Thirteen-year-old Dakota Deal has feet that rival the size 23 feet of basketball star Shaquille O’Neal. Deal’s size 20 feet have manifested as a result of the teenager’s rare form of gigantism, which has been making finding shoes in his size difficult. “They’re just hard to find,” stated Dakota’s sister, Brandy Ellinger, of Deal’s shoe dilemma. “When we do find them, they last for three or four months and he just goes through them fast.”

After receiving donations from people up and down the country, Deal is now supplied with shoes that fit his feet. These include a pair of size 22 Nikes and a pair from Isaac Haas, a Purdue basketball player who sympathized with Deal’s difficulty to find his size. “I would like to say thanks to the people who gave me these,” Deal said. “I actually do feel like a celebrity.”

Getting the right shoe size is a necessary component of foot health. To learn more, consult with Dr. Bryant A. Tarr, D.P.M. of Sudbury & Westford Podiatry. Dr. Tarr will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Getting the Right Shoe Size

There are many people that wear shoes that are ill-fitting, which affects their feet and posture. Selecting the right shoes is not a difficult process so long as you keep several things in mind when it comes to selecting the right pair.

• When visiting the shoe store, use the tools available to measure your foot
• When measuring your foot with your shoe on, add 1-2 inches to the size
• Be sure there is ‘wiggle room’. There should be about an inch between your toes and the tip of your shoes
• Do not always assume you are the same size, as manufacturers run differently
• Purchase shoes later in the day as your feet swell as the day progresses
• If a shoe is not comfortable, it is not suitable. Most shoes can’t be ‘broken in’, and comfort should be the ultimate goal when it comes to choosing the right pair of shoes

For more information about Getting the Right Shoe Size, follow the link below.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices, located in Sudbury and Westford, MA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all of your foot ankle injuries.

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