Footwear helps to protect the feet from injury due to external environments. The fit of footwear is important as ill-fitting footwear is associated with lesser toe deformities, corns and callus and a high risk of falls.

This leaflet is aimed to provide you with practical information about choosing the correct footwear and will aid to inform you about the features of a good shoe, when making your selection.

What to consider:

  • When considering the type of footwear to be worn it is important to ensure:
  • The fit of the shoe is correct and how comfortable the shoe is on the foot.
  • The purpose of the shoe and how the footwear impacts on your daily activity.

What is a good shoe?

Shoe.jpg

 

A good shoe should be supportive and be of the correct length, width and depth, to accommodate the foot.

  • Wear foot shaped shoes with a low, broad heel and an adjustable fastening (laces or straps).
  • There should be 1 cm or 0.5 inches between the end of your longest toe and the end of your shoe.
  • The upper should be soft with no hard seams or ridges and made from a natural fibre such as leather which allows moisture to evaporate.
  • The toe box should be round and deep to give the toes room to move.
  • The heel should be less than 4 cm or 1.5 inches high, broad and stable.
  • The shoe needs a firm heel counter that fits snugly around the back of the heel and helps to maintain and stabilise the heel in place as the shoe makes contact with the ground.

What is an inappropriate shoe?

  • Slippery soles, increased heel height contribute to a higher risk of falls
  • A narrow toe box, will squeeze toes together and can cause structural changes to your bones and joints, causing common toe deformities such as mallet, hammer and claw toe.
  • Structural changes can cause corn and callus build up and if left untreated can cause ulceration due to increased pressure when the foot is inside the footwear.
  • Non- breathable materials can cause the foot to become hot and sweaty increasing the risk of fungal infection to the skin and nails.

Insoles

Your treatment may require you to wear corrective insoles or orthoses within your footwear. To accommodate insoles or orthoses you must ensure you wear the correct type of shoe.

To ensure that insoles fit the footwear the shoe should have:

  • An increased depth at the toe and heel.
  • An adjustable fastening.
  • A heel height of no more than four centimeters (4cm).

Hosiery

Tight hosiery and socks can push toe flesh onto the nail which can pierce the skin. Choosing socks which fit properly and are made of natural fibres can prevent this. Socks should be of natural fibres and changed daily to prevent excessive sweating and fungal infection

For further information or if you develop a problem with your feet, please contact your nearest podiatry clinic on

Carlisle – 01228 608020
Penrith – 01768 245628
Workington– 01900 705120
Whitehaven – 01946 68635

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

Pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

Complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302