The Davenport shoe check
Do your everyday
shoes actually fit?
Take a closer look at the pair you wear most. Five simple checks, then a useful list of things to try.
Check my shoes
Foot pain or a new foot problem?
For severe foot pain, an inability to walk, or a foot that is hot and swollen, contact NHS 111 rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
If you have diabetes and notice a new wound or a change in your foot’s colour, shape or temperature, contact your foot-care team or GP urgently. If they are unavailable, contact NHS 111.
This is a short signpost, not a complete list of symptoms that need medical advice.
A little attention to your everyday pair
Good fit starts
with noticing.
A number on the box only tells part of the story. The shape of a shoe, the room inside it and how it holds your foot all make a difference to fit.
This check helps you look at your own pair and decide what to explore next. It is a guide to footwear fit and condition, based on what you notice. It does not diagnose a foot problem.
About the advice in this check
The guidance draws on patient information from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust. The tool is intended for everyday adult footwear.
The NHS 111 signposting for severe pain, being unable to walk, or a hot swollen foot follows NHS foot-pain guidance. The diabetes line follows NHS inform diabetic-foot guidance.