Frequently, shoes are the cause of problems with your feet. It is therefore important to choose footwear that is suited for your feet.

Draw a template of your feet

Before you buy shoes, you should draw a template of your feet. This will help you assess whether the footwear fits.

How you make the template:

• Stand on a piece of paper.
• Put the same load on both feet.
• Ask another person to draw the outline of your feet.
• Cut out the paper templates.

Requirement for good shoes

Check whether the paper templates can lie smoothly in your shoe without wrinkles. If the shoes have removable soles, you can also place your foot on the sole to check whether the sole fits your foot. If it is either too short or too narrow, the shoe will not fit.

Length: The shoe should be of sufficient length as you will typically slide a little forward in the shoe when walking.

Shape: The shoe should be shaped after the natural foot and, thus, be widest around the toes, allowing you to spread and lift your toes without hindrance.

The toecap should be sufficiently high, thus avoiding pressure on the toes from the uppers.

The heel counter must be a tight fit around the heel and be stable.

The closing device should be adjustable, e.g. laces, Velcro or buckles, in order that the shoe fits tightly on the foot during walking.

The height of the heel should be low, in order that your walk will be as comfortable as possible, and so that you avoid any inconvenient pressure on the forefoot.

The sole should be slightly flexible and shock absorbing so as to achieve the best possible muscle function when you walk. In addition, it must be non-skid. In certain cases, an inflexible sole may be necessary. Talk with your therapist about this.

Inner seams: Pay attention to interior seam of the uppers. This is inexpedient as such seams may give rise to pressure marking and ulcers.

Buy your footwear late in the day

Feet may be swollen in the evening. When you try on shoes, you must wear your normal socks/support stockings. If you use inserts, bring them along.

Other pieces of good advice

• Shake the shoe before putting it on, to ensure that there are no foreign bodies such as pebbles, earth or the similar in the shoe.
• Your podiatrist can help verify if the footwear is correct before using it. Therefore, arrange with the store that the footwear can be returned if it does not fit your feet.
• If you need inserts and go looking for footwear, you can try the shoes with a thick sole, that takes up the same room as an insert.
• Make sure that the shoes are returnable and do not use them until they are approved for insole treatment.
• If you have hand-sewn footwear or semi orthopedic shoes, the treatment team at the foot clinic must participate in checking the shoes before you take them into use.

Remember: Footwear must fit at once. Shoes must not be worn into shape!