Shoes and Socks Discussion
We try to anticipate questions you might have about our PRODUCTS / SERVICES, and provide the answers here. If you need additional information, or have something to contribute, please send email to kevin@kevinekerson.com.
To see the FAQ discussions, use the subcategory links.
The subcategory “Technical Discussions” has the most detailed information about shoes, orthotics and feet.
WHAT ABOUT SHOES AND SOCKS?
Do you realize the importance of shoes and socks regarding the comfort and function of your feet?
SHOE SIZING
It is not common knowledge that many adult feet lengthen an average of 1/2 shoe size for every 5-7 years. If the fit is already close when purchased, shoes can become too small for your feet during the time that you own them! This is more detrimental to your feet, posture, and gait cycle (stride mechanism) than you can imagine. It is important to fit your shoes as large as you can stand them for any given activity. Don’t choose by the size number, choose by the fit!
TIPS: If you wear orthotics, put them in new shoes and test them for compatibility in the store before purchasing. If you have ordered shoes through the mail, test them in the house a few times before wearing outside and they will still be returnable as new if you don’t like them.
LARGE WOMEN’S SHOES can be very hard to find in your local stores, try these links for more options.
OLD SHOES
Athletic shoes begin to lose their original engineered characteristics within about 6-8 months of manufacture, even if they are only being stored and not used. Don’t be afraid to discard a pair of shoes that are too old. Feet are always adapting to their current environment, good or bad. Buy new shoes before the old ones are worn out and rotate so that you are wearing new shoes half of the time, and not forcing you feet to adapt to an out of balance alignment. This will also help you indentify when a pair of shoes is worn out, since you can compare from day to day with a newer pair.
SYMPTOMS of shoes too small or worn out are often similar. They may include loss of neutral alignment (which allows excessive pronation or supination), distorted sense of balance, pain at the ball of the foot, sore heels, pain or pressure in the knees, hips, back and/or neck, and poor posture.
SOCKS!
Cotton is probably the most common fiber used for socks. Some cotton will work fine, but if you are having trouble with comfort or shoe fit, one problem could be cotton socks. For alternatives there are many products to choose from including wool, synthetic, and blends of wool, synthetic, cotton. The blends that have become available in the last few years are vast improvements over plain cotton. Not just the fiber, but the thickness of socks can also have a major impact on foot comfort, so have more than one choice in your sock pile. NEED SOCKS? CLICK HERE!