Harvey R. Danciger, DPM
74-000 Country Club Drive, Suite A-2
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 568-0108

Getting a Proper Fit

Understanding the different kinds of problems with your feet is the best way to prevent and treat them. We believe our patients make the best decisions by being fully informed. Our patient library is an excellent learning tool for understanding all kinds of foot conditions, injuries, diseases, and deformities. It's also a great resource for answers to common questions like, "What should I look for in a shoe?", "How can I stretch my feet?", or "How can I prevent ingrown toenails?"

Browse through our library by using the tool bar on the right side of this page.

Not only can you find valuable information in our patient library, but we also provide excellent information on our blogs every week. By following us on twitter or checking out our facebook page, you can also follow links to interesting foot-related issues and see what others are saying about feet.

As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.

Order Your
Complimentary Copy of
"Why Do My Feet Hurt?"

_{"The best way to take care of your feet and ankles is to have the information you need. That's why I'm making this book available to anyone who requests it"}
_{- Dr. Harvey Danciger}

Everything from serious foot disorders to more common foot and ankle conditions can be exacerbated by one, avoidable cause: inappropriate, poor quality, and/or ill-fitting shoes. Any podiatrist will tell you that a quality, properly fitted shoe pays big dividends for your feet—now and in the future.

The most important quality to look for in shoes is durable construction that will protect your feet and keep them comfortable. Shoes that do not fit properly can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes and other disabling foot disorders.

The Fitting

Here are some tips to help reduce the risk of foot problems when shopping for shoes:

Don't force your feet into a pair of shoes in order to conform to the shape of the shoe. The shoe needs to conform to the shape of your foot.
Fit new shoes to your largest foot. Most people have one foot larger than the other.
Have both feet measured every time you purchase shoes. Foot size increases as you get older.
If the shoes feel too tight, don't buy them. There is no such thing as a "break-in period."
Many high-heeled shoes have a pointed or narrow toe box that crowds the toes and forces them into an unnatural triangular shape. As heel height increases, the pressure under the ball of the foot may double, placing greater pressure on the forefoot as it is forced into the pointed toe box. Limit heel height to two inches or less to protect your feet.
Shoes should be fitted carefully to your heel as well as your toes.
Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Judge a shoe by how it fits on your foot, not by the marked size.
There should be a half-inch of space from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe.
Try on new shoes at the end of the day. Your feet normally swell and become larger after standing or sitting during the day, which makes for a better fit.
Be sure to try on both shoes. Walk around the shoe store in the shoes to make sure they fit well and feel comfortable.
When the shoe is on your foot, you should be able to freely wiggle all of your toes.