You can help protect the health of your feet by wearing the right shoes for a particular activity with the right fit for your feet. The following tips were adapted from those developed by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

1. Don’t select a shoe by size alone. Have both feet measured every time you buy shoes.

2. Try on new shoes at the end of the day.

3. Fit shoes to your largest foot.

4. Fit your shoes carefully to your heel as well as to your toes.

5. The ball of your foot should fit comfortably into the widest part of the shoe.

6. Allow a half-inch space between your longest toe and the toe of the shoe when you are standing.

7. Select a style with a toe box deep enough to allow you to wiggle your toes.

8. Try on both shoes and walk around to make sure they fit well and feel comfortable.

9. Judge fit by how it feels on your foot, not by the size on the box.

10. There is no such thing as a “breaking in” period. If the shoes feel too tight,
      don’t buy them. Do not expect them to stretch.

11. Don't purchase shoes with slippery soles. Soles should provide solid footing.

12. Avoid heels higher than 2 inches. High-heeled shoes tend to have a narrow,
      pointed toe box that crowds toes. Pressure increases with heel height, bearing down
      on the ball of the foot and forcing toes into the point of the shoe.