Choosing the correct shoe is one of the most important features to get right when you have foot and ankle pain. Like the foundations of a building, everything else you do that follows will rely on the correct shoe being used.
Your feet will have the best support and protection from shoes with:
You should avoid:
Sometimes we recommend rocker-soled shoes to help with certain foot and ankle problems. These shoes mainly help to reduce pressures to the forefoot but are helpful for lots of foot and ankle problems.
They have thick soles which taper toward the toes from just behind ball of the forefoot. This allows the shoe to rock forward as you walk or if you press down on the toe area.
Be careful: Lots of shoes roll up at the toe. This is called toe spring and it helps your foot to clear the ground when you walk. If the sole is not sufficiently stiff the shoe will not function as a rocker.
You should never have to ‘break your shoes in’ if they are not comfortable when you try them on, they are not right for you.
It is reasonable to wear your new shoes in for a while, this helps you adjust to a new style that you may not have worn before.
You can wear them around the house for short periods (20-30 minutes) to acclimatise to them and then check your feet. Look for problems such as redness from rubbing or pressure. If this happens you can usually return them if they are not soiled or been worn outside.
If you’re happy with your new shoes start wearing them outdoors for a few hours at a time and gradually build up the use.
There is no single brand or shoe that we recommend, however the following may be useful:
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