By: Michael Daigle, Canadian Certified Pedorthist

If you wear foot orthotics, it is very important that you take them with you when you are buying new shoes because they will not fit everything. This will ensure that the orthotics fit well in the shoes and are comfortable. Try the shoes on right out of the box and if they feel good then remove the sock liner, put your orthotics in, try them again to make sure they still feel good.

Go shopping for shoes late in the afternoon because as the day goes on your feet will swell. It is best to fit shoes when your feet are at their largest, at the end of a day. A good shoe fitter knows this and accounts for it.

Wear the socks you would normally wear when trying on new shoes. If buying athletic shoes bring your sport socks; dress socks for dress shoes-they are different.

A good shoe should have the following characteristics:

• A sturdy heel counter and a deep heel cup.
• Good stability, it should be torsionally strong, not be too flexible.
• The shoe should only bend at the ball area-where your foot flexes, not through the arch.
• There should be a rocker forefoot to help you ambulate.
• Lace or Velcro shoes are always best for walking activities

Length: Fit your shoes so that there is at least a thumbnail’s width between the end of your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Measure this while standing. This will allow your foot to spread and function normally while walking.

Width: Allow enough width in the forefoot so that the fit is not too tight. Many shoes come in a variety of widths, ask the shoe fitter. Shoes should feel good and comfortable at first fit. It is erroneous to suggest that the shoes will hurt you until they are ‘broken-in’.

Go by feel and fit, not by the shoe size, as there is no standard in cross brands nowadays.

Also your foot size will change as you age: it will normally become longer and wider. During and after pregnancy your feet will likely change.

Questions?
Call: Mike at Maritime Foothold Orthotics 902.434.3668
Email: mfo@ns.sympatico.ca