Marathon running, triathlons, and multi-day endurance walks of 60 miles or more are attracting more female participants every year. And the number of people who participate in casual running and walking for fitness continues to grow, as well. Obviously, footwear is the single most important piece of equipment for these activities. Women buy more shoes than men, and are the driving force behind the growth of endurance sports over the last few years, so it is important that we understand some of the differences between men and women when it comes to footwear.
By some counts, 80 percent of visits to podiatrists are made by women. Podiatrists and orthopedists agree that poor footwear choices are a significant contributing factor for most chronic foot pain. Some people knowingly choose fashion over comfort, but many simply do not know who to turn to when seeking quality footwear and a good fit. Poorly fitting shoes can make existing conditions like plantar fasciitis or bunions worse, or contribute to new problems like contracted toes or compressed nerves. A properly fit shoe can relieve existing conditions and minimize the risk of acquiring other foot problems.
Most experienced female runners and walkers have learned that their athletic shoes need to have more toe room than their other shoes. They understand that their feet swell when they work out, and that a good shoe fits snugly in the heel and arch but allows room for the toes. I always tell runners and walkers that the shoe should fit snug only in the back two-thirds and should be roomy in the toes. I emphasize that they need about half-a-thumb-width of toe room if training or racing up to half-marathon distance, and a full thumb-width if doing marathon distance. Many females find the concept of wiggle room for the toes to be so foreign-feeling that they refuse to believe it is how a walking or running shoe is supposed to fit. Marathon runners or multi-day walkers who are new to their sports especially dont like to be told that the longer the distance, the more toe room they need.
Anatomically and biomechanically, there are significant differences between men and women-some obvious, others less so. Women have shorter legs (as a ratio of total height), wider hips, more valgus alignment of the knees (“knock knees”), smaller bones and joints, less muscle mass, narrower feet and their malleoli (ankle bones) are closer to the ground. They are also more likely to develop foot deformities such as bunions. These differences mean that women take more strides per mile, are more prone to knee injuries, and often have more trouble finding shoes that fit well than their male counterparts. Some studies also suggest that women are more likely to overpronate than men-this means that womens feet are less stable.
In addition to physical differences, men and women also have different expectations and attitudes toward footwear. For example, cultural definitions of beauty affect womens footwear choices. In our culture, small feet and long legs are part of the ideal of feminine beauty, which is why high-heeled shoes are so popular despite their discomfort. Because of these cultural expectations, many women have become accustomed to wearing the smallest possible shoe they can fit their foot into.
This might explain why a 1993 survey of women by orthopaedic surgeon Carol Frey M.D. and her colleagues found that 59 percent of women wore shoes that hurt their feet on a daily basis. It might also explain why I have found that many women underestimate their shoe size or foot shape. Many times, I have had female patients insist to me that they had a narrow foot until I measured them and explained that they are a “D” or 2E” width, which is definitely not narrow. Other times, I have had patients who insisted that they were a “true size 7” which tells me that they are focused so intently on a number that they dont understand that there is no such thing as a true size, and certainly not every shoe fits their feet exactly the same.
Many women have become so accustomed to extremely tight shoes that they are convinced that a shoe that has been properly fit is too big. I have spent countless hours, both in clinics and in stores, explaining to many females that their concept of a good fit is not healthy and will lead to pain, foot deformities and injuries if it hasnt already. Ninety percent of bunion surgeries performed in the U.S. are done on women, and we know that womens fashion footwear choices are a significant contributing factor.
I have found that runners or walkers who are new to their sports tend to be the hardest to convince when it comes to moving up to a larger size. My approach with a female customer who is resistant to trying on a larger size is to cite Dr. Freys study, which also found that 88 percent of women were wearing shoes that were too small. In most cases, according to the same study, the shoes were not only too short, but also too narrow. In fact, the average woman was wearing shoes that were a quarter of an inch too narrow (equivalent to a full width size). If I am fitting a customer who already has foot pain or a deformity, I explain that it is unrealistic to expect the problem to improve if they insist on wearing shoes that do not fit properly.
For a patient who I think needs a full size longer but refuses to go there, I often propose that she just go up half a size today, and then consider another half-size for her next shoe if she is not comfortable. This usually is an acceptable compromise to many women, and once they experience the improved comfort of the larger size they are often more open to the idea. Explaining that a half-size is only 1/6 of an inch and a full size is 1/3 of an inch can also be helpful in convincing a customer that a full size increase may not be too much. If she needs additional forefoot width, first I might try a shoe with a rounder toe box, or maybe one of the brands that offers a roomier fit in the forefoot before I suggest a wider size.
Of course, working with a female customer who may be sensitive about how we characterize her feet requires a certain amount of diplomacy. Always be discreet when talking near other customers or staff about someones foot type, foot shape or size. Some customers are self-conscious about even taking off their shoes in public, let alone talking out loud about their feet. I never accuse someone of wearing the wrong size shoe, but instead gently explain the benefits of shoes with a roomier fit. Some women will be downright offended if you even suggest that they need a bigger shoe, so be careful how you choose your words. Instead of saying something like, “Your foot is too big for this shoe,” or, “Your shoes are too small,” I might say, “I think you would feel more comfortable if we went up half a size.”
My overall approach with fitting female patients in running and walking shoes is to emphasize to them that I can help them find the size and model that has a healthy amount of toe length and forefoot width while maintaining a snug midfoot and heel. I only use the size as a starting point, and then make changes once I can assess how their feet fit in the shoes and how the shoes feel as they run and/or walk. To me, the size of the shoe is irrelevant as long as it fits well and is appropriate for the foot type.
