Summer Shoes

Hello patients and welcome to this month's North Port Foot & Ankle Newsletter. Summer is officially upon us and we often receive questions regarding appropriate shoes to wear during the summer months. There are many good choices available depending on how they are to be used and for what activities. It is also important to choose shoes that are appropriately sized for your feet which we will discuss as well.

For most, a good supportive athletic type or walking shoe is a good choice for day-to-day activities, long walks, and sporting events. Adequate support and proper fit are both important when considering a shoes for your foot type. Memory foam should largely be avoided as these shoes provide little support or control over the movement of the foot particularly during strenuous activity. The American Podiatric Medical Association or APMA has assigned their Seal of Acceptance/Approval to several shoe brands that have been found to promote good foot health. These can be found on the APMA website at www.apma.org.

Sandals are often a go to for Floridians and similar principles apply to these as they do to shoes. Sandals that are very flat or have a memory foam footbed are generally to be avoided. Many different sandal brands do include an orthotic footbed however there are significant variations in arch height, padding, design, and style. It is recommended that when trying on sandals you spend substantial time in them in the store to ensure proper fit. Often more supportive sandals will carry a higher price tag and stores will often not accept returns on used shoes or sandals thus making it all the more important that proper fit and comfort are ensured prior to leaving the store.

Choosing an appropriately sized shoe is important regardless of shoe type and there are some recommendations as to how to properly fit a shoe to your foot. Firstly, it is recommended that you try on shoes towards the end of the day. Throughout the day our feet often swell, effectively creating a larger foot by the end of the day. Second, be sure you stand in the shoes to determine where your toes lie at the end of the shoe. As soon as you stand, your feet spread to some extent. Lastly, we use the "rule of thumb". This means you should have a thumbs width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe to ensure adequate length. Some shoes come in different widths which should be evaluated as well and some shoe brands are known for being wider or narrower so don't be afraid to switch brands if one does not feel quite right.

One final note...not all feet are alike, and for some, finding a shoe that fits properly is just not possible. In that instance we can utilize custom-made orthoses as well as to treat many different pathologies. Should you have questions or struggles we would be happy to assist you here at North Port Foot & Ankle. Have a great summer!

941-426-1167

North Port Foot and Ankle, 12757 Tamiami Trail S. North Port, FL 34287