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Fitting Your Shoes Properly
Quite frequently I see people come in with knee and low back complaints that stem a lot from the footwear they wear. If you have a job that requires a lot of standing or your child plays a lot of athletic sports that requires a lot of running it is vital that you receive the proper support and fit from you shoes. Here are some quick tips to help you out the next time you are shopping for a new pair of shoes.
Overall Length:
Because your foot is always changing shape and shifting with what activity you are doing the correct length for your shoe is essential to get the proper function and comfort. To check for the right length, take the liner out of the shoe and stand on it. You should have a finger-width beyond the longest toe of your foot (that might not necessarily be your big toe) and the edge of the liner. With children this is key too because it does give them a little extra growing room to have before they are out of the shoe.
Width:
Make sure that the shoe is a proper fit so that it is not crunching your foot together or not giving any support because it feels like your wearing boxes on your feet. To make sure you have the proper width stand with you foot in an unlaced shoe and try to slide one finger under the base of the laces. If the shoe is too narrow your finger will not slide in the show and if you can slide two of three fingers in, the show is too wide.
Flex Point:
To perform one of the most basic, but most important, functions of your foot your foot must be able to flex where your shoe is designed to flex. The flex point of your foot is the ball of the foot and the flex point of the shoe is in the widest part of the shoe, so make sure that the ball of your foot is sitting in the widest part of the shoe.
These are some simple, but essential, requirements you need to have a properly fitting and supportive shoe. Good shoes are a key to have because if your feet do not get the proper support that they need then they will make your knees, low back and spine compensate for their problems. So make sure you have a good foundation and the rest of your body will thank you.
Yours in health,
Dr. K.B. Jenkins, D.C.
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