4 Reasons Your Shoes Feel Tight

It’s a startling statistic, but studies show as many as 9 out of 10 people wear too-small shoes for their feet. At Goldsmith Podiatry, we know shoes that cramp your toes and feet can lead to a slew of podiatric problems, including ingrown toenails, bunions, hammertoes, and heel pain. You may be wondering why people wear shoes that don’t fit. Many patients don’t recognize the fact that feet can get larger over time. They continue to buy shoes in the same size they’ve always been, even though their feet may now be bigger. Below are four reasons foot size may increase:

1.  Pregnancy. There are several factors at work when you are pregnant that can increase your foot size. The fluid levels in your body rise dramatically to provide for the baby inside you. It also means that your feet may swell, especially as the pregnancy progresses. Your body also produces a hormone—relaxing—designed to relax the ligaments in your pelvis to prepare it for birth. However, this hormone isn’t site-specific, and it also relaxes the ligaments in your feet, which causes them to spread. Finally, the additional pressure from the typical weight gain of pregnancy can further flatten your foot. The larger foot size becomes the new normal for some mothers, while others may go back to their smaller size once the baby is born.

2.  Aging. Over time, we all experience fat pad atrophy in our feet. It is the gradual thinning of the pads on our heels and the balls of our feet. In addition to making feet more sensitive to the constant impact of walking, the net result of this—is a flatter, wider foot.

3.  Medical/Biomechanical Issues. Certain medical conditions such as arthritis and diabetes can cause inflammation and swelling that may make shoes begin to feel uncomfortable. Some medications cause swelling as well. Flattening of the arch will also result in the need for a larger shoe size.

4.  Weight Gain. Extra pounds are an unwanted pandemic souvenir for many of our Manhattan patients. It’s a simple equation—the more you weigh, the more pressure you put on your feet, which in turn causes them to spread and increases the size of your foot.

It’s always best to get changes in your feet, such as increased size, evaluated by our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia. Make an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling 212-877-1002.