Buying shoes to save your soles

Aching Feet

Nearly half of all women have first hand experience with the dull throb of aching feet. Although an increase in standing or walking may be the cause, the culprit is often ill-fitting shoes. Because the fat padding on the bottom of the feet thins out over time, older women may find that this problem increases with age.

Athlete's Foot

Despite its name, this condition isn't limited to long distance runners or other athletes. The intense itching, burning, pain, and scaling that usually occurs between the toes or on the sole of the foot is caused by microscopic fungi called Trichophyton mentagrophytes. These microorganisms thrive in warm, moist places -- shower floors and sweaty socks or tight-fitting shoes are favorite environments.

Blisters

Shoes that are too big or too small or rough spots in shoes or socks often rub against a sensitive spot. The body reacts by creating a fluid-filled cushion, which you know as a blister. The skin underneath the blister is quite tender, making blisters very painful to walk on. Fortunately, they generally disappear on their own if kept clean and protected from further irritation.

Bunions

If you've noticed a lump on the side of your foot at the base of your big toe, it's probably a bunion. Bunions are caused as the base of the toe is pushed out of its normal position. This causes a bulge on the side of the foot that can be painful and inflamed. Rather than pointing straight ahead, the big toe will also frequently press against the other toes. In the AOFAS survey, 71% of the women had bunions. Long intervals in tight-fitting shoes are often to blame.

Corns and Calluses

The skin defends against repeated friction and pressure by building up hard layers of skin cells at the site of the irritation. When this happens on top of or between the toes, the skin cells form round, kernel-like bumps, called corns. Calluses usually form on the sole, and are thick, yellowish, and flat. Every year 14% of American adults develop calluses and 9% (mostly women), corns.

Hammertoes

When one of the smaller toes takes on a claw-like appearance, it's called a hammertoe. Misalignment of the toe joints or muscle or nerve problems in the foot cause the toe to curl up instead of laying flat. People with diabetes are prone to developing hammertoes. Wearing shoes that are too short can also cause this problem

Heel Pain

Flat feet, high arches, or physical activity such as running can trigger inflammation and soreness in the plantar fascia ligament, which runs between the heel and the ball of your foot. The resulting inflammation is called plantar fasciitis. Pain from plantar fasciitis usually comes with the first steps of the day or after long periods of inactivity. Stretching the muscles of the foot and wearing properly fitting shoes will help to avert this problem. Heel spurs are another common source of heel pain. These painful, swollen heel bumps feel warm to the touch and result from strained foot muscles. Again, poorly fitting shoes are a major cause. Heel spurs become more common as the tissue around the heel bone wears away with age.

Buying shoes

Any injury to the foot interrupts the kinematic chain (the foot bone's connected to the ankle bone, and on up), hampering mobility.

High heels and pointy toed fashion shoes are natural adversaries to your feet. Although the angle of high heels may make your legs look long and graceful, it also increases pressure on the toes and upsets your balance. Keep your use of high heels to a minimum, and opt for flats instead.

Sport-specific shoes are engineered to provide the support, motion control, and cushioning that minimize foot injuries associated with a particular activity. One good pair of cross trainers will suffice for every sport you participate in.

Sports shoes can be worn every day for cushy comfort. However, they will lose their cushioning effect over time and should be replaced if the lining no longer bounces back when you press on it.

Remember to check shoes for air flow -- do they have porous fabric or air holes so that your feet won't sweat and swelter inside? The toe should be more rounded than pointed, approximating the natural shape of the foot.

With one hand on the heel and the other on the toe, try to bend the shoe - does it give? If it doesn't flex, it's probably too stiff. Next place the shoe on the floor and push it forward - is there any resistance? Shoes with poor tread design or smooth bottoms can lead to slips and falls.

Although shoe construction certainly matters, fit is really the key element in keeping your feet healthy. If you, like 75% of the women in the AOFAS study, haven't had your feet measured in more than 5 years, it's time. Your feet may well have increased in size, as commonly happens as women grow older.

Be sure to shop for shoes at the end of the day, when your feet are 5% to 8% larger than in the morning. Measure both feet, since they are often different sizes. Always fit to the larger size. Allow 1/2" of room between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Feel along the sides of the shoe while it's on your foot to check that the widest part of your foot corresponds with the widest part of the shoe. Take a test stroll across the store to verify that the shoe flexes when you walk, and that your heel doesn't slip in and out. Wear the hosiery or socks you expect to wear with the shoes.

The most important test of all is completely subjective: Are they comfortable? A particular pair of shoes may look great, but if they're going to leave you sore or limping, leave them in the store. Be kind to your feet - they've got to carry you a long way.