Examine Your Old Shoes Before You Toss Them

It is necessary to replace old and worn out shoes to ensure healthy feet, especially for athletes.  And although wearing those old, run-down sneakers may be bad for your health, it can benefit you to look at them.  Examining your old shoes for points of wear and tear is a great way to get a better fit the next time you buy new shoes. 

• A bulge and wear to the side of the big toe means too-narrow fit or you have a bunion.
• Outer sole wear means you turn your foot out. Orthotics may help.
• Toe-shaped ridges on the upper means your shoes are too small or you have hammertoes.
• Wear on the ball of the foot means your heel tendons may be too tight.
• Wear on the inner sole means you pronate or turn your foot inward. Inner liners or orthotics may help.

• Wear on the upper, above the toes means the front of your shoe is too low.

When you purchase your new shoes, keep the wear patterns of your old shoes in mind.  For example, if you had toe-shaped ridges on your old shoes you should consider going up a size or getting your feet remeasured.  You may also want to buy product to protect your new shoes from wearing down too quickly.  Try Pedinol Ostiderm Roll-On anti-persperant for the feet.  Reducing the sweat trapped in your shoes and socks will increase the longevity of your shoe as well as the health of your feet. Check out Stepalivecenter.com and our website for more tips and tricks on how to get the healthiest feet around.