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If The Shoe Fits, Youre Probably In Seliga Shoes
The most important factor in preventing foot pain and improving foot health is finding a shoe that provides an appropriate and comfortable fit. Its also the most important reason to come to Seliga Shoes.
Our trained professionals take the time to get to know you and your feet your lifestyle, activities and foot and health issues. Seliga Shoes is not your typical shoe store!
We feature only the highest quality vendors and revolutionary custom arch support manufacturing techniques. Custom Shoe building and modifications are available in our store.
Fine Tune Your Shoes
Custom Orthotics & Arch Supports:
Provide Instant Relief to Aching Feet
Preferred by Most Doctors, Chiropractors, and Physical Therapists
Help Improve Balance, Stability, and Posture
Help Improve Athletic Performance
Our Orthotics come Rigid, Semi-Rigid & Accomodative
Available in Full or ¾ Length
Come in today for a FREE CONSULTATION
All shoes come in matching pairs. The same cant be said for feet, though. Many peoples left and right feet vary in size and shape significantly, leading to problems when wearing mass-production shoes.
At Seliga Shoe Center, our professional staff can help you achieve the appropriate fit for each of your feet. We use a variety of methods to customize shoes to achieve the appropriate fit we can even modify shoes you already own to make them more comfortable!
You no longer need to pass up a favorite brand of shoes because of a minor rub or discomfort.
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Comfort from the beginning to the end of every step
Our feet and ankles contain 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles. But even with such complex interactions, keeping them comfortable normally requires just two key factors:
Proper shoe fit
Appropriate support
However, in order to achieve proper support, one must understand the mechanics of your step, which includes three basic phases:
It is vital that your foot be properly supported and held straight during all three phases of the step. If your feet are not supported and in sequence, your body will try to compensate, leading to problems with your feet, ankles, legs, knees, and back.
At Seliga Shoes you will find appropriate footwear, custom arch supports, and other foot care accessories that will properly support your feet during the activities you enjoy. Proper support allows your weight to be distributed equally across each foots full length, helping reduce foot pain and other conditions that cause discomfort.
The right sized shoes are critical to keeping feet comfortable. Most people think they know their correct length size, but weve found that this is often incorrect. At Seliga Shoes, we measure both feet to assure proper shoe length, as well as proper width. Both measurements are essential to foot comfort.
At Seliga Shoes, we can even perform custom shoe modifications to make sure proper sizing and support are achieved for the exact shape of your feet.
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When the Shoe Fits
According to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, more than 43.1 million Americansone in every six personshave trouble with their feet, mostly from improperly fit shoes. A serious public health concern, foot problems cost the U.S. a painful $3.5 billion each year.
Yet, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association, only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems. Rather its neglect and lack of awareness of proper careincluding proper shoe fitthat brings the problems on. Since fewer than 10% of shoe salespeople have had even basic training in foot anatomy or shoe sizing, the foot problems that result from poor fit are hardly surprising.
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A Foot, By Any Other Name...
The foot is an amazing structure, capable of alternating between a supple, shock absorber when our heel strikes the ground and a rigid lever that propels when we push off and into the next step. In each foot, there are 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles (not to mention numerous nerves and blood vessels) that must work together to propel us forward.
When feet function normally during walking, they must both pronate and supinate, which basically means that they must both roll slightly inward and then roll slightly outward, respectively. This is the dynamic nature of the foot referred to above. For some people, rolling one way or the other may become more pronounced. While all feet are unique, most fall into three basic types:
Normal or rectus foot where the structure and alignment of the foot are well configured for the demands of daily living. Excessive wear, exceptional demands, or improper shoes can make this foot injured or painful.
High Arched (supinated) foot also known as pes cavus is a foot with an unusually high arch. When the arch is high enough, the foot becomes shortened and rigid, making this type of foot a poor shock absorber. People with unusually high arches are prone to problems of the entire lower part of the body and back and may also suffer toe deformities (clawed toes) and calluses or pain on the sole of the foot.
Flat (pronated) foot (pes planus) is a foot with an unusually low or collapsed arch and is one of the more common problems treated by foot doctors. People who have flat feet are prone to tired feet, arch strain, arthritis and various other structural problems.
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Did you know that width is actually a measure of circumference?
Shoe Size
Size is not just about the heel to toe length, the length from heel to the ball of the foot is important, too. Your fitter can help you compare and choose the best size. There are three primary sizing scales used in the United States: the American scale, the Continental European scale and the UK scale.
All shoes are made over wooden models of the foot, called lasts. Lasts give shoes their shape and are unique between manufacturers and often even between styles. Each last is graded into different size/width combinations to allow people with different sized feet to wear shoes made over that last. For shoes to be properly fit, the last must match the wearers foot shape. In addition the proper size/width combination must be chosen.
