Shoes

While orthotic therapy is fundamental in helping you maintain proper structural and biomechanical integrity, they are not as effective unless they are worn in a proper pair of shoes. Please keep the following guidelines in mind when purchasing shoes:

• Buy shoes late in the day, when your foot is the widest
• Try on shoes with the thickest socks you might wear with those shoes
• Lateral sports such as tennis require shoes that provide strong lateral support. Running shoes made of a linear movement are not sufficient
• Do not purchase shoes that are too tight expecting them to stretch to fit
• Your foot should not slip at all in the shoe
• Check the quality of the shoes. They are often mass-produced and small errors can lead to huge structural problems. They should not rock on a flat surface
• The front part of the sole, where your foot bends, should be flexible
• The toe box (space at the front of your shoes for the toes) should be high and wide with at least a finger's breadth between your longest toe and the shoe edge
• Make sure your toes have enough room in the toe box
• Make sure you replace your shoes when they get old and lose structural support with age
• The heel counter (rigid strip on the back of the heel) should be as rigid as it provides support for the heel
• Arch shank should be rigid and not deflect when weight bearing