Regardless of whether you were naturally born with big feet or your feet naturally broadened with age, you might experience a lot of issues such as finding the right shoe size. First of all, feet come in all shapes and sizes and wide feet are usually nothing to worry about. But at the same time, we want to raise awareness about the lesser-known health issues that might be making your feet wider than the so-called ideal feet size. Along with timely detection, wearing perfectly fitted footwear is paramount to help you minimize common health problems.

Causes of large feet

Before knowing the treatment, read the causes of large feet!

1. Your feet grow with time

As you age and become older, the tendons and ligaments loosen, making the foot grow wider and longer. Sometimes they can become wider than usual.

2. Dealing with foot deformities

From calluses to bunions to hammer toes, these are some of the most common foot deformities causing the feet to become wider.

Also read: Foot pain in the morning? Know what it means

3. The gene game

As our favourite saying goes, feet come in all shapes and sizes. And naturally so, some of us are born with big feet. What’s more? A flat foot is more likely to grow big feet.

4. Pregnancy hormones

Relaxin, a pregnancy hormone produced by the ovaries and placenta to help relax and prepare the body for delivery, can lead to the loosening of the feet surrounding joints and ligaments. It’s fairly common to see women develop a wider foot during the second and third trimesters

6. Edema after-effect

Edema or swelling can be a direct cause for causing a temporary widening of feet.

Side effects of wearing the wrong shoe size

People with larger feet frequently experience discomfort, which is frequently linked to wearing shoes that do not fit properly. Footwear that is too tight or narrow can result in various issues, including pain, blisters, and certain deformities such as:

1. Calluses: One can experience a callus or thickening of the skin due to unnecessary pressure and friction on the foot skin caused due to tight shoes. Corn is the most common type of callus that appears as a result of this

2. Bunions: A bunion or a bony bump refers to the enlargement of our joint bones and tissues that develops at the base of the big toe. It can lead to an inward turning of the big toe that creates pain and swelling in the feet.

3. Hammer Toe: The easiest way to identify a hammer toe is when it starts curling up instead of lying flat. Again, it is an aftermath of an imbalance in our ligaments, muscles, and tendons originating from the wrong type of footwear amidst other things

4. Overlapping or crossover toe: The crossing of toes when it’s cramped inside a tight toe develops the case of an overlapping toe

How to deal with big feet?

Follow these tips to overcome the common difficulties caused due to big feet:

1. Buy properly-fitted and supportive footwear

The right footwear with supportive neo-age technologies like foot pharma footbed and arch-flex can make all the difference:

• Feet grow with age, so we highly recommend measuring them before each new purchase. A pro tip would be to do so at the end of the day when it is expanded the most.
• Additionally, to best avoid cramping, ensure to have some space, (at least the width of your finger) between the big toe and the end of the footwear.
  Identify and purchase from brands that offer sizes beyond 12 with wider options.
• Several local brands are leading this niche category with inclusivity and innovative designs.
• In case the feet are different in length, go with the size of the larger foot.
  One can also target footwear with removable insoles. It helps facilitate the easy incorporation of orthotic designs into the shoes if needed.

2. Visit a doctor

While the right footwear can help resolve these issues at an initial stage, and also prevent them from happening in the first place, one is advised to visit a doctor immediately in case of extreme severity.

There might be specific issues such as Heel Spur or Plantar Fasciitis, or a particular injury that might require targeted treatment by a foot expert. So follow the treatment.