^

Health

How to choose the right shoes?

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Fact-checked
х

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

The health of a person's feet depends on how correctly they choose their shoes. If the toes of the shoes are narrow, the heels are too high, and the insoles are made incorrectly, even the healthiest feet will eventually turn into limbs with many diseases. How to choose the right shoes?

choose the right shoes

trusted-source[ 1 ]

The main thing is to guess the size

To choose shoes according to size, there should be a distance between the toe of the shoe and the end of the big toe no less than the size of the nail of the same big toe.

You should not compromise and choose tight shoes, even if they are very beautiful. This threatens the formation of calluses, calluses and corns. A person needs more spacious shoes in order to reduce the load on the big toe, which moves forward about half a centimeter when walking. How to check the width of shoes?

It is important that the shoes are made of good and thin, but durable material. Then, putting on shoes or boots, you can check the shoes for the correct choice of width.

This is how it is done. Put on the shoes and vigorously run your fingers along them in the direction from the little toe to the bone on the big toe. The right shoes should wrinkle slightly along the line of the run. If this does not happen, you probably chose shoes that are too tight. And this is the risk of developing corns, calluses, deformation of the foot and toes.

Quality of the shoe

The shoe last should be made of combined parts. The part that goes from the toes should be wider than the one in the heel area. Thus, the insole and shoe last should be made according to the shape of the foot. Otherwise, the foot will get tired and the person will acquire diseases that they did not even suspect before. Therefore, you should not save and buy cheap shoes, otherwise this money will have to be spent on medications later.

Quality of shoe materials

Shoes should be made of leather or natural fabric so that the foot can breathe. He will never be able to breathe in shoes made of leatherette. This causes increased sweating and a steam bath effect. And in such an environment, fungi quickly develop and pathogenic bacteria multiply.

It is advisable to avoid this, and also choose socks made of natural fabric. Synthetic legs strongly compress the leg, increase the load on blood vessels, worsen and slow down blood flow.

In order not to cause excessive sweating of the feet, you should not buy shoes with rubber soles. Rubber soles also cause a sauna effect, you should choose a stronger and more natural sole, for example, made of rubber.

Choosing the Right Sneakers

If a person is actively involved in sports or even just jogging, comfortable sports shoes are needed. These shoes should be made of environmentally friendly materials. The sole of these shoes should be comfortable, rubber, and if a person goes to the mountains or does sports in winter, an anti-slip sole is needed.

Sports shoes should have neatly made seams, and they should not come out in scars inward, so as not to injure the foot during friction. Otherwise, calluses, corns, and hardening may occur. Shoe seams should be well reinforced so that they cannot come apart.

To avoid heel chafing while running or exercising, you need a boot of medium height, but not high (in the heel area). Because chafing your heel can cause tendon inflammation.

What kind of lacing should there be in sports shoes?

Firstly, it simply has to be there. Lacing allows you to model the fullness of the leg if it swells or puffs up, or, conversely, reduce this fullness if the leg is getting smaller in the instep.

The lacing in the right shoes should not be too tight on the foot, as this can impair blood circulation.

Orthopedic shoes

Such shoes necessarily have a shock absorption system. When a person runs, even at a slow pace, the load on the legs is three times greater than the body weight. If a person is overweight, the kneecaps and spine experience a colossal load, so to keep the legs healthy, it is important to keep the weight under control.

You can reduce the load on your spine and kneecaps by buying shoes with a shock-absorbing system. In this case, a layer of air is distributed along the sole. Then the shoes absorb shocks and impacts against the hard surface on which a person runs.

It is even better if the shoes have a cushion made of viscoelastic under the insoles in the heel area.

If a person is constantly jogging, for comfort it is necessary to choose shoes with a well-flexible insole. Such shoes will allow the runner to move freely in any direction, the foot will be dynamic, and not frozen in one position.

Footwear for active sports

If shoes are needed for sports where a person constantly jumps, runs and generally moves actively, for example, during volleyball, basketball or handball, you need to protect the ligaments. You can do this with the help of shoes if you choose a model with reliable ankle fixation.

This will allow you to soften the impact of your feet on a hard surface, but still move freely throughout the entire playing area.

It’s easy to check such shoes: you need to bend them at the sole – they should bend in half.

If a person plays on a winter playground where there are frostbitten areas, a thicker sole is needed, where there is relief and an anti-slip system. Such a sole provides good mobility on a track with changes in relief - descents and ascents.

Shoes for the gym

It should not be heavy, not thick, the second name of footwear for the hall is "lightness". It is designed for fast movements, so the sole of such shoes should be thin, light, but durable, and in no case made of rubber.

If sports shoes have an orthopedic, properly tailored last (wider at the toes, narrower at the heel) and heel fixation with a comfortable back, such shoes will reduce the load on joints, ligaments and tendons. They will also protect the spine and kneecaps from overexertion and related injuries. Cushioning in sports shoes for easy and fast movement around the gym must be in the middle of the foot and in the heel area.

By taking care to buy comfortable shoes, you prolong the life of your feet and improve their health for many years to come.

You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.