Years of jamming your feet into gorgeous, sky-high heels can lead to something ugly – bunions. A bunion is a bony growth that develops on the joint of the big toe, where the toe meets the foot. It’s basically a big bump that kind of makes the toe look crooked, and it can be quite painful. Of course, this bump makes it hard to find shoes that fit properly. You certainly won’t be able to shove that foot into a pointy-toed heel anymore.
So what is a girl to do if she has bunions? You don’t have to give up fashionable shoes. But you probably will need to shop a little harder. That’s not so bad, right? One of the keys to finding shoes that accommodate bunions is to find a wide fitting shoe. Use this guide to selecting wide fitting shoes for bunions.
- Go to a specialty shoe store, like Foot Solutions. Foot Solutions has a much larger variety of sizes and styles to accommodate foot conditions than you could ever find in a boutique or department store.
- Have your feet professionally measured at the specialty shoe store. Often, bunions develop in the first place because you have been wearing shoes that don’t fit properly. Just because you wore a certain size in high school, that doesn’t mean that you still wear the same size. Pregnancy, weight gain, and the process of aging can all cause your feet to change size. The professionals at the specialty shoe shop will measure your feet to determine the correct size and width. When the natural size of your foot is properly accommodated by your shoes, you will experience much less discomfort. Relieving the pressure and friction on a bunion is key to a comfortable fit.
- Select shoes that have a round, roomy toe box (not a pointed toe box). Not only will a pointy toe box be uncomfortable, it can even make the bunion worse.
- Choose shoes that are made of a soft material, like leather. Stiff materials, or shoes that have stitches or seams that go across a bunion, will cause friction and irritation.
- Stick to a low heel on your shoe. Higher heels (over two inches) shift the weight of the body toward the toes, which will aggravate bunions.
- Choose the right shoes. If you use bunion pads or splints, you should wear these devices when you are trying on new shoes. This way, you can be sure that the shoes fit properly with the bunion pads or splints in place.
- Always try shoes on before buying! Yes, this seems like common sense. However, many people buy the size that they think they need without trying shoes on. Even if you have just had your feet measured, it is important to note that fit varies from brand to brand and style to style. You should always try shoes on and walk around in them in the store a bit to make sure that they feel good on your feet before you purchase them and take them home.
Don’t let your bunions get you down. You can still find shoes that look great and don’t torture your feet. Foot Solutions has lots of gorgeous styles that come in a variety of sizes and widths for people with bunions. Stop in to Foot Solutions today to check out all of the options in wide fitting shoes for bunions.
