I have been changing lives for 8 years. Let me change yours.

It is interesting to me, when a client comes to me with foot pain, the first thing I do is check their shoe size. Nine times out of ten, the shoe size they have chosen is incorrect. I will pick a shoe that is fitted properly, including proper support and almost instantly the pain is gone. Most of us were never taught how to properly fit a pair of shoes on our feet. Most of us like to fit shoes to our eyes. If it doesn’t look good we won’t even try it on. I am the first to admit I want to satisfy my eyes but the first thing I must do is satisfy my feet.

A few quick tips for all day comfort:

1. Try to pick a shoe that looks close to the shape of your feet. If you have a square shaped forefoot don’t try to cram it into a slender pointed toed shoe. Your feet are guaranteed to hurt. The flip side of that is don’t put a slender pointed foot shape into a square toe box shoe. It will be a sloppy fit and your feet will fatigue from trying to hang onto the shoes. 

2. Try to find a the right shoe for the right job. If you are going to be working all day on hard floor surfaces such as concrete or asphault, it is important that your shoes have a solid, thick, hard rubber sole. This will give a bit of shock absorption for not only your feet but your joints as well. Some shoes on the market today include anti shock built into the heel of the shoes for better anti-shock upon heel strike. However, if you are not going to be on hard surfaces and prefer a dress shoe, you will more than likely be comfortable as long as you have taken the time to learn proper shoe fit. Even dress shoes can be comfortable if fitted and supported properly.  

3. Always make sure that the arch of your feet fit in the right spot of the shoe. You can learn how to do this by checking the Shoe Fitting Reference Guide in the Education Section at www.walkezstore.com. The arch must sit in the cradle of the shoe. That is the part of the shoe where the shoe begins to get wide from the base of the forward end of the arch. This is easier to find on a pair of shoes with an hour glass shaped sole than a pair of shoes with a broad shaped sole. Again, there is a very good example on www.walkezstore.com.

4. Consider this, mass produced shoes are made in mirror matched images, feet are not. Not two feet are exactly alike and rarely match the inside plantar or bottom surface of the shoes. This is the most important part of the shoe to properly fit because this is the part of the foot that carries all of your body weight. If the bottom of the shoe fits the bottom of your foot you will find comfort. That being said, if the bottom of your foot is also guided into a better bio mechanically stride now the foot is working to the best of it’s efficiency. Therefore, a quality custom orthotic is recommended. This is support your feet and if fabricated properly will reduce pressure points that are usually the root of pain issues. However, an improperly fitted and poorly crafted orthotic can do more damage than good. What makes a quality orthotic starts with the process used to make an impression of your feet for the fabrication of the orthotics. A poor foot impression will create a poor orthotic. I like to say it this way, junk in is junk out. Or a waste of your time and money. And some orthotics are very expensive. Not that they are expensive to make just expensive to the customer. Especially if there is insurance involved. Just because it is expensive doesn’t mean it is quality. That is a general rule in for the consumer, buyer be ware. Do your research. What makes a good quality orthotic will be discussed in the next blog.  Stay tuned.

5.It is important to know that shoe fitting charts on the web are not accurate. You should try to find a store that has a Brannock Device used for measuring foot size. A Brannock will take three measurements, toe length, arch length, and width. The measurement you will use will be the arch length not the toe length unless the toe length is longer. Most peoples arch length is longer than their toe length. This measurement is only a reference. All shoes are not created equal. Just like clothes, shoes are not standard in sizing. Some companies run small and some run large. Sometimes, different patterns within one brand will differ in size even if the sizes are the same. Usually your higher quality shoes will be made more standard to the Brannock Device sizing. Therefore, when trying on shoes start with the size you measure, usually the arch length, learn where the foot should fit within the shoe, and adjust size accordingly. If the ball of the foot, or the big toe joint, sits too far forward of the cradle then the shoe is too short. If the ball of the foot sits too far back of the cradle then the shoe is too long.  Also, most shoes are only made in medium widths. It is important to fit the width properly to the correct length so the shoe does not slop on the foot. Shoes can be altered just like clothes can be altered. If you do not have access to a Certified Pedorthist in your area, consult via e-mail the professionals at www.walkezstore.com. A Certified Pedorthist will answer your questions on the web or your may ask for a phone consultation. 

6. Last but not least, and I can not stress this enough, use a quality crafted bio mechanically correcting custom orthotic arch support for all your shoes. Even your dress shoes can be custom fitted. New to the market of custom orthotics comes the  ezWalker custom orthotic from the Walkezstore.com. The ezWalker is ultra thin,  3/4  length and will fit easily into a wide variety of shoes, even your current footwear providing they fit properly as explained above. No need to buy shoes specially designed for the use of a custom orthotic. Gone are the days of bulky, hard to fit into shoes, custom orthotics. Most people already have a wide variety of shoes and need a supportive device that will quickly and easily transfer from shoe to shoe. The ezWalker will save you time and money, but mostly pain.  Add hours of  comfort during the course of your day,  try an ezWalker from TheWalkEZstore.com today.  Once you try an ezWalker in your shoes you’ll wonder what you ever did without it.                                                 Remember…When your feet feel good you feel good. 

Stay tuned for more from Kathy Carandang Certified Pedorthist.   Next blog, Good Orthotic verses Bad Orthotic