Picking out the right shoe is important. You want to ensure they are comfortable, have features that can support your foot health, and (if you’re lucky) match your favorite outfit.

So, you found that pair. They’re supportive and comfortable, but do they fit correctly?

It’s vital that your shoes fit your feet - let’s discuss why.

We understand the temptation to get a pair of shoes that don’t fit that well. You might be tempted after looking in several stores or when you think you’ve found the perfect shoe. But trust us, if they don’t fit, they aren’t perfect.

Picking the wrong shoe size can create pain while they’re on your feet, and long after. It is estimated that about 60% of people wear the wrong shoe size.  This means that one of the simplest things you can do to ensure you have healthy feet is to make sure you buy the right size!

When your shoes are too small, they can rub against your feet and toes creating pain and inflammation. This is downright uncomfortable on a good day, but can also lead to complications.

For those with diabetes, blisters or excessive inflammation in the feet can be difficult to heal, and potentially lead to an infection.

These can be painful and make it difficult to walk appropriately. Shoes that are too big or too small can also lead to general discomfort in your feet, legs and back. If your shoes do not fit properly, this pain will not go away, as it might after breaking in a pair of shoes that fit well.

The stress of wearing shoes that are too big or too small can lead to joint pain, particularly in your knees, muscle pain and more. However, most humans still become attached to certain shoes, whether they fit or not. This is because objects you love can have a very strong effect on your sense of identity. For shoes, these are integral to our perception of ourselves and we think they represent us. Many fervently want to be a certain size and will buy that size even if it hurts.  

A proper fit of a shoe is important to ensure that each part of the shoe is where it is supposed to be. For example, if you buy the wrong size shoe, you might have an arch support that is too far forward or behind where it should be. This may not provide the support you desire. Worse, it may be quite uncomfortable.  

If you’re not sure about your shoe size, you can ask your podiatrist to help you. For The Healing Sole, we have a few suggestions that can make picking the right size easier. We don’t want people to buy the wrong size shoe anymore than we want to bring back Chinese foot-binding.