Though many of us are unaware, mismatched feet is an issue that affects the majority of the
population to some degree or another; studies have shown, even, that as many as 1/3 of Americans
have a difference of half a size between their feet. For most, however, their foot length
difference is minor, but for those needing mismatched shoes, the hassles are immense. Among other
issues, building mismatched footwear collections is unduly expensive and often just plain
difficult. Moreover, these challenges pale in comparison to those faced by people for whom foot
length difference is the least of their concerns to address.
Aside from being born with
congenital conditions such as clubfoot or simply having a large foot length difference, other
possible causes for mismatched feet are polio, complications arising from diabetes, foot injury, and
others. In the case of foot injury, the actual foot length difference might result from foot
surgery affecting the skeletal structure as often as the injury itself, and for diabetics, feet can
require special care for the sake of the patient’s health. Severe enough cases of clubfoot
necessitate foot surgery, and those living with it might need special shoes (rather than mismatched
footwear) made either during rehabilitation or for their entire lives even after foot surgery.
Until now, mismatched footwear was very difficult to nearly impossible to find thru standard
avenues. Resources on mismatched shoes are now readily available via the Internet and directly in
conjunction with information sources on foot length difference and foot injury/recovery.
Websites specializing in odd shoes such as OddShoeFinder.com make it easier for people to find
shoes that fit. This shoe finder site helps link people with odd shoes with those who need odd
shoes.
Lastly, organizations such as polio survivors’ groups have made it easier
for them to find footwear. Many cities have associations specific to them designed to help people
needing accommodations due to more serious causes of mismatched feet, from stores offering
mismatched shoes to medical programs that can assist.
