Shoes
While being fitted with your new shoes (regular or custom made), your pedorthist or Orthotist will instruct you on how to care for and break in your new shoes.
STOCKINGS
- Wear clean, non-elastic stockings.
- Smooth out all wrinkles.
SHOES
- Use a shoehorn every time you put on your shoes. This will prevent the sturdy heel counter from breaking down.
- Keep the soles and heels in good repair. Use a good paste or wax polish as needed to keep the leather soft and looking good.
- Allow the leather to air dry. Do not use heat to dry the damp leather. Use of shoetrees in regular orthopedic shoes overnight will maintain their shape and prolong their life.
- If you are wearing boots or high top shoes, do not use the top one or two eyelets until the leather is well softened.
- Keep your shoes laced tightly enough so your feet will not slide forward in the shoe. Do not lace your shoes so tightly that the laces cause pressure marks.
SELF EXAMINATION
After wearing your shoes for one-half hour, remove the shoes and stockings and look at the skin on your feet (sides, top, bottom, back of heels and legs). Use a mirror if you have trouble seeing the backs and bottoms of your feet.
- If you see red areas, this means pressure. Check the time it takes for the areas to disappear.
- If the red areas are gone in one-half hour or less, or if you see no red area, put the shoes and stocking back on again and recheck after one more hour.
- If the skin looks good, you may double the time you wear your shoes each day.
- Remember to look for pressure areas every time you take off your shoes.
- If you notice pressure areas that do not go away in one-half hour, do not put shoes back on, but try again the next day. If the areas still do not go away in a short time, do not wear the shoes. Call your pedorthist or Orthotist for an appointment so the problem can be corrected before any damage to your skin occurs.
- Check the skin on your feet every night. Feet change and you cannot always rely on how the shoes feel on your feet to know that they are not causing a problem, particularly if you are diabetic or have decreased or no sensation.
If you have any question or concerns about your shoes or foot problems, please contact your pedorthist or Orthotist. Your foot health and comfort are very important to us.
