Ten Points of Proper Fit

1. Widths and sizes can vary among brands and styles. Do not select shoes based on the size marked in the shoe, but how it fits your foot.

2. When choosing footwear, select a shoe thatconforms to the shape of your foot.

3. Have your feet measured regularly because the length and width of your feet can change due to age, injury, pregnancy and changes in weight.

4. Always have both feet measured. It is common to have one foot longer or wider than the other.

5. Go shoe shopping after you have been on your feet for a while. This is when your feet are the largest and most swollen.

6. Stand during the fit process, including when your feet are being measured and when you are trying on footwear. Assure that there is enough space for your longest toe, especially in footwear with a safety toe.

7. Make sure that the ball of your foot fits snugly into the widest part of the shoe.

8. Don’t buy shoes that are too tight with expectations that they will stretch to fit.

9. Assure that your heels fit comfortably in the shoes with minimum slippage.

10. Walk around the store (or shoemobile) in the shoes to check for proper fit and comfort. Move in positions that you would normally be in during work.

Proper fit tips from National Shoe Retailers Association, the Prescription Footwear Association and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society.