How to Choose Shoes for Edematous Feet

Your feet may be edematous (swollen) for various medical reasons. There are some cases, such as with Lymph edema when your feet will be swollen evenly throughout the day. However, in most cases the swelling will be worse as the day goes on. Due to the increased pressure from a poorly fitting shoe on a swollen foot, your feet will be more susceptible to corns, calluses, blisters and breaks in the skin. You may also be more prone to infection due to the associated poor circulation or medical disorders. So, it is very important to choose a shoe that will fit you all day long and will also not cause any harm to your feet.

Instructions

• 1

  Have your feet measured. This should be done at then end of the day when your feet are at their largest.

• 2

  Avoid shoes with stitching, or seams that are prominent in the shoe and may irritate your feet. Run your fingers in and around the shoe to ensure there are no problem areas

• 3

  Find a shoe with a lace or a strap. The laces can be adjusted to allow more room in the shoe to accommodate any increased swelling. A Velcro strap may be easier for you to adjust. A lace or a strap also holds your foot in place so that it does not slip backwards and forwards in the shoe which will cause irritation to your foot and hence corn, calluses, or breakages to the skin.

• 4

  Look for elastic uppers for the front area of the shoe to reduce shoe pressure on your swollen foot.

• 5

  Choose a shoe with a padded collar around the heel of the shoe. This may prevent the shoe from cutting into your foot.

• 6

  Visit a specialist shoe store that stocks wider and deeper fitting shoes and shoes for edematous feet. If you wear an orthotic, take it with you to make sure you achieve the perfect fit while wearing the orthotic. Otherwise, when you later place the orthotic in the shoe, the shoe will be too tight.

• 7

  Take your new shoes to your podiatrist if you are unsure about the fit. They may be able to adjust them slightly by placing padding in the shoe or allow the shoes to adjust by a prosthetics or orthotics. They may refer you to a shoe maker to have a pair of shoes made specifically to your measurements.