Things to Look For In Comfortable Footwear
- Stability -- The shoe should not easily twist or roll.
- Support -- The footbed of the shoe should cradle the bottom surface of your foot. The footbed that comes with the shoe won't support your foot, it must be equipped to be removed and replaced with a custom insole or orthotic device.
- Shock absorbency -- The materials in both the insole and outsole should provide adequate cushion.
- Fit -- Choose a shoe shape that most nearly conforms to the shape of your foot and a size that is appropriate for you.
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Dont Buy That Shoe Unless It Slips At The Heel!
Sounds like the wrong advice, doesnt it? In many cases, though, it is not. If you have a flexible, pronated, or loose-jointed foot, a properly fitted shoe will tend to slip at the heel. This is particularly true until the shoe conforms to your foot.
When a person with this foot type has their weight on their foot, their arch rolls downward, their instep is lowered and their heel moves forward, away from the heel counter. Since the foot has moved away from the parts of the shoe that secures the heel, the shoe slips when you lift your foot.
Millions of people with this foot type mistakenly fit themselves too short to hold their foot back in the heel of the shoe because they assume that any shoe that slips in the heel is too big. Consequently, they develop or exacerbate foot problems by jamming their feet into shoes that are too small. This is often evidenced by bunions, calluses, neuromas or pressure spots on the toes.
Dont do it! Listen to your fitter. We are fitting you into the size that is best for your foot and will not fit your heel at the expense of the rest of your foot. Take care of your feet, you only get one pair!
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10 Points of Proper Shoe Fit
- Buy fit, not size. Sizes vary among brands and styles so dont be wedded to a particular size.
- Buy the type of shoe that is made for the use intended. A dress shoe means one thing, a shoe for standing all day means another. A shoe for walking is a different matter.
- Select the shoe that is designed to support and fit your particular foot type. Flexible/pronated feet require a different fitting strategy than rigid/supinated feet. Your fitter may have to help you with this.
- Have both feet measured and fit the larger foot (remember length and width).
- Have your new shoe fit with the particular socks, hosiery, or stockings that you intend to wear them with.
- Heel slip does not always mean that the shoe is too big. It may mean that you have a flexible foot. Ask your fitter for more information.
- When standing you should usually have 3/8 to 1/2 from your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Remember that your big toe may not be your longest toe.
- Choose styles that conform as nearly as possible to the shape of your foot. If you have a wide and/or square-shaped foot, pressure on the 5th toe (little toe) can be more important for fit than fitting the big toe.
- Shoes should feel good when you buy them. Dont buy uncomfortable shoes hoping they will break in and feel good later.
- Take your time buying a new pair of shoes. Walk around the store and listen to your feet. Ask for a salesperson who is professional and understands feet as well as shoes.
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Pregnancy & Footwear
 During pregnancy, a womans feet may grow a half to a full size permanently. This is from a combination of factors, including the extra weight from pregnancy and increases in the hormone relaxin that cause joints to loosen.
At the same timethe three arches of the foot need more support than everto give Mom the support she needs for both herself and her baby.
Fortunately, Seliga can help. We have a broad range of footwear styles to support the mothers feet as she carries herself and baby through pregnancy. Most styles also provide additional room or adjustability to allow for fluctuating edema.
Probably the best footwear for the pregnant mother is the footbed sandal. They are great for warm weather or for wearing around the house as a supportive slipper. A footbed sandal, preferably of cork and latex, will provide support, adjustability, comfort, and style. Some styles even double as comfortable dress shoes.
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We Support Your Pregnancy By Supporting Your Feet
At Seliga, our expert fitters can show you a broad range of footwear styles and brands to meet the needs of your feet and your lifestyle. Come in and see the latest styles from the best brands. We carry European and American footwear in a broad range of colors, sizes, and widths.
We specialize in complex fitting situations and provide additional arch support to our customers who have a lot riding on their feet. Let us measure your feet and show you how to look great while feeling comfortable.
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Additional Sources of Information
Pedorthic Footwear Association: (800-673-8447)
National Shoe Retailers Association: (800-673-8446)
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons: (800-421-2237)
American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society: (206-223-1120)
American Physical Therapy Association: (800-999-2782)
American Podiatric Medical Association: (800-275-2762)
Prescription Foot Orthotic Laboratory Association: (800-347-6585)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: (202-638-5577)
American Academy of Family Physicians: (800-274-2237)
American College of Nurse-Midwives: (202-728-9860)
The information provided by Seliga Shoes should never take the place of advice and guidance from a doctor. Be sure to check with your doctor about changes in your treatment plan. If you dont have a doctor, we would be happy to provide you with a list of several health care providers near our facilities.
We Encourage Patients With More Complex Cases To First Make An Appointment.
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