How to Stretch Your Shoes

Shoe Stretching Instructions from Your Podiatrist

Stretching shoes and women’s dress boots is a valuable and often very effective method for relieving foot pain. You can stretch the length, width or create extra room for bunions or pinched toes. We often recommend stretching shoes in specific areas to relieve pressure on bunions, hammertoes, corns, bone spurs and other enlarged areas of the foot. In addition, if the shoe simply feels too tight, we recommend the entire toebox of the shoe be stretched. Shoe stretching instructions for both techniques, and special instructions for women’s boots are listed below.

You can either stretch a shoe yourself or take it to a shoe repair shop. You can often save yourself some money by stretching it yourself. Here are instructions on the best methods for stretching shoes at home. In addition, we have reviewed shoe stretchers and the best shoe stretchers are listed below.

Spot Stretching Shoes Over a Prominent Area Like a Bunion

1. Purchase a Ball and Ring Shoe Stretcher
2. Determine the area needed to be relieved.
3. Place a Zip Lock bag over the shoe to protect the exterior finish.
4. Place the ball inside the shoe with the ring on the outside.
5. Press the arms of the Stretch together over this problem area of the shoe.
6. You should see immediate results, with your shoe fitting more comfortably.
7. Can be clamped on overnight for especially difficult areas

Purchase a Ball and Ring Shoe Stretcher Here

Stretching the Entire Toe Box of a Shoe to Provide More Room
If there is not one area that is causing excessive pressure, but rather the shoe just simply feels too tight, you can try stretching it with a “Two-Way Shoe Stretcher".

1. Purchase Two Way Shoe Stretcher
2. Apply “pressure relief pods" to spot stretch problem areas
3. Place Two Way Shoe Stretcher in shoe
4. Turn crank to increase width and length in order to stretch shoe.
5. Increase by one full turn every 8 hours
6. Maintain stretch for 2 days

Purchase a Two Way Shoe Stretcher

Stretching Tight Women’s Boots
Women’s boots require a special stretcher with an extra long handle. This unique stretcher has a hinged shaft that follows the contours of a boot so that you can stretch the width of the boot without causing any damage to the shaft or collar.

1. Purchase Boot Stretcher
2. Apply “pressure relief pods" to spot stretch problem areas
3. Place Boot Stretcher in shoe
4. Turn crank to increase width and stretch boot.
5. Increase by one full turn every 8 hours
6. Maintain stretch for 2 days

Purchase a Women's Boot Stretcher.

Dr. Hale and Dr. Huppin are experts at helping people walk comfortably. If you are having any foot or ankle trouble at all when walking make an appointment to see us in our convenient Seattle office. Be sure to bring your shoes with you.

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All pages on this website © 2005-2010
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.

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