It’s common knowledge that you stop growing after you reach a certain age. This would lead one to believe that their footwear will fit forever. Sadly, this is wishful thinking. Over time, your shoes are prone to stretching and shrinking.
As an example, if you wear the same pair of shoes every time you work out, they will gradually lose their shape and eventually feel looser. Additionally, people in hot climates have reported that their shoes are shrinking from over-exposure to the sun.
At Feet First Clinic, we know that wearing ill-fitting footwear can lead to severe consequences — for those that aren’t familiar with us, we’re a team of experienced foot specialists that offer specialized foot care services and products.
If you need to book an appointment with the best chiropodist in Toronto, you should get in contact with one of our fantastic team members.
Before you throw on your running shoes, make sure you keep an eye out for the following signs:
You Can’t Slide Your Shoes Off Easily
In some sports, like hockey, players are encouraged to tie their laces as tightly as possible. Tightly tied skates can prevent issues like rolled and sprained ankles.
However, this isn’t necessarily the case with running shoes. If your footwear is the ideal size, you should be able to slide them on and off without undoing the laces.
If you can’t do this, you’re either tightening your laces too much or wearing ill-fitting footwear. Thankfully, you don’t have to throw out your favourite pairs of shoes; we offer reliable shoe stretching services that can help you get the optimal fit
Your Toes Touch the Inside of Your Sneaker
Are your feet swollen and sore after a long day of work? This may be because your toes are touching the inside layer of your sneakers.
If your toes rub against the inside of your sneakers, you can potentially bruise your nails or get a hammer toe.
To ensure that your shoes aren’t too tight, you need to make sure that there’s at least a thumb’s worth of space between your toes and the inside layer of your sneakers.
Your Heel Moves Around While Walking
Whether you’re walking around the block or through a snowy trail, the last thing you want is heel pain.
Unfortunately, if you wear footwear that’s too loose, you’re in for a lot of pain and discomfort. If your shoes are too loose, your heel has more room to move around and rub up against your footwear. This causes additional friction, which can be extremely uncomfortable.
Does this happen to you? The simplest way is to deal with this issue is by tying your shoelaces correctly.
If you want to go the extra mile, feel free to try insoles for extra cushioning — this will minimize the amount of wiggle room in your footwear and keep your heel snuggly in place.
You should never rely on over-the-counter insoles. These items are nowhere near as comfortable or effective as our customized orthotic insoles.
Before you slide on the shoes that you’ve had for far too long, you should take a look for the signs mentioned above. This will ensure that you don’t harm your feet in the (not so distant) future.
