The end of the day is the best time to have your feet measured, as your feet tend to swell during the course of the day.
• When measuring your feet, make sure there is enough space for your longest toes at the end of the shoe when you are standing up.
• Many people have one foot that is larger than the other. Be sure to buy shoes that fit the larger foot.
• Select shoes that feel right regardless of what size the shoe is.
• Buy shoes that are shaped like your foot.
• The widest part of the shoe is at the ball of your foot. If that part fits well, the whole shoe will fit well.
• Do not expect shoes to stretch to fit your feet. Squeezing your feet into shoes that are too tight can cause foot pain and damage.
• Shoes should also be fitted well to your heel. Make sure that your heel does not slip out of the back of the shoe when you walk.

Soreness, blisters, calluses, and, with time, permanent disfigurements can be caused by habitually crowding your feet into shoes that don’t fit properly. With well-fitting shoes, you can prevent pain and discomfort in your feet caused by injuries and conditions such as painful bunions, hammertoes, and other deformities.

If you have questions regarding foot problems, call our specialty-trained doctors of Southern California Orthopedic Institute at (818) 901-6600 or request an appointment online here.