• anatomy of the foot

• athletic shoe

• anatomy of the shoe

• recommendation for footwear

• lacing techniques

• types of shoes

• checklist for shoes

Parts of the Foot The foot has three main parts: the forefoot, the midfoot, and the hindfoot.

Top View of Foot Bones Side View of Foot Bones

The forefoot is composed of the five toes (called phalanges) and their connecting long bones (metatarsals). Each toe (phalanx) is made up of several small bones. The big toe (hallux) has two phalanges, two joints (interphalangeal joints), and two tiny, round sesamoid bones. The other four toes each have three bones and two joints. The phalanges are connected to the metatarsals by five metatarsal phalangeal joints at the ball of the foot. The forefoot bears half the body's weight and balances pressure on the ball of the foot.

The midfoot has five irregularly shaped tarsal bones, forms the foot's arch, and serves as a shock absorber. The bones of the midfoot are connected to the forefoot and the hindfoot by muscles and the plantar fascia (arch ligament).

The hindfoot is composed of three joints and links the midfoot to the ankle (talus). The top of the talus is connected to the two long bones of the lower leg (tibia and fibula), forming a hinge that allows the foot to move up and down. The heel bone (calcaneus) is the largest bone in the foot. It joins the talus to form the subtalar joint. The bottom of the heel bone is cushioned by a layer of fat.

An athletic shoe is a generic name for a shoe designed for sporting and physical activities, and is different in style and

build than a dress shoe. Originally known as sporting apparel, today they are known as casual footwear.

A shoe is composed of different parts.

The toe box is the tip of the shoe that provides space for the toes. The toe box may be rounded or pointed and will determine the amount of space provided for the toes.

The vamp is the upper middle part of the shoe where the laces are commonly placed. Sometimes Velcro is used instead of laces.

The sole consists of an insole and an outsole. The insole is inside the shoe; the outsole contacts the ground. The softer the sole, the greater the shoe's ability to absorb shock.

The heel is the bottom part of the rear of the shoe that provides elevation. The higher the heel, the greater the pressure on the front of the foot.

The last is the part of the shoe that curves in slightly near the arch of the foot to conform to the average foot shape. This curve enables you to tell the right shoe from the left.

• Ask the salesperson to measure the length and width of each of your feet.• So stand while your feet are being measured.• Have your feet measured at the end of the day.• The shoes you buy should be fitted to your longer and wider foot.• Shoes should be fitted carefully to your heel as well as your toes. • Walk around in the shoes to make sure they fit well and feel comfortable.• Don't select a shoe by size alone. Buy the shoe that fits well.• Select a shoe that conforms as closely as possible to the shape of your foot.• Have your feet measured regularly. Their size may change as you grow older.• If the shoes feel too tight. don't buy them. There is no such thing as a "break-in period." With time, a foot may push or stretch a shoe to fit. But this can cause foot pain and damage.• If one of your feet is considerably larger than the other, an insole can be added to the shoe on the smaller foot.• Fashionable shoes can be comfortable, too

Certain lacing techniques for shoes can prevent injuries, alleviate pain, and relieve foot problems. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society urges individuals to follow these general lacing tips. Individuals with specific foot problems should follow these lacing techniques to get a good fit with their shoe:

Loosen the laces as you slip into the shoes. This prevents unnecessary stress on the eyelets (small holes for the lace) and the backs of the shoes.Always begin lacing shoes at the eyelets closest to your toes, and pull the laces of one set of eyelets at a time to tighten. This provides for a comfortable shoe fit.When buying shoes, remember that shoes with a larger number of eyelets will make it easier to adjust laces for a custom fit.

The conventional method of lacing, crisscross to the top of the shoe, works best for the majority of people.

Narrow Feet Use the eyelets farthest from the tongue of the shoes. It will bring up the side of the shoe.

Wide Feet Use the eyelets closest to the tongue of the shoe. This technique gives the foot more space.

Heel Problems Use every eyelet, making sure that the area closest to the heel is tied tightly while less tension is used near the toes. When you have reached the next to last eyelet on each side, thread the lace through the top eyelet, making a small loop. Then, thread the opposite lace through

each loop before tying it.Narrow Heel and Wide Forefoot Use two laces. Thread through the top

half of the eyelets and the other lace through the bottom half of the eyelets. The lace closest to the heel (top eyelets) should be tied more

tightly than the other lace closest to the toes (bottom eyelets).

