My Feet Are Too Wide For Shoes

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Shoes are a part of daily life; from sneakers on the court to stilettos at a dinner party, we wear them for hours every day. If yours are constantly too tight, this can have a major impact on your overall happiness and well being. Those with larger, flatter, wider feet often have trouble finding well-fitting shoes. Forced to wear an ill-sized pair, those with wider feet might have their toes pinched, their ankles squeezed, and their heels crushed. Austin podiatrist, Dr. Jeffery LaMour, is here to help each and every patient find the right shoes for his or her feet. He can also help treat the conditions that might worsen this issue. If you’re suffering from these symptoms, read on to learn what you can do about it and how we can assist you.

Do You Have Wide Feet?

It turns out that wide feet aren’t at all uncommon. In her recent Wall Street Journal article “Feet Are Getting Bigger and Many People Wear Shoes That Don’t Fit,” Elizabeth Holmes notes: “in a U.K. survey, more than a third of men and nearly half of women admitted buying shoes that didn’t fit right.” In many cases, people purchase shoes that are simply too tight and small to accommodate their feet. Charlotte Kemp’s 2014 Daily Mail piece on shoe sizing suggests that the general population’s feet are getting slightly wider every decade, due to a variety of issues. Kemp writes: “Jane Winkworth [shoe company founder] has confessed that its ballet pumps are broader than they were when she started the business more than 20 years ago.”

Additionally, many people who have wider feet don’t realize that this is the case. In her humorous piece for The Debrief, Madeleine Knight poses the question: “you might not even think you have wide feet—but when was the last time you actually measured them?” She follows this up with a confession: “I forgot about [having wide feet] for 14 years and have been squishing my hugely wide feet into little skinny shoes ever since my mother stopped taking me [shoe shopping].” Even if you don’t think of yourself as someone with wide feet or have forgotten that your childhood shoe boxes had a “W” on the side, you might benefit from looser fitting shoes rather than cramming your toes into the trendiest, slimmest styles.

Finding That “Cinderella” Shoe

Do you remember those metal measurement devices with the foot outlines you used to figure out your ever-changing foot size as a kid? It may be time to bring them back out. Knight advises: “always measure your foot in the evening,” when they’re more likely to be at their widest. If you don’t have a foot-measuring device handy, you can use Knight’s guide or About.com’s instructions. These should allow you to determine a more exact shoe sizes (half sizes can be crucial!) and determine if you need a Narrow, Regular, or Wide fit. Every shoe company sizes slightly differently, so you’ll still want to try on several different pairs of each shoe at the store until you find that perfect fit. If you’re struggling to find shoes that really support your foot and feel comfortable, prescription orthotics may be the right choice for you. Dr. LaMour frequently custom-fits these inserts for our patients.

What’s Causing Widening?

Why do some people have wider feet than others? A few reasons include:

  • Nature: Of course, some people are simply born with wider feet, and there’s nothing wrong with that! You’ll just need to make sure you choose good footwear for your feet.
  • Ill-fitting shoes: That’s right—the tight shoes you curse could actually be making your feet even wider. Wearing constricting shoes can cause your big toe joint and bone to move out of place, creating a bunion. This widens the front part of your foot, potentially making your tight shoes more uncomfortable.  This is one more reason it is important to find the appropriate size shoe for you.
  • Fallen foot arches: While common and even normal in children, flat-footedness can lead your feet to feel wider and make many shoes uncomfortable. Foot Smart explains that this condition “usually develops as an adult because of excessive foot stress” (such as being on your feet all day or gaining weight) or, in some cases, “failing to treat a foot injury (such as an ankle sprain) without proper healing time.”
  • Swelling: Wide feet are often the result of edema, or swelling, according to Foot Smart. Edema has a long list of causes, from diet to “neuromuscular disorders,” injury, and hormonal conditions. If your ankles and lower legs are irregularly large, this is likely the cause.

If your feet simply seem too wide for shoes, Dr. LaMour and our team can help locate the source of your condition. Then, we can create a treatment plan to help you remedy this with our wide array of podiatric services.

Contact Your Austin Podiatrist Today

Do your feet feel too wide? Would you like assistance selecting the proper shoe for your feet? Contact us today to learn more about our practice and schedule an appointment with Dr. LaMour.

Running Shoes Vs. Training Shoes: What’s the Difference?

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You’re faced with an overwhelming aisle of athletic shoes. A score of styles, a myriad of makes, a cornucopia of colors—how are you supposed to choose? These special soles will cushion and protect your feet while you exercise, so it’s important to pick the right pair. One way to try and select the correct shoes is to look at the label, but these can be difficult to decipher. A common question that we come across is “what type of shoes should I purchase?” Austin foot doctor, Jeffery LaMour, is here to help our patients settle on the right foot-gear. In the following blog, we’ll explain the difference between running shoes and training shoes so you can decide which you want.

