Guest Blog by Cathy Marxen & Steve LaFond, Board Certified Pedorthist at Schuler Shoes.
Do you experience regular foot pain? The feet are the foundation of our entire body. When our feet hurt, it is not only painful, but can also limit our activity.
Foot pain is commonly linked to certain medical conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis, but can also be caused by something as simple as wearing the wrong size shoe. At Schuler Shoes we commonly see customers come to us with foot pain only to find out they are wearing shoes that are 2 sizes too small.
With this in mind, here are 4 great tips for buying, trying, and wearing shoes:
- Try both shoes on in the store. Stand up, walk around, take your time, and make sure both feet are comfortable in the shoes.
- Make sure you don’t feel pressure across the foot. The shoe should be secure in the heel and instep with plenty of wiggle room for your toes. The shoe should work as a harness. If it fits properly, your feet shouldn’t slide forward and hit the front of the shoe.
- Buy shoes that offer support and structure. Generally shoes with more structure will better support your feet and arches than something soft and cushy. Soft and cushy shoes cause excess motion resulting in sore feet and tired, achy leg muscles.
- Wear different styles of shoes each day. Wearing different styles of shoes (running shoes, dress shoes, boots, clogs, etc.) work different muscles in your feet. You can even change your shoes throughout the day to give certain muscles in your feet a break.
Having your feet measured when shoe shopping is not as common as it used to be. At Schuler Shoes, we are a sit and fit model shoe store, meaning that you sit and we measure your feet each time you come into our store. We have Board Certified Pedorthists on staff that can help evaluate your feet and offer suggestions on what type of footwear might best work for your feet based on size, width, and daily activity. Schuler Shoes prides itself on helping customers find the perfect fit.