Shoes

Shoe Fitting Tips

• Try shoes on at the end of the day
• Try the shoes on with the thickest socks you might wear with those shoes.
• Measurements should be taken while you are standing
• Have both feet measured. Most people have one larger foot. Fit to the large one
• The longest toe should be a finger's breadth from the end of the toe box
• The counter around the heel should be reasonably snug
• The forefoot should not be crowded
• Foot should not budge over the sole
• Don't worry about the stated "size" of the shoe. Worry about the "fit." It doesn't matter that you wore a size 5 when you were 22 and the clerk is telling you to try a size 9. Only Cinderella always wears the same size shoe. Your foot size will change as you grow older. Also, sizes vary between brands.
• Don't buy a shoe if it feels too tight. It will NOT stretch to fit your foot.

Shoe Modifications

• Stretching to decrease pressure on various parts of the feet
• Lifts to compensate for a short leg
• Rocker soles to decrease pain under the ball of the foot
• Replace laces with Velcro closures to make it easier to close the shoe
• Buttresses and flares to increase shoe stability
• Modifications to make it easier to place ankle-foot orthoses in shoes