Choosing the right footwear for your feet is an integral part of foot health.
Width
The correct width of your shoe will help prevent blisters, corns and callus particularly around the forefoot area. Certain brands in both dress and athletic footwear specialise in greater widths.
Toe Box
A shallow, narrow toe box often leads to nail abnormalities, clawing of the toes and formation of deformities such as bunions. A broader, rounder toe box reduces the chance of these deformities occurring. A gap of about 1cm from the end of your longest toe will also help reduce any problems. Note that the longest toe for some people may not be the big toe, but actually the second toe.
Fastening Mechanism
Footwear should always have a type of fastening mechanism that keeps the shoe securely on your feet. By doing this you reduce the strain on the foot muscles and the chance of clawed toes. Laces, buckles and Velcro straps are the best types of fastening mechanisms.
Heel Height
To decrease the chance of foot problems related to increased pressure the heel height of the shoe should be no larger than 2.5cm (1 inch).
Sturdy Footwear
There are three important features that help determine the sturdiness of the shoe. You should not be able to:
* Compress the area that cups the heel
* Twist the shoe like you wring a cloth
* Bend the forefoot completely against the upper (toe of shoe towards the laces)
The right shoe for the activity:
The shoe you select should be determined by the activity you are performing. Running shoes are beneficial for most basic physical activities such as walking, running and the gym. Most other sports have a specific shoe designed for that activity and are the best option in that instance.
Athletic footwear, especially runners, are also categorised into the type of foot the wearer has: pronated (low arch), supinated (high arch) or neutral (neither high nor low arch). If you are fitted with the wrong shoe for your foot type, injuries are likely to occur.
All athletic footwear should be fitted by an athletic footwear specialist to make sure the shoe is the correct fit, therefore reducing the risk of injury.
Final Tips:
1. A shoe should be comfortable at the immediate fit; no breaking-in process should be needed.
2. Purchasing shoes is best done in the afternoon as this is when your feet are at their largest!! Disclaimer:
Although the information contained in the WollongongOnline website is continually updated, Naomi Williams makes no guarantee, nor does she assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information. Material contained in this article relates to matters of foot health. No information contained in this website should be used to influence decisions regarding prevention, diagnosis, treatment or rehabilitation without first consulting with a podiatrist or other health professional. Material is presented here for general public discussion only and a trained professional should deal with any specific problems. | 
