Peter Sheppard shares with us the importance of correct fitting footwear and their tips for finding the perfect fit.
Shoes serve many functions. They protect our feet. They cushion our body weight. They stabilize our gait and support our overall skeletal system. This is why purchasing shoes and making sure they fit correctly is such an important process.
Poorly fitting shoes can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, and more. Every pair of feet is different and therefor so are their requirements.
The first thing you must do, before selecting a pair of shoes, is understand your feet and what works well for them. Are your feet wide with a high instep? Are you wider at the front with a narrow heel? Are your feet long and narrow causing you to slip out as you walk? Do you struggle to walk in high heels but still want the elevation from the ground to elongate your legs? Whatever your specific concern is, there is always a remedy.
Peter Sheppard Footwear specialises in foot health and correct fittings. They have created a 10-point checklist for their customers that ensure a perfect fit is always achieved.
- Have your feet measured. People’s foot size and shape can change over time. Don’t rely on the fact that you have always worn a certain size. That size likely is no longer the best fit for you.
- Most people have one foot that is larger than the other, so make sure you have BOTH feet measured. Fit your shoes to the larger foot.
- It is helpful to get measured at the end of the day when your feet are the largest. As we spend time on our feet they tend to swell so getting fitted at the beginning of the day can sometimes be deceiving.
- Just like clothes, the size marked in your shoes varies from brand to brand. Make sure you try them on before buying as not every size feels the same,
- Make sure the shoe fits your foot comfortably. Look at the shape of the shoe; it should resemble the shape of your foot.
- Shoes do not always stretch over time so they should fit when you buy them.
- The ball of your foot (the widest part just before your toes begin) should fit comfortably in the widest part of the shoe.
- The shoe should also have enough depth to fit your toes, especially if you have hammertoes or other conditions. Shoes with too small of a toe box will cause rubbing and you will get calluses or sores.
- Stand up and make sure their space measuring the width of your finger between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
- Always stand and walk around in the store and make sure that the shoes are comfortable.
Find the perfect shoes for your feet at Peter Sheppard Footwear, 159 Edward Street, Brisbane City.
