Feet: Part Two

    Well I received my shoes from Amazon.  I really like the feel of them.  I haven't noticed any huge changes but have noticed that on days I wear them the majority of the day my hips and feet don't really hurt.  Today we will talk about how to go about finding the best shoes.  These are just tips and my recommendation is to find a shoe store with knowledge staff to assist you.  I'm not sure about the rest of the country but here in Oregon I would recommend The Walking Company or The Good Feet store.
    Here are some tips to get you started.

1. The size of you feet changes so always have you feet measured.
2. It is good to know if you have high arches, flat feet, wide feet, narrow feet or anywhere in between.  
3. It is very common to have one foot longer than the other always fit the shoe to your longer foot.   And try on both shoes so you make sure they fit both feet properly. 
4. In order to find the correct fit make sure the ball of your foot fits comfortably into the widest part of the shoe without causing the shoe to bulge.  
5. Make sure to walk around for several minutes in order to get a good feel for them.  Make sure they are comfortable and do not ride up and down on your heel as you walk. 
6. Shoes should allow the feet to naturally roll slightly inward (pronation) and outward (supination) to help absorb the different forces acting on the body. (Many people have a tendency to under pronate or over pronate)  Finding shoes that can correct this problem can be critical to resolving body mechanics issues.  
7. Check out this great article from the University of Illinois. Foot types and Shoe buying
8. Last but not least if you choose to wear heals make sure you have a good massage therapist. :)