• Men’s wear.

• Work wear.

• Women’s shoes.

•Children's shoes.

• Athletic shoes.

• Running shoes.

Most men's shoes conform to the shape of the feet and have a roomy toe box with sufficient horizontal and vertical

space and a low heel (usually about half an inch high). Soles made of hard materials such as leather or soft

materials such as crepe can both be worn, but softer soles tend to be more comfortable. If you stand for extended

periods of time, shoes with soft, pliable soles will protect your feet and help keep them comfortable.

Work shoes are also available with varying characteristics, depending on the wearer's

occupation. Boots made of thick leather with steel toe boxes can be worn to protect the feet from

injury. Boots with varying degrees of traction also are available.

Low-heeled shoes (one inch or lower) with a wide toe box are the ideal choice for women. An ample toe box that can accommodate the front part of the foot is as important as the heel in determining fit.

High-heeled, pointed-toe shoes can cause numerous orthopaedic problems, leading to discomfort or injury to the toes, ankles, knees, calves and back. Most high heeled-shoes have a pointed, narrow toe box that crowds the toes and forces them into an unnatural triangular shape. These shoes distribute the body's weight unevenly, placing excess stress on the ball of the foot and on the forefoot.

This uneven distribution of weight, coupled with the narrow toe box characteristic of most high heels, can lead to discomfort, painful bunions, hammertoes. and other deformities.

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. Even low-heeled shoes can cause problems if they don't fit well. Years of wearing too-small shoes can lead to permanent deformities

Smart Tips for Wearing High Heels:

Wear a shorter heel. a 2-inch heel causes less problems than a 4-inch heel. A shorter heel will give an elongated appearance if it is a thin stiletto type rather than a thick or chunky heel.

Try to save the use of your high heeled shoes for functions where you will not be on your feet for extended periods of time; treat them as a limited privilege accessory.

Take your designer shoes to a pedorthist to have them custom fit to your feet.

Try wearing a larger size show than usual and insert heel cups indo the backs for a better or more comfortable fit.

Wear open toe shoes instead of a similarly-styled shoe that causes discomfort in your toes.

Remember that however appealing those high-heel, high-fashion shoes are, your feet need to

carry you around for a lifetime. Treat them kindly!

Children don't need shoes until they begin walking, usually at around 12 to 15 months of age. Until then, socks or booties are enough to protect a crawling infant's feet and keep them warm. When your child does begin standing and walking, however, shoes provide an excellent form of protection from injury. After your child begins wearing shoes, there is nothing wrong with letting him or her go barefoot indoors.

A soft, pliable shoe with plenty of room, such as a sneaker, is the ideal shoe for children of all ages. The toe box should provide enough space for growth, and should be wide enough to allow the toes to wiggle. (A finger's breadth of extra length will usually allow for about three to six months' worth of growth, though this can vary depending on your child's age and rate of growth.)

The purpose of athletic shoes is to protect the feet from the specific stresses encountered in a given sport and to give the player more traction. A jogging shoe will be designed differently from an aerobics shoe, for example. The differences in design and variations in material, weight, lacing characteristics and other factors among athletic shoes are meant to protect the areas of the feet that encounter the most stress.

The key ingredient in a well-fitted athletic shoe is comfort. A good fit will reduce blisters and other skin irritations. Your orthopaedist is a medical doctor with extensive training in the diagnosis, and nonsurgical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.

A good running or tennis shoe should have a wide, cushioned heel and sole. The toe box should be deep enough so the toes do not press against the top and long enough to allow free motion and gripping during running. There should be about a thumbnail-length between the longest toe and the toe of the shoe. If you don't allow enough space for the toes, you can injure the toenails.

Running shoes should have spring in the forefoot; that is, the forefoot of the shoe should tilt up off the ground when the shoe rests flat on the ground. The running shoe should be flexible but not limp; the heel counter firm and padded to support the heel.

The sole of the shoe should be cushioned enough to absorb much of the shock of running. A soft neoprene sole is a great help in absorbing shock. Most running shoes have a built in arch support; this is desirable to avoid excessive pronation.

• Good fit; comfortably loose when worn with soft, absorbent socks Shaped like the foot; broad and spacious in the toe area

Shock-absorbent sole; a low wedge type is best; avoid high heels

Breathable material; canvas or leather, not plastic

Comfortable the moment you put them on.