Once Upon a Time, There Was a Little Shoe
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An unknown author once said, “Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes really can change your life.” While your choice of shoe may not secure you a place in the royal family as it did for Cinderella, it’s no fairy tale that what you put on your feet really does matter. Watch out for these easily-made mistakes when choosing your next pair.
- You’re wearing the wrong size.
Would it surprise you to know that your foot shape and size can change over time? As we age, our foot arch can flatten out, making our foot wider. Pregnancy and weight gain also have an effect on the size of our foot. Wearing shoes that are too small - or too big - is common. That’s why it’s important to have your foot measured from time to time to ensure that you’re not squeezing a size 9 foot into the size 8 shoe that you’ve always worn.
- You’re buying the wrong style for your particular foot.
Shoes that rub you the wrong way in certain areas will give you problems in the form of blisters, ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses. If you’re genetically predisposed to getting bunions, you shouldn’t spend a lot of time in narrow-toed shoes. If you’ve got flatfoot, you need to put good arch support first, fashion second.
- Your shoe isn’t appropriate for your activity.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t surprise us when a Monmouth County patient comes to see us at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center for a foot or ankle injury they got while playing basketball in flip-flops or mowing the lawn in huaraches. Sudden injuries like cuts, sprains, and broken bones are much more likely to happen when you wear a shoe that doesn’t properly protect your foot.
Injuries that happen over time, such as posterior tibial tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis, and stress fractures, can often be traced back to walking or playing in a shoe that provides little to no support for that activity.
Foot pain is no fun, and unless you’ve got a magic wand, there are times when you need professional help. Our podiatrists Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, and Dr. Joseph Saka are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat your foot pain, whether it’s caused by the wrong shoes or something else. Get relief by making an appointment with us at our office in Howell, NJ. Call (732) 905-1110 or click here to contact us online.