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How to Properly Fit Shoes

 For a perfect fit have your feet measured with a Brannock measuring device by an instore trained professional.

for normal, sturdy feet  for thin, slender feet

See our Size Conversion Chart to get the proper size to fit your feet.

HOW TO GET THE PROPER FIT

It is very important to be sure to have the proper fitting shoes. Not only for comfort but also to maintain happy healthy feet.
For proper fitting have your feet measured by a Brannock measuring device. A Brannock device measures toe length, arch length, and foot width. Most every shoe store uses these devices to measure ones feet for a proper fitting shoe.

EURO—Unisex scale measures size 34 to 51.

Measures from infant size 0 to childs size 5.

Visit Brannocks Web Site to learn more or

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	Toe length - The total length of your foot.
	Arch length - shoe size that corresponds to the length of your arch. This may not necessarily be the same as your toe length.
	Foot width- The width of your foot. Your  foot width may not correspond to your length.Your feet may be short, wide feet or long, narrow feet.
	Make sure to have your feet measured at regular intervals, especially when buying new shoes . The size of your feet change as you grow older.
	Make sure to have BOTH feet measured as most people have one foot larger than the other. Fit your shoes to the largest foot.
	Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Don't select shoes by the size marked on the box or inside the shoe. Try the shoe on and judge by  the way it feels and fits on your foot. Make sure you select a shoe that conforms as nearly as possible to the shape of your foot.
	Measure your feet at the end of the day when they are their largest.
	Make sure to stand during the fitting process and check that there is adequate space (3/8" to 1/2") for your longest toe at the end of each shoe
	Make sure that the ball of your foot fits snugly, but not too tightly, into the widest part (ball pocket) of the shoe.
	DO NOT purchase shoes that feel too tight or short, expecting them to "stretch" to fit later. This may not happen in some more modern styles of shoes and may inadvertently damage the health of your feet.
	Purchase shoes no more than 1/2 to 1 size larger  for children. This will give them plenty of room to grow . Shoes any larger  will not give the support needed and will inadvertantly damage the health of their tiny little feet. It is always better to buy properly fitting shoes for infants and children.
	Have you feet measured with the socks you plan to wear in the shoes.
	Walk around the store to make sure the shoes  fit and feel right.

When shoes do not fit properly, they can cause parts of the feet to develop into calluses, bunions, uncomfortable corns, hammer toes and can also aggravate other medical problems of the feet.

While some foot problems are genetic or related to stress injuries, many are caused by shoes that squeeze, scrunch, pinch, squish and rub. Women are about four times more likely than men to suffer foot problems as a result of poorly-fitting shoes, which can cause malformation of the feet. 

Nearly 90 percent of women wear shoes that are one size too small

Calluses typically occur on the sole of the foot, on the heel or under the five metatarsal heads (i.e., the area where the long inner bones of the toes extend into the foot). These areas typically bear most of the pressure and friction from standing and walking. As the callus thickens, it causes more pressure against the skin inside the shoe, causing pain.

Cornsare thickened areas of skin that form in response to excessive pressure and friction. They are the result of the body's attempt to protect the skin and the structures beneath it. Corns are usually hard and circular, with a polished or translucent center, like a kernel of corn. They may become painfully inflamed in response to persistent, excessive pressure or friction and ulcerated when they rub against eachother. The most common type develops on the tops and tips of the toes and along the sides of the feet. These are called heloma durums (hard corns) and are caused primarily by improper-fitting shoes and toe deformities.
Because hard corns usually are caused by a combination of narrow-toed shoes and toe deformities, they can be treated in two ways. One is to wear wider shoes or sandals when possible.

A bunion is a bump that develops on the inner side of the foot, near the base of the first toe. It is caused by poor alignment of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the big toe (hallux). Physicians call this deformity "hallux abducto valgus" (HAV), a term that refers to the hallux abducting (going away) from the midline of the body. It also refers to twisting of the toe so the inside edge touches the ground and the outside edge turns upward. Essentially, it describes the deviation of the toe toward the outside of the foot. The condition worsens over time leading to discomfort and skin problems, such as corns and lesions, and difficulty walking. 

Bunions may be caused by excessively tight, pointy-toed, or high-heeled shoes, and shoes that are too small. Women get bunions much more often than men do. Improper shoes exacerbate the underlying cause of flat, unstable feet. 

Heel pain is one of the most common forms of foot pain in the United States. It can largely be attributed to the stress on the feet caused by daily activities and exercise that magnifies misalignments in the feet, particularly if improperly-fitted shoes are worn. 

Physicians use the terms plantar fasciitis and post-static dyskinesia interchangeably to refer to heel pain. 

There are many structures attached to the heel bone (calcaneus). The two structures primarily associated with heel pain are the plantar fascia (band of connective tissue along the bottom of the foot that supports the arch) and the flexor digitorum brevis muscle. Typically, in walking, the arch starts to flatten as the foot absorbs the weight of the body and these structures maintain the arch and stabilize the foot (see Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle). Normally, they accomplish this effortlessly. Excessive exercise and occupations that require people to spend a lot of time on their feet may stretch these structures beyond their limits. This stretching can lead to muscle tears and bone spurs. 

Bone spurs on the heel occur when muscle tension (usually on the flexor digitorum) pulls a piece of bone away from the calcaneus. A bone spur usually appears on x-ray as a fishhook-shaped structure. This sharp-edged deformity irritates the nerves in the heel and, combined with the strained muscles, causes heel pain. 

Poorly fitted shoes exacerbate the problem further. Many people who work all day in new or ill- fitting shoes experience heel pain the next day. Ill-fitting running shoes may cause pain for weeks after a single run, as can playing 18 holes in improper golf shoes. This does not mean that a $100 pair of sneakers is necessarily better than a pair that costs $50; the fit is what is important. 

Sneakers and athletic shoes should fit properly, have plenty of cushioning to absorb shock, and provide support. There are different types of shoes for different sports. This is more than a marketing gimmick. Certain sports, such as tennis, require shoes that provide lateral support and others, such as cross-training, require shoes with a softer sole that conforms to irregular terrain.

A hammertoe is a contracture—or bending—of the toe at the first joint of the digit, called the proximal interphalangeal joint. This bending causes the toe to appear like an upside-down V when looked at from the side. Any toe can be involved, but the condition usually affects the second through fifth toes, known as the lesser digits. Hammertoes are more common to females than males. 

The above is just a sample of conditions which may be caused by improperly fitted shoes.

 Most foot problems can be prevented or alleviated by properly fitting shoes.

REMEMBER YOUR FEET HAVE TO LAST A LIFETIME
WHEN YOUR FEET ARE HAPPY AND HEALTHY YOU ALSO ARE MUCH HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER.