Get the Right Shoe Fit Every Time with the Brannock Device
When shopping for shoes, it’s a good idea to have your feet measured professionally. As we age, our feet tend to grow when the tendons and ligaments lose their elasticity. The results are that the toes spread out, the arch flattens and feet become longer and wider.
And for you parents, we don’t need to remind you how quickly your kids’ feet grow!
The Brannock Device – Time-Tested Accurate Foot Measurement
That strange-looking metal device used to measure your feet in shoe stores is called a Brannock Device. It has been in use for almost 100 years!
Charles F. Brannock came from a shoe industry family and wanted an improved means of measuring the length, width and arch length of the human foot. The Ritz Stick had been used for many years but was rudimentary in its measurements. In 1925, Brannock created a prototype made from an Erector building set!
The foot-measuring device that we know today as the Brannock device gives accurate measurements of both right and left feet and is the international standard of the footwear industry. There are models for men’s shoe sizing, women’s and children’s, as well as specialized types for athletic shoes and ski boots. Even the Smithsonian Institution recognizes its contribution to the American industry and houses samples of some of the first Brannock devices.
Getting the Right Shoe Fit Is Important
Studies show that only about 37% of people actually wear shoes of the correct length and width! Are you one of them?
Wearing shoes that are too short, too narrow or too tight can cause some significant foot problems including:
Neuropathy. Pins and needles in the feet and decreased sensation can be caused by tight-fitting shoes that put pressure on the nerves.
Hammertoe. Shoes that are too narrow in the toe box can force toes to bend unnaturally into the hammertoe shape. Besides being painful, the skin of the hammertoe can have corns and calluses from footwear pressure against bony spots.
Ingrown toenails. Pressure on the toe from poorly-fitting shoes can force the edge of a toenail to grow into the skin and become infected.
Bunion. Although tight shoes won’t cause a painful bunion, they can make it worse by pushing the big toe further.
Foot pain from poorly-fitting shoes can also cause mobility issues and falls. Play it safe – have both feet measured at least twice a year for foot comfort and safety.
We Can Help with Your Foot or Ankle Pain
The foot specialists at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center have extensive experience in treating all aspects of foot problems. Our team of doctors which consists of Dr. Robert Marra, Dr. Thomas Johnson, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and Dr. Matthew Tshudy is dedicated to serving you with all of the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies. Many treatments and surgeries can be handled right in our offices. Please call us at (860) 741-3041 to make an appointment in one of our offices in Hartford County, conveniently located in Enfield and South Windsor, CT.