Cruel shoes
With Carol Frey, M.D., foot and ankle specialist and assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the University
of California, Los Angeles.You studied shoe sizes and foot sizes. What did you find?
We examined the shoes and feet of 356 women and found that 90 percent of them wore shoes too narrow for their feet. Eighty percent of them had foot pain. In 70 percent, the ill-fitting shoes created more than one foot deformity, such as bunions, hammer toes, pinched nerves, heel pain [plantar fasciitis], callouses, and ingrown toenails. Men did not show similar findings, probably because they will not put up with discomfort or poor fit. But many low-cut, strapless, fashionable women's shoes have to be snug or they won't stay on. Women become so used to wearing uncomfortable shoes that they think it's normal.
How do you find shoes that fit?
Remember that most shoe salespeople are not experts on fit. It's best to shop for shoes at the end of the day, when your feet are largest. Fit to your largest foot; two-thirds of people have one foot larger than the other. There should be a thumb's breadth from the end of your longest toe to the tip of the shoe. Most important, the shoe should be comfortable the minute you put it on. You shouldn't need a "break-in" period. Unfortunately, there's no uniformity in sizing. A 7B from one company may fit completely differently than a 7B from another, so you have to keep trying on shoes until you find one that will fit your foot. Clogs are good for many people because they usually have plenty of toe room, and the backless variety are good for people with Achilles tendon problems, as there is no pressure on the back of the heel. For an office job, look for a well-cushioned shoe that fits well, such as a loafer or rubber-soled wedge.
Are high-heeled, pointy-toed shoes completely off-limits?
You should treat them like dessert--OK for special occasions but not for every day. Try not to wear them for more than three hours at a time. Kick them off under the dinner table and in the car, and switch to flats when you can. Also try to keep the heel to 2 inches or less, and select shoes made of materials such as suede and glove leathers that give as you wear them.
This article first appeared in the June 2007 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.We examined the shoes and feet of 356 women and found that 90 percent of them wore shoes too narrow for their feet. Eighty percent of them had foot pain. In 70 percent, the ill-fitting shoes created more than one foot deformity, such as bunions, hammer toes, pinched nerves, heel pain [plantar fasciitis], callouses, and ingrown toenails. Men did not show similar findings, probably because they will not put up with discomfort or poor fit. But many low-cut, strapless, fashionable women's shoes have to be snug or they won't stay on. Women become so used to wearing uncomfortable shoes that they think it's normal.
How do you find shoes that fit?
Remember that most shoe salespeople are not experts on fit. It's best to shop for shoes at the end of the day, when your feet are largest. Fit to your largest foot; two-thirds of people have one foot larger than the other. There should be a thumb's breadth from the end of your longest toe to the tip of the shoe. Most important, the shoe should be comfortable the minute you put it on. You shouldn't need a "break-in" period. Unfortunately, there's no uniformity in sizing. A 7B from one company may fit completely differently than a 7B from another, so you have to keep trying on shoes until you find one that will fit your foot. Clogs are good for many people because they usually have plenty of toe room, and the backless variety are good for people with Achilles tendon problems, as there is no pressure on the back of the heel. For an office job, look for a well-cushioned shoe that fits well, such as a loafer or rubber-soled wedge.
Are high-heeled, pointy-toed shoes completely off-limits?
You should treat them like dessert--OK for special occasions but not for every day. Try not to wear them for more than three hours at a time. Kick them off under the dinner table and in the car, and switch to flats when you can. Also try to keep the heel to 2 inches or less, and select shoes made of materials such as suede and glove leathers that give as you wear them.
