Footwear guide



Wearing the right shoes is an important part of looking after our feet. Sadly, we often neglect this area of foot care and squeeze our feet into ill-fitting, poor quality shoes without a second thought. Many foot problems can be prevented or resolved by wearing the right shoes and following some simple advice -

1. Have your feet measured regularly. As adults we rarely have our feet measured yet the shape and size of our feet change throughout adulthood.
  • Visit a shoe shop with staff trained to measure your feet properly.
  • Be aware that not all styles and shapes of shoes will fit you. We all have very different feet, varying in width, length and depth so don't assume that one style of shoe will fit everyone
  • Remember the time of year can also affect the size of your feet. Feet can swell slightly with the heat in the summer.
  • Shop for shoes in the late afternoon, when your feet are swollen from walking around all day.
2. Shoes should be flat or with a low heel (no more than 3cm).
  • When wearing a high heel, your forefoot (the ball of your foot) bears all the weight of your body so you are more likely to develop foot problems on the balls of your feet such as corns or callus whereas a flat shoe allows your feet to bear your weight evenly.
  • When wearing a heel, you foot is pushed forward into the front of the shoe causing the toes to become squashed and more likely to develop problems such as callus and corns, hammer and clawed toes and Athlete's foot.
  • If you are at all unsteady on your feet, wearing a flat shoe will help to stabilise you and prevent you from falling.
3. Shoes made of good quality leather are better for your feet. Not only is leather softer and more comfortable around your feet than synthetic materials, it 'breathes' allowing moisture and sweat from the skin to evaporate, keeping your feet fresh.

4. Shoes with cushioned soles will help to absorb the force that your foot receives when walking on hard surfaces such as concrete and pavements and can help prevent callus and corns. A thick sole also protects your feet from feeling every lump and bump in the pavement.

5. Adjustable fastening on your shoes such as laces, buckles or Velcro straps are preferable to wearing slip-on shoes -
  • When wearing slip-on shoes, the small muscles in your feet have to work hard to grip onto the shoes and stop them from falling off! This can lead to aching feet and long term problems such as hammer and clawed toes.
  • A fastening stops your feet from sliding around inside your shoes and holds them steady.
6. Inside the shoe, there should be a 1cm gap between the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe.

7. The back of the shoe (the heel counter) should fit around the natural shape of your heel. If it does not fit properly, the heel can rub against the shoe and be very painful.

8. Lastly, don't be tempted to squeeze your feet into uncomfortable or tight shoes by telling yourself that they will 'give' with time. Shoes should fit properly from the moment you start wearing them.

For advice on children's footwear go to Parentzone.