In picking the right pair of shoes, it is quite crucial to consider your feet and take cognizance of the width as much as the length. If you have wide feet, you can easily face some level of discomfort with the wrong-sized-shoe. However, some persons may seem oblivious to the fact that they have wide feet, which brings up the question, how do I know I have wide feet?
Although wide feet may result as a genetic issue, other times that it may be associated with an environmental cause. Whatever the cause may be, you surely deserve all the comfort you can get, and one way of achieving that is knowing the width of your feet and getting the right shoes.
How Do Wide Feet Occur?
Wide feet occurs for a plethora of reasons and some common ones include:
Genetics
Genetics is a basic factor that controls the appearance of humans and having wide feet is not left out. So, it is something that you were born with and you shouldn’t shy away from, as they look great. Even though you find it quite challenging to shop for the right shoes that match, you can employ them in various sports activities. Wide feet come in handy for sprinting and can offer more balance for swimming.
Pregnancy
As an expectant mother, there are a variety of changes that display, and during the second – third trimester you may see your feet appearing larger than before. This results from the release of the hormone Relaxin that helps lose the joints around the pelvic area. Although this pregnancy hormone does not act on the feet directly, it stretches the ligament around them, which causes the feet to get wider.
Flat Arches
Although this is pretty much hereditary, it is another factor that causes wide feet. In case you are wondering how flat arches make the feet wider, it would help to know that when people with this kind of feature stand upright, the curve around the foot tends to collapse, making their shoes grow tighter.
The Wrong Shoes
Wearing shoes that don’t fit right would not only keep your feet in discomfort but can also lead to other issues, and very tight shoes, they can cause your feet to appear wider. Footwear that appears too small for your feet can cause them to swell. Kindly note that frequent use of tight shoes can lead to some serious issues for your feet and even deform them.
Ascertaining The Size Of Your Feet
The easiest way to find the right shoes if you have wide feet is knowing the width measurement, and it would help to measure your feet to know how wide they’ve become. Here’s how it is done:
Get Your Measuring Materials Ready
For this purpose, a piece of paper, measuring tape, or stick along with a pair of thick socks would do. Then, get the paper laid on the floor; ensure you get the paper on the flattest surface of your floor.
Tracing The Feet
Wear the socks and place your feet on the paper. Then, get a pencil, and trace out the feet’s perimeter, doing it one at a time. The outline is required for measuring the feet, and it would help if you use the tape or measuring stick to get the width details. Measure the broadest area of the feet for a more reasonable outcome.
Handling The Measurements
Tape another sheet of paper and record all your measurements for both feet, and get 1/8 from the most prominent number you recorded to get the value of your feet’s width. Knowing that detail, you can look through the sizing charts of shoes and pick out the right one.
Related: How to Measure Your Feet At Home? Easy 4 Steps Explained
Having Two Varying Feet Sizes
Humans are special and may not have exactly symmetrical feet; thus, it is quite normal to have varying feet sizes. If you find a foot larger than the other, it would help if you get shoes that come in the right size to fit right. Simply put, you may not necessarily need to get two varying pairs of shoes, much more if the differences are not much.
On the other hand, if the size difference of both feet seems much (like an 11/2-inch difference), you can get two varying pairs of shoes to help keep your feet in good shape. Some persons with varying foot sizes often go to some craftspeople to construct the right shoes. You can also consult a doctor ahead of your visit to the shoe store.
Tips on Making Shoes Less Painful
Tight shoes cause a great deal of discomfort and can also lead to some health issues. Whether your feet are wide or not, it is quite unhealthy to wear tight shoes, and if you already have one, here are some tips to make them feel less tight.
- Get moleskin in place to help prevent chafing, blisters, and skin cuts
- Apply some anti-friction balm on the skin around your feet before wearing the footwear to help prevent blisters and friction
- Wear suitable socks to protect your feet from chafing
- Extra shoe cushion can also help prevent the shoe from being excessively tight and not cause pain
- Ease the excessive pressure around the tight areas of the footwear using an adhesive foam or silicone gel dots
- For feet of varying sizes, you can get a larger shoe that can accommodate both foot and add an insole to help make the smaller foot comfortable.
These helpful tips are great but it would be best to get the shoes that fit right from the onset instead of going through any stress.
Bottom Line
How do I know if I have wide feet? The width of your feet is an important factor in picking the right shoes and ensuring your feet remain relaxed. Thus, it would help if you take proper measurements of your feet before purchasing your footwear. Are you finding it challenging to determine the width of your feet? You can take a close look at this article, and follow the easy steps explained above.
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