Proponents of barefoot running claim that the human foot was not designed to be squeezed into ill-fitting shoes.

Forget childhood images of ill-fitting shoes, curled up sandwiches and lukewarm tea.

Problems that occur in childhood can affect health and foot comfort later on, with many complaints in adulthood stemming from wearing ill-fitting shoes earlier in life.

At anything from 330 to 2,000, however, it may not be a suitable destination for those feeling the pinch never mind that of their ill-fitting shoes.

The instrument was a sales aid, but by ensuring more accurate fittings, the device also helped his customers alleviate or avoid foot problems due to ill-fitting shoes.