However, to reiterate how important it is to find a pair of shoes that fit correctly, it’s important to outline some of the disorders that can occur in a little more detail.
By doing this, you aren’t only able to see what can happen when you wear tight-fitting shoes, but you may be able to find out some more information on an existing foot problem you might already be suffering from.
Athlete’s Foot
Despite the name, athlete’s foot doesn’t only affect people that spend a lot of time playing sports.
This is a fungal skin infection that causes flakiness, itchiness and scaling on the affected areas (which is usually between the toes).
Tight-fitting shoes are one of the most common causes of athlete’s foot, and wearing a correctly fitting pair of shoes will dramatically reduce the risk of this infection from setting in.
Bunions
Bunions are large, unsightly lumps that form on the side of your feet or on the base of your big toe.
These are caused by wearing shoes that are too narrow at the front as they cause the bone at the base of the toe to push outwards.
As a bunion forms, the big toe becomes slanted and presses against the other toes instead of pointing straight ahead.
Corns
When you wear shoes that are too tight, more continuous friction is placed on the skin of the feet.
And, as the friction continues to rub against the skin over time, the skin reacts by building hard layers to help protect itself. This results in the formation of hard, yellow, round bumps called corns.
Diabetic Foot
One of the symptoms that people with diabetes can suffer from is a loss of sensation in the foot’s nerves.
This is known as ‘diabetic foot’. Wearing tight shoes can cause cuts and blisters which, if not felt due to a loss of nerve-sensation, can lead to infection.
However, a pair of shoes that fits correctly will not cause any damage to the feet, and so the risk of this happening is significantly reduced.
Hammer Toes
When you wear shoes that are too tight or too narrow, your toes start to pile up on top of each other.
This is a condition known as ‘hammer toes’, and it most commonly affects the second, third, and fourth toe. In some instances, the toes can become completely rigid and may be permanently dislocated.
Ingrown Toenails
If your toes are all squished together in a shoe that is too narrow, the edges of your toenails can begin to dig into the edges of your toes and create ingrown toenails.
This can cause severe discomfort and can lead to infection if not treated properly. In some extreme cases, the entire toenail may need to be surgically removed.
Metatarsalgia
This is an extremely painful condition that affects the front (metatarsal) region of the foot.
Also known as ‘stone bruise’, metatarsalgia is an inflammation on the ball of the foot and is caused by a combination of wearing tight-fitting shoes and excessive jumping or running.
Peripheral Neuropathy
More commonly known as ‘pins and needles’, peripheral neuropathy causes the foot to go numb while simultaneously being overrun with an uncomfortable, tingling sensation.
Shoes that are too tight can cause this to happen as they can cause injury to the nerves in your feet and, as a result, an attack of pins and needles becomes a more regular occurrence
All of these disorders can easily be avoided simply by wearing a pair of shoes that fit correctly.
By purchasing shoes that are the perfect fit you won’t only save yourself from a lot of unnecessary pain, but you’ll also save yourself a lot of time spent at your doctor’s office!