There are plenty of options when it comes to shoes! The shoes you choose make a huge difference for your feet. Wearing comfortable, supportive, stable shoes during your day-to-day life now will help existing pain and prevent heel pain in the future. We'll discuss what makes a supportive shoe to prevent foot pain and keep your feet happy!
- Firm Sole: The sole of the shoe should be rigid at the bottom, and flexible at the toes. To test this, grab the heel of the shoe, place the toe box on the ground and press down with as much force as possible. If the shoe collapses on itself, it is too flexible and it won’t be supportive.
- Rigid Heel Counter: The heel counter refers to the part of the shoe that supports your heel. When the heel is stable the whole foot is stable. Check for a rigid heel counter by gently pressing the back of the shoe to check its stability.
- Adjustability: Lace shoes are the most adjustable shoes. Generally, shoes that lace up are preferred over slip-ons because they provide better support and hold your foot in place to the sole of a shoe. When the shoe fits better to the foot it has better support.
Additionally, shoes with arches provide support across the bottom of your foot, giving you greater balance and stability. We recommend getting shoes that have room for arch support. This includes both shoes that include built-in removable insoles for arch support, or inserts that you can get specially tailored to your foot.
Don’t buy a shoe simply because it’s your favorite color, it’s on sale or a friend suggested it. Pick a pair that is most comfortable for you. Shopping for supportive shoes is made easy when you visit The Healthy Feet Store and discover an extensive selection of podiatrist-recommended shoes. Explore over a thousand styles of orthopedic, diabetic, and therapeutic shoes that range from orthopedic sneakers and dress shoes to diabetic sandals and boots, you can find what you need for numerous foot conditions.
Written by
Dr. Jeffrey S. Hurless
DPM, FACFAS Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon/Podiatrist
Medical Director, HealthyFeetStore.com
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