I have people, especially ladies, who come into my practice complaining of foot pain. I almost have to pry their shoes off with a crowbar and I ask them, "When was the last time you had your feet measured?" This is what I generally hear... "I have worn a size six-and-a-half shoe since I was sixteen!" I can tell you that many of these women have grandchildren older than sixteen.
Many of the 'general' foot pain complaints (where people tell me their whole foot hurts at the end of the day) can be attributable to improper shoe fit. As we get older our feet change in size and no, they do not get smaller unless they have been injured or you started binding them like the ancient Chinese or American Indians. Our feet mostly get wider and sometimes can get longer. When I was 35 years old I wore ten-and-a-half medium width shoes. Now at 54 years old I wear twelve wide shoes. Genetics, age, child birth (yes ladies you can start blaming your ugly feet as you mature on your children), injuries, and improper fitting shoes can alter the size of our feet.
I recommend that after the age of forty you have your feet measured at a reputable shoe store at least once a year. The device used to measure your feet is called a Brannock. They are manufactured to measure adult men, adult women, juvenile/adolescent, and infant feet. It is important that the correct device is used. There are three measurement that need to be taken: foot length, foot width and most importantly where the great toe breaks. I also recommend that when you purchase shoes, go in the middle of the day or evening and spend time walking around in each shoe (a minimum of five minutes).
A little attention to proper fitting shoes can ensure that your feet remain healthy and pain free for many years.
"The journey of life is taken one step at a time... none of them should be painful." G.M. Barclay, DPM, AACFAS
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