The Male Health Center

Sole Solutions

If the shoe fits, you'll like wearing it
With the possible exception of a stiffly starched formal shirt, there's probably nothing a man wears that causes him more discomfort than his workaday shoes. Unless you spend the day sharing a basketball court with Sir Charles Barkley, you probably look forward with longing to getting home and tossing those leather foot girdles in the closet so you can slip on your sneakers.

Honest, it doesn't have to be so bad. A few simple tips for fitting and wearing shoes can turn them from objects of torture to sole solutions.

Shop for shoes at the end of the day, when gravity has had the opportunity to swell your feet to their greatest size.
Have your feet measured each time you buy shoes. They do change, even after you're grown.
Have both feet measured and buy for the big one.
Buy by fit, not by size. Size numbering is an imprecise art.
Stand up while fitting shoes, so that your feet are fully expanded.
Walk in the shoes so that your feet become positioned where they will be during the day. Be sure the ball of your foot is in the widest part of the shoe and that you have 3/8 to 1/2 inch in front of your toes.
Don't expect shoes to stretch.
Try different shoes until you find a pair that fits the shape of your foot. Look for a good fit around your heal to limit slippage, an arch that matches yours, and width and shape that conform to your feet.

Once you've found a pair that works for you, a few tips on foot care will help you get the most out of your new footwear:

Don't smoke. Sounds odd, but smoking constricts blood vessels and can cause circulation problems in your feet.
Cut you nails straight across. Curved nails are an invitation to ingrown toenails.
Avoid socks with thick seams or repaired areas that can cause pressure points. Natural fibers absorb moisture best.
Keep walking. A daily stroll is good exercise and improves circulation in your feet.

Follow these suggestions, and you should develop a new relationship with your footwear. Sure, you'll still favor those sneakers, but you'll put aside the shoe closet panic.

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