Whether you&#;re accommodating for a temporary or chronic condition, shoes with orthopedic features can be a great tool for improving your foot health. They can go a long way toward treating conditions such as blisters, long-term foot pain, bone spurs or arthritis&#;all symptoms that can be born out of wearing improper footwear. If you&#;ve decided it&#;s time to look for a better shoe, whether by pedorthist recommendation or by personal interest, there are a few things to look for when trying out your options.
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Here are five things you should look for in your orthopedic shoe purchase.
Inside Features
When investigating the inner workings of your everyday shoe of choice, it&#;s important to look for a few key elements. Does the insole provide adequate support&#;is it removable, and does it offer the right amount of cushion for your distinct arch? How about toe room&#;does it offer the right amount of space to prevent irritation or calluses over time? (Look for round- or square-toed shoes, and avoid shoes that come to a point.) The bottoms of each person&#;s feet can vary widely, so make sure you&#;ve taken steps to ensure your individual shape is accommodated for. (Your left foot may even vary from your right!)
You could also benefit from features that you can add to your existing shoes, such as certain inserts and custom-made appliances. For example, some steel flat inserts are used to help with toe pain, some small, custom-made heel lifts can help with planar fasciitis&#;the list is virtually endless. Talk with an Orthopedic Institute specialist to see if this could work for you.
Are you an avid runner? There are even more considerations to make when it comes to shoes built for joggers. Check out our blog on determining a best-fit shoe!
Outside Features
The comfort and effectiveness of your everyday-use shoes depends on more than just the inner elements. Outer pieces can have a big impact on quality as well. Look for pairs that feature breathable fabric on the top of the shoe for optimum ventilation in warmer conditions. The style of the base of the shoe is also critically important&#;make sure it features quality tread to keep your contact with the ground stable and balanced.
Adequate Heel
Many shoes feature a slight heel. Depending on your arch and the foot condition you&#;re accounting for, a slight lift can actually help in some cases, such as plantar fasciitis. (Consult with your pedorthist on which heel features are best-fit for you and your condition&#;depending on what you&#;re accounting for, less heel may be a better idea.) You should also keep your eyes peeled for pairs that have a stable heel counter&#;the cup that offers structure to the back half of the shoe. A good way to spot this is to test a heel&#;s bendability. If it&#;s difficult to bend, it should provide stable support.
True Fit
This may or may not surprise you, but your feet can experience slight changes in size throughout the day depending on factors such as humidity and temperature. That&#;s why picking the absolute right fit can be so important for someone looking for shoes that maintain quality foot health. Consider trying on pairs in the afternoon or evening hours once your feet have been walked on for several hours and have slightly expanded from use and outside conditions. This also goes for older shoe-buyers&#;our feet change throughout our lives, so if you&#;re still wearing the same size you wore years ago, it might be time to take updated measurements.
(Pro tip: When pinpointing the best fit, it&#;s important to wear the style of socks you&#;ll most often be utilizing when wearing these shoes&#;it will give you the truly best idea of the size you should buy.)
Specialization
When it comes to finding quality shoes, it helps to do your homework before you head to the store. While some major footwear manufacturers may offer shoes with joint-healthy support in addition to standard designs, they may not have a true specialization in this style of shoe. Look for companies with good reviews and endorsements of health organizations or manufacturers that solely focus on quality, well-designed and manufactured shoes. It also can&#;t hurt to speak to your pedorthist about best practices when buying. Check out OI&#;s own resident pedorthist, and schedule an evaluation!
Today&#;s orthopedic shoes are not only better for your feet &#; they&#;re also stylish. Here&#;s how to find your perfect pair.
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When you picture orthopedic shoes, you probably imagine clunky, unfashionable footwear. Nowadays, that&#;s not the case. Today&#;s versions of orthopedic shoes are made to fight foot pain while also being nice enough to wear on a day out.
As the population ages, more adults will need orthopedic shoes. One estimate pegs the global orthopedic shoe market to rise to $8.9 billion by . Yet choosing the best orthopedic shoes can be a challenge. In this guide, we cover key features to look for in orthopedic shoes to help you shop for the right pair.
Regular shoes are fine if you have no underlying foot pain or condition. Otherwise, walking around on pairs of worn-out, stretched shoes can make your feet feel more achy and uncomfortable. Orthopedic shoes are specially designed for those with painful feet due to various orthopedic ailments, such as arthritis, plantar fasciitis, bunions, and neuropathy. When you wear orthopedic footwear, you&#;ll feel less discomfort and can move much more freely. That&#;s because orthopedic footwear helps properly align your posture so you&#;re putting less stress on your back, knees, and hip joints, all while reducing foot pain.
Orthopedic shoes can be bought off the shelf or custom-made for your foot shape, gait, and specific condition. They also come in a variety of styles, from sneakers and sandals to more formal footwear, so you&#;re sure to find a pair that&#;s both fashionable and functional for your lifestyle. Orthopedic shoes can be more expensive than regular shoes, but the investment is well worth it for your foot health.
Finding the best orthopedic shoes for you depends on looking for features that will counteract your specific foot problem. Also, take into consideration your lifestyle: Are you active and want a pair for exercising? Or do you just want shoes that will get you through your day in comfort?
To get started, here is a list of what to focus on as you shop for orthopedic footwear:
1. Arch support. Heel and foot pain are often associated with low arches or flat feet. Shoes with strong arch support lessen the stress on the bottom of your foot.
2. Wide toe box. Give your toes room to move, especially if you have bunions or hammertoes.
3. Cushioning. If you have arthritis in your feet, every step can be painful. Shoes with solid cushioning act as shock absorbers, thereby reducing pain in your feet, knees, and hip joints.
4. Extra depth and width. Shoes with extra width and depth are perfect for those prone to foot swelling, as they expand as the foot swells. Look for velcro closures that provide a bit more give at the top of the shoe. Plus, if you wear inserts or orthotics, you&#;ll need that extra roominess.
5. Seamless interiors. Rough edges inside footwear may irritate the feet of people with diabetes, leading to sores. So, turn to shoes with seamless interiors and soft materials to protect your feet from scratches.
6. Hard heels. A strong heel area stabilizes the foot and counteracts excessive pronation (inward roll of the foot) or supination (outward roll of the foot), which can throw off your gait and cause joint pain and foot issues.
7. Non-slip soles. Soles that provide a measure of traction can prevent falls in those with foot pain or balance issues.
When trying on a pair of orthopedic shoes, make sure they feel comfortable right from the start, as there shouldn&#;t be a need to &#;break them in.&#; Consult with a podiatrist or orthopedist for assistance, and take your time to choose wisely &#; you want shoes that will last a long time.
As a leading sports medicine center, the doctors at New York Bone & Joint treat all types of orthopedic issues, including those involving the foot or ankle. If you&#;re looking to resolve foot pain and improve your quality of life, book a consultation with Dr. Christine Ellie, the best-rated podiatric surgeon in NYC. She&#;ll diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan to get you back on your feet.
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