Shoe Fitting Hints and
Common Foot Complaints...

Ill-fitting shoes can cause or aggravate foot problems. Not all Froggie shoes fit exactly the same. Froggie uses research data on hundreds of South African women, conducts in- house wear trials, and there is a large fitting team so our shoes are generally a better fit than other brands. However, there are always differences caused by the specific leather, construction or technology used for different shoes. For example, the same size low heel styles will not feel the same as a higher heeled style because foot biomechanics also come into play.

The following general hints are useful to bear in mind, irrespective of the style of shoe chosen... Remember, good shoes are part of the good care your feet deserve!

SHOE FITTING HINTS....

Fit your shoes to the longest / largest / widest foot...

(Surveys show that nearly everyone has non-identical feet)
Don’t know which foot is larger/longer/wider? Have a friend trace the outline of each foot onto paper while you stand upright looking straight ahead. Cut out the outlines and superimpose them to see the longer/wider foot or other differences. It can be useful to take the outlines with you when shopping for shoes. Don’t insist that you always wear one size if the next feels better.

Make sure that the width of the shoe matches your foot width...

Too narrow and you’ll wrinkle the skin underneath your foot and cause calluses, or you’ll develop a burning/tingling sensation because you’e squeezing the nerves in your foot.

Too wide and you’ll slide forward, squashing your toes into the toe box of the shoe, which will cause corns or calluses on the bent tops of your toes, and general discomfort because your foot is not placed correctly in the shoe. *See Customise your Fit for hints on what to do if this happens.

How do you find out if the shoe’s not wide enough?

Use the tiptoe test: stand upright in the shoes and go onto tip toes, concentrate on how tightly the shoe/sandal is gripping you across your toes. If uncomfortable to walk on tip toes in the shoes, discard that shoe choice as it will be a poor fit.

Use the wriggle test: stand upright in the shoes and try to wriggle all your toes. If you can only wriggle your big toe, discard the shoe choice as it is a poor fit for your lesser toes.

Check that the ball of your foot rests snugly in the curved ball recess of the shoe/sandal. If not, you’ll lack support under your foot, muscles can tense and you may feel a burning sensation underfoot as the muscles spasm in fatigue.

The illustration below shows how two identical length feet may have a different ball of the foot position. Inside the mismatched shoe on the left, the gap between the foot and the shoe can lead to fatigue and discomfort, while the matched ball of foot to the shoe on the right will be most comfortable.

Soles should be flexible to move with your foot...

Research shows that muscle imbalance occurs in the feet when muscle groups are under-used. Flexibility is also needed to keep blood circulation in the feet at optimum levels, and so help prevent foot and leg fatigue.

Customise your fit with pads, strips and special insoles...

Even though Froggie is generally a great fit, your feet may have special needs. If your heel slips out the back, use a self-adhesive heel pad on the inside back heel of the shoe, (heel pads and strap pads are available from good shoe stores).

If your foot slides forward because it is very slender, use a gel pad for the ball of the foot or approach a podiatrist to make custom insoles in a matching finish for you that you can slip into every shoe or sandal with self-adhesive velcro to keep the insoles in place.

Leather is best...

Leather breathes like skin and conforms to the shape of your foot. Don’t count on new shoes stretching with wear. Forcing a shoe to stretch can trigger skin damage such as blisters, corns and calluses, as well as making the shoe deformed and unattractive. If you already own shoes that are too tight, ask your shoe store, shoe repair shop or podiatrist whether they can be stretched professionally.

Match the type of shoe to your daily activity...

• Walking around most of the day: flat to low (25mm heels) closed back or sling back styles (closed back or sling backs hug your feet and are less fatiguing to toes and legs than open backed or slip on styles).
• Standing on your feet most of the day: Flat to low (25mm heels) closed back or sling back, look for extra cushioning technology to give you “bounce” and improve blood circulation.
• Some walking, some standing and some sitting: vary your heel heights during the day.
• Loafing around: flat open backed sandals or mules so you can kick them off at a moments notice.
• Formal wear: Froggie heeled shoes have gel cushioning technology to extend the hours you can wear them with comfort. Vary your heel heights on different days so that all muscle groups in the foot are kept toned and active.

See The Froggie Difference for more information on cushioned soles, Flex Technology, Engineered for Comfort and latest research

Call the SA Podiatry Association 0861 100 249 to locate your nearest podiatrist.

Foot Facts brought to you by Froggie 031 450 0207, in the interest of better footcare.