
It seems so simple. You go to the shoe store, you find a pair of shoes that are comfortable, properly fitting, and supportive, you purchase them as is and call it a day. Did you know that there’s something missing from that timeline? A crucial and often missed opportunity passed you up while you were making your purchase at the shoe store! Something many people don’t know but wish they did, is that most of the employees in shoe stores can help you modify your shoelaces before you leave the store. You might be thinking - why would I need to change them? They fit fine the way they’re laced up now! While this may be the case, those of us with wide feet, narrow feet, high arched feet, flat feet, or feet with bunions, calluses, or corns (and many other foot problems!) may want to rethink this. Next time you go shoe shopping or see Dr. Les J. Glubo or Dr. Dawn O. Figlo at an appointment, ask about lacing techniques! Here’s a sneak peek of how and why different lacing techniques can aid you based on the type of feet you have:
Many people with wide feet often have an issue finding properly fitting shoes. Our feet can become wide for a variety of reasons. From genetics and fallen arches to bunions that increase the width of our feet, a wider set of feet comes with a unique set of challenges. For wide feet, ask about switching your laces to the outermost eyelets farthest from the tongue of the shoe. This allows the sides of the shoe to drop slightly and accommodate wider set feet.
In contrast, narrow feet benefit from using the innermost eyelets closest to the tongue of the shoe. This allows for the sides of the shoe to firm up against the more narrow shape of your feet. It can help prevent slipping and sliding while staying active, which comes in handy when you want to avoid an unnecessary injury from falling. Learning how to lace up your shoes according to the type of feet you have can be confusing, so don’t hesitate to enlist our help to figure it out. Call us today at (212) 697-3293 to schedule your next appointment at our Grand Central location in New York City.