Finding the right fitting shoe among numerous choices isn’t easy. Because every brand has its own sizing, not every shoe is right for you.
Most brands have their own cutting and sizing.
So, a U.S. 11 on one brand doesn’t mean that it will exactly be the same size and cutting as a U.S. 11 on another brand.
According to specialists, choosing the wrong footwear can end up damaging your foot with chafing, blisters, calluses, bunions, or deformities, such as claw toes.
It can even cause serious injuries such as sprained ankles, falls in the elderly, and joint or back ailments.
How to know if you are wearing the wrong shoe?
According to a study by the UK College of Podiatry, a third of men and almost half of women buy shoes that are not exactly their size. And it is that hitting the right number is not always so easy.
Anyway, Let’s look at how you can find if you are wearing the wrong shoe.
- If after finishing a long run you feel pain in your fingers and that also results in a callus, or a ‘little eye’, between the fingers, it is most likely that the shoe you are wearing is too small for you.
- If you are suffering from calluses, blisters, or fungal infections in your toenails, it is a clear sign that you are wearing the wrong shoe. Often, this is because your shoes are too narrow or tight in certain areas.
- If your shoes feel flimsy and lack lateral stability, they can cause you to feel unstable during training activities.
- Is there one area of your shoes that wear out quickly? Then the wear pattern tells if you are wearing the wrong shoe or not. If you look closely at your shoe and notice that it is worn both on the sole and on the upper, it is time to change it.
How wrong shoes can affect your feet?
1. Circulation
Experts say it is essential to choose good footwear in order to protect the health of the feet since inadequate footwear can cause bunions, claw toes, and Achilles tendon problems.
In addition, bad footwear can also cause poor blood circulation, compression of the joints, and overload due to bad postures.
2. Burning Feet
The most common cause of a burning sensation in the feet is nerve injury, often related to blood circulation and diabetes. However, there may be other causes.
Burning foot pain can be intermittent or constant and can range from mild to severe. You may feel warmth, tingling, throbbing, or numbness in your feet. The pain is usually worse at night.
Experts say wearing shoes or socks made from synthetic materials or shoes that can be too tight also leads to burning feet.
3. Tingle’s feet
One of the most frequent situations that can cause tingling in the feet is when we use a dress shoe or running shoe with a toe box that is too narrow or shoes that are a too tight fit.
And a midsole that is too hard or thin can also cause too much impact on your feet that leading to tingling feet.
4. Foot conditions
Many common foot ailments are related to shoe choice, especially in women.
Studies have proven that wearing the wrong shoes can cause different foot conditions like Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, Metatarsalgia, Bunions, etc.
If you’ve noticed a bump on the side of your foot at the base of your big toe, it’s probably a bunion.
Bunions are caused when the base of the toe is pressed out of its normal position. Wearing shoes that are too tight for long periods of time is often the cause. If you want to learn more about things you should consider before choosing a shoe for bunions, check out this.
5. Neuropathy
One of the most common neurological problems related to the feet is neuropathy.
Neuropathy is a disturbance in nerve function that often leads to tingling, numbness, and weakness in the feet and legs.
Experts say wearing the wrong shoes can also exacerbate the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
6. Joint Pain
When you notice that the soles of the shoes are worn out, you have to change them or change shoes.
Poorly supported worn-out shoes can lead to back pain problems, joint problems, and nerve damage.
7. Fungal skin Infections
The intense itching, burning, pain, and scaling that often occurs between the toes or on the bottom of the foot is caused by the microscopic fungus trichophyton mentagrophytes.
These microorganisms thrive in warm, moist places; shower floors and sweaty socks or shoes that are too tight are favorite environments.
Shoes that are too big or too small or rough spots on shoes or socks can often rub a sore spot on your foot. The body reacts by creating a fluid-filled cushion, which you know as a blister.
The skin under the blister is quite sensitive, making the blisters very painful to walk on.
Fortunately, they usually go away on their own if kept clean and protected from further irritation.
Wearing wet shoes not only cause discomfort but, also can develop fungal diseases, So trying to wear properly dried shoes is important.
How to Choose the Right Shoes?
The first and the most important thing is getting properly fitted shoes for your feet. It’s also ideal to measure your feet at the end of the day to get the best fit.
In addition, it should always be borne in mind that each foot is unique and generic recommendations may not suit your needs. Therefore, when in doubt, the ideal is to go to the podiatrist.
In addition, choose the most functional and comfortable shoe, you must also take into account the material with which it is designed.
Synthetic footwear can cause macerations on the skin due to humidity since these types of shoes do not perspire.
It is desirable that the material is always breathable, and the most advisable are natural materials.
How long should I wear shoes?
It is common that when we go to the doctor for an injury or to buy new shoes, we are asked how long we have been using the current shoes.
The truth is that running shoes have a useful lifespan after which, and despite the fact that their outward appearance may seem optimal, wear and tear causes them to lose shock absorption, cushioning, and stability, and continuing to use them increases stress. and impact on your legs and joints, which can cause overtraining injuries.
In addition to that If we always wear the same shoes, we do not let them air out and, therefore, humidity and sweat can cause fungi to appear.
Final Thoughts
The use of inappropriate footwear can increase the risk of acquired deformities of the feet, poor support, or injuries in sport and in daily life.
Shoes play a big role in your foot health, so choosing the wrong footwear may not only cause pain in your foot but also decrease your quality of life.
I hope you found this article interesting and useful.
With that, it’s time to hear what you have to say.
Now you may have a clear idea about how the wrong shoes can affect your feet.
Or maybe you have a question.
Either way, let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
