Educational Articles: Footwear: Solutions

We often receive the following question (or slight variations thereof) from readers and customers who are interested in determining the proper width of shoe to purchase: I had my foot width measured at a local shoe store and was told that I need a wide shoe. Will the shoes you offer on your site work for me and my feet? First, let me say that conventional foot... Read more

Selecting foot-healthy shoes—shoes that truly support long-term foot health—is one of the most important considerations in caring for your feet, as most foot and toe problems are caused by conventional footwear. Indeed, shoes that are generally regarded as appropriate (and even healthy) by many foot care professionals and society at large actually cause a variety of foot and toe deformities... Read more

When it comes to the health and well-being of your musculoskeletal system, few things are more important than what you put on your feet. Indeed, your choice of footwear affects everything from your joint health to your postural alignment to your walking and running gait, and more. Making sure your footwear is maximally foot-healthy is an essential part of avoiding... Read more

Many people are aware that a transition period is required when switching from conventional shoes to minimalist shoes (now sometimes referred to as “functional footwear”). In fact, this is one of the most common topics we hear about from patients and customers. Most people want to know the proper protocol for transitioning to men's or women's foot-healthy footwear—shoes, boots,... Read more

Propping up the foot arch is a common approach used by physicians to help treat certain foot and ankle disorders. Arch support is also a design feature commonly touted by shoe manufacturers as beneficial. But we thought it would be helpful to discuss what arch support really means and whether it’s truly necessary—or even desired—in the foot. To understand our arch support philosophy, it’s important to understand... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, describes the Shoe Liner Test and explains why excessive pronation is such a common problem in our society. The Shoe Liner Test is a simple test that involves pulling the liner out of your shoe (or a shoe that you are... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the method that's historically been used for shoe sizing and why this technique falls short (and, in fact, often leads to a variety of foot and toe problems). He also demonstrates a better way to size shoes that respects the shape of the natural human... Read more

Tongue pads are used in shoes for several reasons, though the most common reason is to snug-up a loose-fitting shoe to prevent heel slippage. Most people have one foot that is slightly longer than the other, but yet almost everyone wears the same size of shoe on both feet, which may result in forward and backward foot slippage inside the... Read more

The need for natural and conservative alternatives to conventional foot and toe treatments has never been greater. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, approximately 43.1 million Americans have foot problems, and the cost of foot surgery to correct problems associated with improper footwear—bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses, among others—is about $2 billion per year. The... Read more

Attention and time given to natural foot health concepts and activities can yield profound foot health benefits, both for foot injury prevention and improved quality of life. Caring for your feet and allowing them to function the way nature intended can keep you pain free and performing the activities you love most. In most cases, the answer to long-term natural foot health is simple and involves removing... Read more