All Shoes Are Not Created Equal

To you, all sneakers might seem the same. However, they are as varied, as any other style of shoe. In her WebMD article, “5 Biggest Mistakes When Choosing Workout Shoes,” Gina Shaw cites “Tracie Rogers, PhD, a consultant for the American Council on Exercise,” who argues: “The biggest mistake people make when they start running, jogging, or some other exercise program is just reaching into the closet and pulling out an old pair of sneakers.” Of course, worn shoes aren’t the best choice in part because they might be broken down, but they’re also not an optimal option because “you need to choose the right type of shoe for the kind of workout you’ll be doing.”  Different makes of shoes suit different types of activities. Just like you wouldn’t wear a ballroom dress to an aerobics class, you shouldn’t try to wear one type of shoes for another kind of sport.

The Basic Difference

On the surface, training and running don’t seem all that dissimilar, so what’s the big deal about these shoes? A Professor’s House piece on this subject reads: “If you have ever tried on a running shoe and a cross trainer you would have noticed some definite differences. For starters, runners are very flexible and they seem as if they are tight around your toes.” This design provides necessary coverage and keeps the shoe on but doesn’t overburden your foot as it repeatedly hits the ground. In contrast, “cross trainers are more firm which makes them more supportive with a wider base…[and they are] not as flexible as running shoes.” Cross trainers are bigger shoes with a chunkier base, created to pad your foot and protect it from all angles as you perform a variety of movements.

What Kind Should You Buy?

Now that you understand the disparities between cross trainers and running shoes, which type should you pluck from that immense athletic shoe aisle? Honestly, you should probably have a pair of each. Despite their name, running shoes are useful for more than just zipping around. Real Simple advises that they’re great “if you mostly jog or walk, since they’re engineered for heel-to-toe motion…cater to a wider range of foot types, and are built to last longer.”

Alternatively, “if your routine includes an activity like aerobics, weight training, or kickboxing (basically any exercise on a hard surface that involves side-to-side movement)” we’d make the case for cross trainers. Of course, there are exceptions to this. If you have particularly narrow feet, for example, cross trainers might just be too wide and bulky. Patients who frequently play a specific, foot intensive sport like soccer, tennis, or basketball should probably purchase shoes tailored to their specific activity.

No matter which type(s) you end up going home with, you should always try on a wide assortment of options to see what feels best, and mimic some of the motions you plan to make when you try them on. Shaw even recommends getting professional help: “go to an athletic shoe specialty store to get an expert insight on the right shoe and the best fit.”

If you need additional support, Dr. LaMour can fit you for orthotics. These comfortable, custom inserts can make exercising easier and more comfortable, plus they help treat a variety of podiatric conditions. We can also help you handle other issues related to exercise, such as calluses and sports injuries.

Your Austin Foot Doctor Is Here

If you have any other questions about your foot and ankle health as it relates to exercise or any other topic, Dr. LaMour and our team would be delighted to hear from you. Contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment.

Barefoot Running: Healthy or Risky?

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On the surface, it seems like a great idea: run barefoot instead of with shoes to produce a more “natural” stride. After all, humans were designed to run and walk on bare feet.

While some runners go all out and don’t wear shoes at all, others use what are known as minimalist shoes that are designed to duplicate a barefoot experience while still offering some protection. This “barefoot running” trend has become popular in recent years, but is it really good for you?

Risk of Injury

Any physical activity can carry a risk of injury, but some say barefoot running is a particular problem for those who don’t know how to properly adapt to running without adequate shoe support. Although proponents say barefoot running can strengthen muscles and reduce injury, this has not been proven.

Recent studies suggest that barefoot running is not all it’s been touted to be, and isn’t for everyone. People with past foot injuries and diabetes, for instance, should steer clear. Obviously, running without shoes raises the risk of wounds to the feet, which can become serious if left untreated. For those who are used to running with shoes, suddenly ditching footwear can be a painful experience. Running experts say you must change your stride to land more evenly on the entire foot, rather than hitting the ground heel first.

What Podiatrists Say

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) says due to lack of evidence about the safety and risks of barefoot running, people should consult with a podiatrist who has a background in sports medicine. He or she can examine your feet, discuss health history, and recommend a safe way to get your miles in. For some, barefoot running may be a possibility. But the health of your feet should always be a priority, no matter what style of running or exercise you enjoy.

Trying Barefoot Running

Despite possible risks, many people are interested in trying barefoot running. If you decide to move forward, take these steps to avoid injury:

  • Always see your podiatrist before starting any new running program.
  • Try indoor barefoot running on an indoor track or your home treadmill before running outside.
  • Wear minimalist shoes when running outside to protect feet from bacteria, fungi, and injuries.
  • Allow minimalist shoes to dry out completely between runs to avoid odor and fungus.
  • Run on soft surfaces such as grass instead of pavement.

Going barefoot doesn’t have to be forbidden all the time. Certain activities such as stretching, yoga, and strength training workouts can – and should – be done in bare feet. Be aware, however, that bare feet in public places like showers and bathrooms can set you up for athlete’s foot and other infections. Wear flip flops or other slip on shoes in public showering areas to help avoid this.

A podiatrist is your partner in keeping your feet healthy for life. Contact the office of Jeffery LaMour, DPM today!