Shoe Wear

What kind of shoes should I wear with my orthoses?

Running shoes are recommended to be worn with your orthoses. Appropriate footwear is essential to encouraging a stable base of support, optimal foot alignment, and proper gait biomechanics. Shoes that are old and worn will have a negative impact on your gait biomechanics, as well as on the proper functioning of the orthotic device. In particular, we do not recommend any type of sheepskin boots (Uggs), canvas shoes (Converse style), ballet slippers, boots, low profile shoes, mary janes, or flip flops. While we understand that many patients are fashion-conscious, consider that a beautiful walk and improved mobility are worth a thousand nice pair of shoes. Orthoses aim to improve your gait and body alignment in the long-run, and they only work as well as the shoes they are worn in.

We recommend the following criteria for your shoes:

A size or half size larger than you would normally wear
Removable insole
Lace-up style (laces allow the shoe to be opened up for easy donning and they can be done up tightly to help control and align the foot, as well as keep the orthoses firmly in place)
Firm/deep heel counter (when you squeeze the heel of the shoe it is firm and doesn't fold or collapse. The heel of the shoe is deep enough to control the heel and doesn't allow the heel to 'pop out')
Stable sole (the sole of the shoe is stable and flat and doesn't 'rock' back and forth, it bends only at the toes and nowhere else along the length of the sole, and the sole offers resistance when twisted and cannot be 'rung out' like a dish cloth)

Please note that we can only fit the orthoses with your shoes as we need to see you standing and/or walking. If you show up to your appointment without shoes we will have to rebook your appointment.