Sore Feet? Get The Right Shoe Size at Right Fit!
And Meet Dr. Johnson-McKissick, Podatrist
When your shoes hurt your feet, you can’t wait to get them off. It can make for a long day or long event.
But shoes should never hurt your feet. It’s a matter of finding the right fit.
And that is exactly what Penn Highlands Healthcare is hoping to help you with at “The Right Fit” event from 2-4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 8, at the DuBois Mall. A program of The Spirit of Women, it is hosted for all ages, male and female, by The Women’s Health Center of Penn Highlands Healthcare and the DuBois Mall Walkers program.
The Shoe Dept./Encore shoe store will offer free measurements and fitting for shoes along with information on the difference between track, walking, cross trainer and running shoes, Stacy Huff of The Shoe Dept./Encore said. Each has different support, flexibility and thickness on the bottom.
Outside of the store, you can talk to Dr. Courtney Johnson-McKissick, podiatrist, about foot health. Johnson-McKissick has an office at 820 Turnpike Ave., Clearfield, and sees patients at the Moshannon Valley Community Medical Building in Philipsburg. She also is a Penn Highlands Clearfield Wound Clinic physician.
There will also be several representatives from Penn Highlands Healthcare. A free lung screening will be offered by The Lung Center and Hahne Regional Cancer Center, and a free DEXA bone density scan will be offered by Breast Care Services of Penn Highlands DuBois.
The Infection Prevention and Control Department of PH DuBois, The Stroke Center of PH DuBois, the Us TOO! Prostate Support Group, The DuBois Mall Walking program, the Clearfield-Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission and The Free Medical Clinic of DuBois will all be represented and will offer great information.
The outpatient Physical Therapy Department of The Rehabilitation Center will demonstrate stretching and warm up exercises, and the Women’s Health Center of PHH will show people how to use phone apps and electronic devices to track exercises along with information on target heart rates.
Why is shoe size so important?
“You need to have your foot measured for the right length, width and depth for the shoe you need,” Johnson-McKissick said. “If there is no room for bunions or hammertoes, it can cause pain, calluses, blisters and ulcers. It’s really a problem.”
In the past, it was common place for shoe stores to measure feet for the right fit. Today, we like the self-serve environment, and often don’t even think we need to ask about our size. We like to think we already know it. “A lot of stores may have it available, but we like to be in and out of a store,” Johnson-McKissick said.
All ages need to have their sizes checked from the younger population to the older.
For school age children, new shoes are needed every few months. “They shouldn’t have anything too small or too big.”
“I tell a lot of people that kids always know if their shoes fit,” she said. “You must keep up with the right size.”
With athletic kids, parents may be looking at getting a new pair every 3-6 months or even sooner up to age 16 years old. A lot of parents will get bigger sizes, but too much movement inside the shoes causes rubbing and discomfort.
As we level off in growing, we often think we will be the same shoe size forever.
Sometimes, it’s hard for us to accept that our foot size has changed, especially for women. “They may have been wearing the wrong size for a while, but a bigger size may be hard to accept,” she said.
“But as we age, our foot structure changes. Shoe size can change. We just need to be aware and make adjustments for that,” she said. In the office, Johnson-McKissick has traced people’s feet and then put their shoe over the outline. The outline often is outside of the shoe – meaning people often squeeze into the wrong shoe.
To accommodate changes, many people wear light shoes that offer no support or continue to wear old shoes that are broken down and stretched out. That’s not the answer, either, the doctor said.
“It happens with all of us as we get older,” she said.“Tendons weaken, the foot changes shape, and our center of gravity changes. The way we bear weight can change, and we can develop deformities.”
What is the best shoe? “There is no one shoe that is good for everybody. Not everybody has the same foot. Get the best shoe for your foot type,” Johnson-McKissick said.
It shouldn’t hurt or need to be broken in. It should feel supportive with no high pressure areas. When you put it on, you can wear it all day and not think about kicking them off.
“They may be hard to find, but if you have the right measurement and help with different brands, you should be able to find it.”
And also remember, shoes are made by people. Always try them on because even three pairs of the same style in the same size may fit differently.
“We are happy to be working with Penn Highlands Healthcare and are excited to have Dr. Johnson-McKissick here,” Chris Quashnock of the DuBois Mall said. “Partnerships like this one are great for our mall walkers and all of our mall visitors.”
“Finding the right fit for the foot is as important as finding the right fit for your exercise and health routine,” Lori Rancik, RN, of The Women’s Health Center, said. “The staff from Penn Highlands that is available at this small program can help you begin walking the path to wellness. From the tiny first steps to the big strides at the finish line, there is something for everyone to gain.”