The Best Medical Shoes

Medical shoes can promote general health, but they can also be used to alleviate symptoms associated with diabetes, kidney problems, back pain, and other ailments. Educate yourself about the qualities of the best medical shoes. If you learn what to look for, you can even access these features in common and less expensive brands.

High Quality Medical Shoes

• Several brands come highly recommended for individuals with health problems such as diabetes. These include Instride (instrideshoes.com), Drew(drewshoes.com), Brooks (brooksrunning.com), Aetrex (www.aetrex.com), Etonic (www.etonic.com), and New Balance (www.newbalance.com). Once you learn which features to look for, investigate different brands and decide which medical shoe works best for you.

Common Brands as Medical Shoes

• If you do not suffer from diabetes but are looking for footwear that mimics the health benefits of the best medical shoes, consider brands such as Puma (puma.com), Mephisto (mephistoshoes.com), Ecco (eccousa.com), Diesel (diesel.com), Kenneth Cole (kennethcole.com), Converse (converse.com), and Adidas (adidas.com). However certain aspects of a shoe make it medically beneficial, and not all of the products offered by these brands demonstrate equal medical benefits.

Shopping for Medical Shoes

• Individuals with heart disease, diabetes, or kidney problems should shop for medical shoes later in the day to account for foot swelling. Shoes you purchase in the morning may be uncomfortable after many hours of wear.

Sizing Medical Shoes

• Medical shoes require more careful sizing than shoes for common wear. Measure your feet in addition to trying shoes on. Have a sales person assist you with this. Get both feet measured while standing. If your feet are asymmetrical, opt for the larger shoe size. Have your feet measured regularly, since their size changes with age. The width of your foot is especially important in sizing medical shoes. Your foot should not be cramped or sliding around inside the shoe. You may need to order custom-made shoes if your foot is of an unusual width. Leave one-half inch between your longest toe and the edge of the shoe. You should be able to wiggle your toes inside the shoe.

Important Features for the Best Medical Shoes

• Choose soft material, ideally leather, which stretches and is durable. Find a cushioned sole, which will absorb shock and protect your knees and back as you walk. Make sure the back of the shoe is firm and does not collapse when you put your foot inside. The ball of the foot should be flexible, and the heel stiff. Diabetes patients need a shoe that promotes good circulation and allows them to maintain sensation in the feet. A cushioned sole with a firm back will help with this. Opt for laces, which can provide a customized fit. Purchase deep rather than shallow shoes for extra ankle support.

Wearing Medical Shoes

• Wear new medical shoes for short periods to break them in before using them regularly. Try them out for two hours a day for about a week to avoid blisters. The best medical shoes become comfortable quickly without causing discomfort. If your shoes cause you pain, return them and try a different pair.