Happy Memorial Day from

Legacy Physical Therapy

From our family to yours, we hope that you have a very happy and safe Memorial Day weekend. Take the long weekend to relax and do something active. Head to the zoo, go for a walk in the park, get out on the bike trail, play with the kids on the playground, or check out the opening of the swimming pool season. Remember just 20-30 minutes of activity a day can make a big difference.

If The Shoe Fits?

Shoes, although certainly protective, have been blamed as the principal cause of forefoot problems observed in woman. These problems: hammer toes, bunions, and corns to name a few, are mainly a result of improper design and fitting of shoes.

Many women continue to wear the same shoe size as they get older. Although foot size tends to increae after age 20, evidence has shown that most women have not had their feet measured in more than 4 years. As a result, women wear shoes that are smaller that their feet, contributing to foot pain and deformity. As foot length increases, forefoot width also appears to increase but heel width does not change significantly.

You can do a simple test to see if your shoe width is too narrow for your forefoot. Trace your barefoot in a standing position. Place your shoe over the barefoot tracing. If your shoe is more than 1/4 inch narrower than the outline of your foot, your shoe is not fit properly.

Tips for Finding Shoes That Fit

• Fit shoes while standing at the end of the day, when feet are largest.
• Make certain that the foot does not bulge over the welt (the strip of leather or other material that joins the upper and outer sole).
• The toes should have room to extend, and the toe box should be ample. The end of the longest toe of the biggest foot should be within 1/2 inch (a finger breadth) of the end of the shoe box.
• The forefoot should not feel tight in the shoe. The heel counter should grip the heel relatively snugly. Women who have a large discrepancy between forefoot width and heel width require a combination last (ie. narrow heel and wide forefoot) to ensure accurate fit.
• Whenever possible, you should purchase shoes made of soft leather or suede, and should avoid shoes made of patent leather or synthetic materials that have no "give".
• Shoes should fit comfortably at the time of purchase, and should not be bought with expectation that they will stretch to fit.
• If necessary, discrepancies between foot size and shoe fit can be corrected with shoe inserts, but it is preferable to buy well-fitting shoes.