Fit Specialist Part 1

Fit Specialist Part 1 10 Points of Proper Fit Jennifer Wong, C.Ped, Cfts, CCWS
July 2020
PART 1: What to check for – in more detail
a) 10 points of Proper Fit
b) Shoe shape must match foot shape
c) Accessing three dimensional shape of the foot
d) Why arch length and annual foot measurements are incredibly important to fit and health
e) Lacing techniques
PART 2: Learning foot conditions and other considerations to take into account when fitting someone
a) How aging and other health conditions and heel to toe drop affects fit
b) When to defer to a podiatrist in fitting a customer with a foot condition or injury
c) What to do when getting a Rx (aka prescription) from a podiatrist
d) Diabetic shoes and PDAC A5500 coding
e) Forefoot rocker bottom shoes and when to use them
PART 3: Case Studies: How to deal with customer on
a) Pushback on getting measured
b) Not wanting to follow their doctor’s Rx (prescription)
c) Customer asking for a diagnosis
NBRx Fit Specialist Module
NBRx is a dealer network and fit specialist accreditation
program.
The program is designed to train retail sales associates to
choose the right New Balance product, achieve the highest
level in shoe fit as well as understand a podiatrists referral
What is NBRx?
the National Shoe Retailers Association and the Pedorthic Footwear Association
1) MATCH SHOE SHAPE TO CUSTOMER’S TOE and FOOT SHAPE
2) SHOE LENGTH (when standing – have customer tap heel against floor)
3) HEEL TO BALL (aka Arch Length)
4) BALL OF FOOT COMFORT (the widest part just before your toes begin)
5) BALL WIDTH AND VAMP ROOM
6) HEEL FIT
7) TOP LINE
9) ARCH FIT
10) TREAD AKA HEEL TO TOE TRANSITION (when customer is walking)
Building on What to
Greek toe (tapered)
Foot
STEP 1 Shoe shape should match toe and foot shape
from Adobe Stock Images
10 Points to Proper Shoe Fit:
STEP 1 Shoe shape should match toe and foot shape (continued)
from Adobe Stock Images
SL-2 vs PL-10 last rounded vs tear drop
shaped toebox
1400v6 racing flat – PL-10 last
Teardrop shaped toebox
rounded toebox)
Knowing the fit characteristics of all of our 30 lasts
Is the only way to know how to properly fit a customer
Trying on shoes with all of our different lasts will help you
understand each shoes fit characteristics.
Access 3D shape of the
foot
Thick voluminous foot? Needs taller instep and deeper wider toebox
Thin, bonier foot structure? Needs glove like fit
Step 2:
10 Points to Proper Shoe Fit
Reminder that a customer’s toe should never hit the end of the
shoe
The recommended toe room allows three-eights to one-half inch
(3/8” – ½”) between the longest toe (which may be the second
or third toe instead of the big toe) and the end of the shoe
Step 2:
Shoe Length
Annual footwear measurements are key!
Educating the customer about their correct
shoe length is incredibly important
because it can help prevent foot and ankle
injuries.
causes foot pain for nearly 78% of
Americans.
exacerbate many common health
STEP 2: Shoe Length and Sock Thickness
Just because you were a size 8
at age 25, doesn’t mean you
will be a size 8 at age 50, as
most of time people’s foot size
gets longer and often wider as
they age.
same sock thickness they
usually wear Photo courtesy of NewBalance.com
“Your foot size and width may increase as you age, as the tendons and ligaments in the
feet naturally loose elasticity. In addition to getting bigger, your feet can develop
deformities such as bunions and hammertoes as you age.
Many of us gain weight as we get older which can also make your feet flatter. The fat
pads that cushion the bottom of your feet grow thinner as you grow older.”
– Dr. Joy Rowland, DPM Cleveland Clinic
Point 2: Shoe Length – Foot size is dynamic
Longer –Wider – Possibility for deformities – Fat Pad Atrophy
– Body Changes – Health Conditions
Photo courtesy of New Balance Portland
STEP 3:
Shoe Shape matching Foot Shape
Image courtesy of The Brannock Company
Why Arch Length
is the most
important measurement
The shoe should bend exactly where the foot bends, if it is
too far in front or too far back then you are creating a lot of
