Just because a pair of shoes is in your size doesn’t always mean it’s the right fit for your feet. Many types of foot injuries, joint pain, and other health conditions can be traced back to ill-fitting shoes. However, most people don’t know that their shoes don’t fit them well until they’ve already developed problems.
To protect yourself against common foot problems, here are some signs that can help you identify an ill-fitting pair of shoes:
1. Heel pain
Heel pain or plantar fasciitis can be caused by many reasons, such as overuse or physical injury. However, it is more commonly a result of ill-fitting, worn out, and unsupportive shoes, which when combined with physical activity, can lead to very painful heels. Heel pain treatment is simple, but if you don’t address the problem early enough, it can lead to other issues for the rest of your body, most especially your feet and legs.
2. Blisters
Physiotherapists say that you don’t need to “break-in” a pair of shoes, unlike what most of us believe. Instead, shoes should be comfortable and fit perfectly as soon as you buy them. So if your feet are blistering because of the pair you’re wearing, you should probably replace them.
3. Old shoes
It should be obvious when a pair of shoes is already past its prime. If your shoes have noticeable creases, worn out soles, and poor foot support, you should consider getting a new pair. Otherwise, walking or running in very old shoes can lead to nerve damage because of the poor support to your feet.
4. Injured toes
If your toes are blistered, callused, bruised, and painful at the end of the day, your shoes are most likely rubbing against your toes the wrong way. This means the area near your toes is too narrow to allow for normal movement. Aside from blisters, tightness in the toe area can lead to dead toenails, ingrown toenails, and bunions.
5. Stress fractures
Stress fractures refer to tiny bone cracks that can happen due to repetitive force. Therefore, if you wear the wrong type of shoes (too thin and provide too little shock absorption) when running and playing sports, it can lead to your toes experiencing these tiny cracks. Not only are these breaks painful; they can also hinder you from exercising for quite some time.
6. Tightness
Shoes that are too tight obviously aren’t the right size for you. If you persist in wearing tight-fitting shoes, it can lead to common foot problems such as pain, swelling, and redness. Don’t settle for shoes that are too tight. If they don’t fit at the store, don’t think that you will “stretch them out” later on. It will most likely just lead you to have painful and swollen feet.
Ill-fitting shoes can lead to pain, discomfort, spine problems, and improper circulation, among many other health risks. And the first step to avoiding these problems is to recognize the signs that your shoes don’t fit right. To be safe, always choose a pair of shoes that feels comfortable.
