subject: For Healthy Feet: Choosing The Right Shoes [print this page] For healthy, injury-free feet, making a choice for the right shoe is extremely important. Feet are the unsung heroes which have taken us to places, literally and metaphorically. So it is essential to give them sufficient amount of TLC and pampering. Before you go for another shoe shopping spree, its time to scan the pairs that you already have and discard the ones that have been giving you a hard time till now. There are several factors that you need to keep in mind before you buy a pair for yourself. So read on and make the belongings of your shoe rack more functional:
The Right Fit: Avoid looking for comfort and style in each and every foot-gear. Rather, focus on the comfort and fit. A wrong/loose fit can do more harm than you might think. Shoe with the right fit provides the maximum amount of traction, breath-ability and comfort. It is very important to know your foot size and the arch before you purchase a pair. Put the shoe to test as much as you need before buying as improper fit can lead to major hazards such as hammertoes, calluses, bunions, heel pain etc. Remember that you should be able to wiggle you toes once you wear them!
The Right Shoe Type:How can one type of shoe go for different types of feet? Knowing your feet type is really important. However some ladies mess it up by confusing a tight fit for a snug fit thinking that the shoe will probably stretch itself with time. No! Youll know your right shoe as soon as you wear one. Look for shoes that provide a good arch support as well as superior cushioning to the feet. Avoid pointy toes and square toe shoes as prolonged unnatural positioning of the toes is harmful. Go for round toes that give ample space. Avoid heels, or choose wide and stable heels not more than 3-inches high!
The Right Material:Leather shoes may cost you a bomb, but your feet are the safest inside them. They provide breath ability to the feet and take its shape for maximum comfort. Then the soles should be sturdy and cushioned enough for a confident walk. If your feet tend to sweat, go for mesh fabric and avoid synthetics. In a nutshell, the shoes should provide maximum air circulation to prevent any long term implications. Do not forget to peep inside the shoe for any defects. Any type of misconstruction like exposed seams or outcroppings rub against the foot and make the shoe uncomfortable to wear sooner or later.
Foot Hygiene: Of course choosing the right shoe for healthy feet is a must but you also need to focus on your foot health from the inside as well as outside. Go for a regular pedicure session at the spa. If not, then wash feet daily with soap and warm water and with the help of a pumice stone, remove dry, flaky skin from heels and bottom of your feet. Keep your feet clean and dry as much as possible. Apply sunblock before stepping out in the sun. Apart from that, avoid too much sharing of footwear for prevention of fungal infections!
Other Factors: The work is not yet done. The time of the day is important to choose the right shoes. Try and do your purchasing in the afternoon when the shoes have swollen to their maximum and you can make the right choice. Walk around the store wearing the shoes to ensure comfort. Also one foot tends to be bigger than the other so take the bigger one to be your shoe size. Go to a reputed departmental store where they have half sizes, which make for the perfect fit. Enough said! Go ahead and put your best food forward!!!