strain on your foot every time you take a step.
We often see customers who need a wider width just go up
in length (often by one FULL size), which leads to improper
fit and potential strain and injury because their feet are
trying to bend below the flex grooves (in the stiffer part of
their shoe)
STEP 3:
7 7 or less
7 7 or 7.5
7 7.5 or more
(Arch length)
Brannock review – it can be helpful to write both measurements down to show the customer
Image courtesy of New Balance
Building on What to Check for in Shoe Fit
10 Points to a Proper Shoe Fit
STEP 4: Ball of
the widest part of the shoe on BOTH medial and
lateral sides
widest part of the shoe since that is the widest
part of the foot.
1) double check arch length and/or
2) find a shoe with a different shape/last.
Image courtesy of The Brannock Company
STEP 5: Ball Width and Vamp Room
Check the tightness of
vamp area in both non
weight-bearing and
weight-bearing stances.
spread out when bearing
weight, so the vamp
The customer should be
The vamp is circled in yellow
Ball width
STEP 6:
Heel Fit
STEP 6: Heel Fit
Heel fit can be a challenge. Many people think there should
Be no movement at the heel at all, and this may not be
possible.
A little bit of movement is actually expected.
If the customer has a narrow heel, pick a shoe model with
Ultraheel which can help securely hold the heel in place.
STEP 7:
Top Line
The top line or top rim of the shoe should fit as
snugly as possible to the sides of the foot.
Try for minimum gaping (open and closed
bellowing) on the side of the foot.
STEP 7: Top line
Step 8 : Instep and
Check that the foot’s instep and waist fit’s securely
and keeps the foot positioned properly inside the shoe.
If the shoe has a bootie construction, make sure that the bootie
isn’t putting too much pressure on the top or sides of the foot.
This may be an issue with a high arched customer.
Step 9 : Arch fit
The ninth check is arch fit. You should start with the area
on the inside of the shoe under the longitudinal arch aka
medial arch.
If the fit is correct, the shoe will hug closely to the foot.
If it does not huge closely, check the fit at the ball of the
foot. It may be that the foot is too far forward in the shoe
Step 10:
How does the shoe tread?
Ask your customer to walk in
the shoes on a fairly firm
surface.
walk as smoothly and with a
comfortable heel to toe
or wobbly and they should fit
securely.
Images courtesy of New Balance
Lacing techniques These should only be used to fine tune the fit of a shoe,
use the 10 points of proper fit first.
KNOWLEDGE CHECK
Take a few minutes to check that you understand what to look for when fitting shoes. Match
Each point of proper shoe fit to the item you should check for.
A. Shoe length
C. Ball width
E. Heel fit
F. Top line
Should fit as snugly as possible to the sides of the foot ____
Shoe should bend exactly where foot bends ____
3/8ths to ½ inch between longest toe and end of shoe____
Some movement is expected ____
The widest part just before your toes begin) should fit comfortably in the
widest part of the shoe on BOTH medial and lateral sides ____
Aka tread. Shoe should fit securely, feel balanced and stable and walk
comfortably ____
Customer with a thick, voluminous foot would be best in
____SL-2 last ____SL-1 last or ____PL-8 last
Check all of the factors that may contribute to changes in foot size
___Aging ___Type of exercise ____Weight gain ____Faulty biomechanics
____Fat pad atrophy ___Genetics ___Prior shoe selections
The American Podiatric Medical Association reports that ill-fitting
shoes causes foot pain for nearly ___% of Americans.
___25% ___78% ___55%__88%
____5___3___6___7
KNOWLEDGE CHECK
Always have the customer try on shoes with the thickness of socks they usually use
__False ___True
Ball of Foot Comfort (put the proper steps in order)
____double check arch length (if the customer is not comfortable) (2)
____find a shoe with a different shape/last (if the customer is not comfortable) (3)
____The bunion joint should be positioned in the widest part of the shoe since that is the widest
part of the foot. (1)

Documents

Fit Specialist Part 1