More than 43.1 million Americans – one in every six people-have trouble with their feet, mostly from shoes that don’t fit properly, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Here are some tips from the AAOS to help prevent foot problems:

• Have your feet measured every time you buy new shoes. Your foot size increases as you get older.

• Women should not wear a shoe with a heel higher than 2 1/4 inches.

• There should be a 1/2-inch space from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. If the shoes feel too tight, don’t buy them.

Because a child’s feet are constantly growing, it is important to allow at least one finger’s width from the end of the longest toe when buying shoes.

American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine