Wearing shoes that are too small can cause a lot of problems
Everyone has probably been in that situation where you really like a pair of shoes but they just don’t fit right. You tell yourself you’ll “break them in” and then they’ll fit perfectly. That is not a good idea. Wearing shoes that are too small or narrow for your foot for extended periods can lead to some serious problems. Why?
Your feet simply need space
Although it may sound strange at first, when walking, your foot acts just like your hand when grasping. When you are about to grasp something, you first open up your hand and stretch out your fingers. Your foot works the same way when walking – you also have a tendency to extend your toes. But if you are wearing shoes that are a half size or even whole size too small, then the foot can never perform this natural motion and that is bad. Moreover, in tight shoes your foot is not even in a natural position, never mind proper movement. This will only take a toll on your muscles, which will weaken, and your ligaments, tendons and joints – and we’re only talking about the foot so far. Your entire body will eventually pay a price as a result. Your feet simply need space.
It’s not just the length of the shoe that is a problem
When choosing footwear, you should not only go by your EU or UK shoe size but, most importantly, by the feel. Every foot is different. Some people have a high instep, others a wider sole and so on. That is why it is not possible to unequivocally say that if your size is EU 41, then every size 41 will fit you. And then there are the shoe manufacturers. In many cases, the same shoe sizes from different manufacturers will not be the same.
How can you tell if a pair of shoes fits? Ideally you should try on both shoes and, if possible, during the afternoon. Feet are a bit more swollen in the afternoon than in the morning, which is why shoes that fit in the morning might pinch in the evening. Spend a fair amount of time walking around when trying on shoes. If you feel something unpleasant or something pinches your foot somewhere, don’t buy them. You will save yourself a lot of trouble.
Possible consequences of wearing shoes that are too small
If you don’t take our advice and wear tight shoes for long periods of time, you can create big problems for yourself. Tight and ill-fitting shoes are the most common cause of most foot deformities and other illnesses that can start chain reactions throughout the entire body – beginning with a weakening of the foot muscles, swelling, cramps, fallen arches, bunions, hammertoes, bowed legs, heel spurs and other complications.
If you have children, then another thing you should pay attention to is children’s shoes. Children’s feet develop and grow very quickly. It is therefore necessary to monitor their development to make sure they don’t wear tight shoes for a long time. However, children do not always complain about tight shoes. That’s why it’s better to check regularly whether their shoes fit properly.
What to do if you can’t avoid wearing tight shoes
If for any reason you cannot avoid wearing tight shoes, you should compensate your feet sufficiently. First of all, you should limit wearing tight shoes to a minimum and take them off whenever possible. Further, you should give your feet plenty of time to recover with rest, elevation, massages and regular natural movement (walks, walking barefoot or along uneven surfaces, etc.). It is important to ensure good blood supply for your feet. You can do this with massages and by wearing The Original Foot Alignment Socks, which work wonderfully to prevent deformities and help keep your feet healthy.
And if you start having any of the complications mentioned above, don’t wait for the problem to get worse or go away on its own. Try to address it right away. That may help you fix the problem before it puts you on the operating table.
