Choosing the right shoes

Most foot complaints that reach a pedicurist have something to do with footwear. Not because people buy bad shoes, but because a shoe that feels good in the shop is not always the shoe your foot needs.

1. Width matters more than size

Size says something about length, not about width. Width determines whether your toes are pushed together, and that is one of the main causes of corns between the toes.

Stand upright in the shoe and check whether your toes can spread. If you feel the sides of your forefoot against the shoe, it is too narrow, however well the length fits.

2. Toe room in height

Also look at the height of the toe box. With a toe that sits slightly bent, the top rubs against the leather and a corn forms there.

A shoe with a higher, roomier toe box prevents that. It does not have to be an ugly shoe; it is mostly a matter of choosing the right model.

• Look at width, not just size
• Check that your toes can spread
• Try shoes on at the end of the day
• Alternate your shoes daily

3. Try on at the end of the day

Feet swell during the day. A shoe that fits perfectly in the morning can pinch in the evening. So try shoes on late in the day.

Bring the socks you will actually wear in them. A thin sock in the shop and a thick sock in winter give a very different result.

4. Sole and cushioning

A sole that is too hard transmits every impact. On a concrete or tiled floor you feel that in the ball of the foot, which is where callus then forms.

A slightly cushioned sole with some profile spreads the load better. For standing work that is the difference between callus and no callus.

5. Alternate

The same shoe every day means pressure on exactly the same spot every day. Alternate and that pressure shifts, giving the skin a rest in between.

It also lets a shoe dry. A shoe that never dries is a breeding ground for fungus and a cause of sweaty feet.

In practice this subject belongs with cracked heels and standard treatment. There you can read how Patty works, or you can request an appointment straight away.

Further reading: foot care with diabetes and rheumatism, how many weeks between pedicure visits?, what is the difference between a pedicurist and a medical pedicurist?.

Frequently asked questions