Most people's feet are
not the same size! This can lead to foot pain and other problems. Many
foot problems seen in modern times simply did not exist when people went
barefoot.
So why do we wear shoes?
Unshod feet are easily injured ... cut, bruised, or broken ... and are
subject to the ravages of heat, cold, sun and wind. Bare feet are
particularly susceptible to infections and parasites.
Why do our shoes cause so much trouble?
Poor fit is the major
problem!
Today, shoes are sold in
pairs of equal size and dimension, even though in most people the right
and left feet are not the same size or shape. Therefore, shoes that fit
one foot correctly seldom fit the other foot as well.
What's the answer ?
Think how wonderful it would be if stores
sold right and left shoes separately. Of course, some people have shoes
custom made or buy two pairs in order to get shoes that fit each foot
properly. But that is not always practical.
So, when buying a pair
of shoes, it is almost always better to select shoes that fit the larger
foot, since allowing extra room for the smaller foot causes fewer
problems than pinching or distorting the larger foot in a cramped space.
For the same reason,
shoes should be fitted late in the day, since your feet usually are
somewhat smaller in the morning and bigger at the end of the day. When
one shoe is slightly too large, it can usually be made comfortable with
an extra insole.
If the above suggestions
don’t enable you to find shoes that fit comfortably, there may be
underlying functional or structural problems. Consult your podiatrist
for assistance.
Doctors of podiatric
medicine specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of foot conditions.
Can podiatry help your foot problems ?
We make it easy to find out. Here's how....
The physicians and staff of the A Step Ahead Foot & Ankle Centers
maintain two complete podiatric clinical facilities and provide
24-hour emergency service. We participate in most health plans including
Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Medicare, and Medicaid. We complete and file
all necessary insurance forms and make every effort to assure you of
maximum benefits with minimum out-of-pocket expense.
You are invited to make an appointment today to relieve your foot problems by calling us at 970-493-4660 or 970-667-0769.
