Have You Had Your Feet Measured Lately?

Remember when your parents or grandparents would take you to the shoe store and you would have your feet measured Of course this makes sense for growing feet. But what about after the feet have stopped growing?

Measuring feet almost falls under the category of "DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME". Adult foot size , width, and shape change due to a variety of reasons. Weight gain or loss, amount of time spent walking, running, or standing, and overall health condition all have an impact on foot size. Weight gain and a foot arch that "drops" or flattens over time are the most common occurrences that have an impact on foot structure and size. It is not only the length and the width that need to be considered in the changing foot, but also the total volume, girth, instep height, and any abnormalities that may develop such as hammer toes, bunions, etc. An interesting and helpful site to visit if you are experiencing foot pain is www.foot.com where you will find a foot pain identifier.

When measuring the foot it is important to realize that a measurement is simply a guide or a starting point. There are no shoes that are constructed in exact agreement with the measuring devices, therefore foot measurement is not an exact science. In fact, measuring the foot is usually misleading and is most effectively used by a knowledgeable shoe fitter who is capable of comparing the measurement to the available shoe styles. The width measurement is especially inaccurate when using the measuring device. Measurements are, however, helpful when comparing one foot to the other as there is always a difference betwen a person's right and left feet. The human body is not symmetrical meaning that one side is never an exact match to the other. Simply look at your ears, eyes, nostrils, etc. for verification of this. This is why I can't get my hair to look the same on both sides of my head!

So when attempting to determine your shoe size always remember that measuring is only the starting point and your actual shoe size will vary from the measurement from shoe style to shoe style.