Orthotics and footwear
The simplest move a beginner can make with shoes costs no money at all: choose the hour of the day to try them on. Feet may swell by up to 8% over the course of a day, AAOS OrthoInfo notes, so it suggests buying shoes late in the day for the most comfortable fit. Anyone in Wood Dale can do that this week.
Five questions about shoes and inserts
- When is the best time of day to shop for shoes? This is the free step above, and the answer needs no skill.
- Can tight shoes cause foot problems? A good follow-up, since it asks you only to look at what you already wear.
- How should children's shoes fit? Another question you can work through at home before any purchase.
- What should I look for in a running shoe? The APMA page on choosing shoes for sports is a companion read.
- Who benefits from custom orthotics? Foot Health Facts (ACFAS) states that custom orthotics are medical devices prescribed by a foot and ankle surgeon. They are prescribed rather than self-selected, so this is the one step in the group that calls for a professional. The APMA page on prescription custom orthotics and shoe inserts covers the same ground.
What can be undone
A change of shoes is easy to reverse by going back to the old pair, which is why the shopping questions come before the orthotics question. If the cheap steps do not help, the prescribed step is still there.
Neighbouring groups
The sports foot injuries group asks whether sport-specific shoes prevent injuries, a question that sits beside the running shoe question here.