A survey conducted in the year 2014 showed that 8 out of 10 American people have some type of complication regarding their feet. The overall stability of one’s health and life depends on the condition of the feet because it is that part of your body that gets used for the most part of the day. The part of feet that carries almost the whole weight of the body is the heel. Heel pain may present itself in two spots: under the heel and behind the heel. Having heel pain can make day-to-day life very uncomfortable while performing daily activities, and shoes play a crucial role here either by adding to the pain or lessening the pain. Thus, wearing the right type of shoes helps a lot while managing heel pain. Certain things should be kept in mind while buying the right shoes for heel pain, which may be overlooked often. Given are few “dos and don’ts” that would prove really helpful when one is looking for shoes for heel pain.

Buy the shoe toward the end of the day
Feet are that part of the body that get worked up the most throughout the day. By the second half of the day, the feet expand because of all the pressure and may swell after a long day in hot weather. If bought in the earlier part of the day, shoes may fit comfortably in the morning but the same shoe may feel a little tighter and may feel uncomfortable later in the evening. This can lead to heel pain in the long run. The fit of shoes is essential when buying shoes for heel pain.

Do not take the measurement on the box as ultimate
Many people have the tendency to take the measurement on the box as the sure way of finding the size. They do not even pay heed to the measurement of their feet. But shoe sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so what really happens is that the shoe does not fit properly. If one wants to buy shoes for heel pain, then one needs shoes that are according to one’s own feet measurement and not the box measurement. While buying shoes, it is important to ask the salesperson to measure the feet. One needs to do this while in a standing position as then the feet take proper shape due to the flat surface underneath and the pressure of the whole body. Measurement done like this will be accurate and will help one while choosing shoes for heel pain.

Don’t wear the shoe that does not fit
One might have a pair of shoes that looks quite stylish but are not very comfortable because of its fit. Spending the whole day wearing shoes that look gorgeous, but are too constricting can only aggravate the heel pain. Foot constriction inside the shoes can cause needle-like sensations and even numbness. But the part that suffers the most is the sole and also the heel part. Even wearing a loose pair can add unnecessary strain to the sole and heel as one will try to distribute the weight of the body evenly to compensate for the loose shoe. The intensity of the heel pain can be relieved by choosing the right fit.

Go old school
Remember childhood days when one used to have softer shoes? They are exactly the type of shoes for heel pain that help. They may not be that stylish but still, the effectiveness of these shoes is unmatched when it comes to reducing the heel pain. The soft sole inside the shoe will absorb most of the pressure giving the heel a nice place to rest. So, if one’s primary aim is to heal the heel pain, then going back to the old school shoes is might prove to be the best decision.

Stop wearing high heel shoes
If the height of the heel of the shoe one is wearing is more than 1 inch, then one should think twice before wearing it. High-heel shoes tend to distribute the bodyweight within the shoe unevenly and put more pressure on the heels ultimately resulting in heel pain. So one not should wear a pair just for the sake of looking good and should always keep the foot health in mind while buying shoes for heel pain.

Start wearing orthotic shoe inserts
Shoe inserts and especially heel liners or heel pads help in relieving heel spurs. A heel spur is a condition where a calcium deposit develops on the underside of the bone of the heel. A strain on the foot muscles and ligaments is often the cause of heel spurs. So while buying the best shoes for heel spurs, also invest in heel liners, orthotic insoles and arch supports.

If one is thinking about buying shoes for heel pain, a good comfortable fit should always be kept in mind.