As a modern woman of the 21st century, I’m sure you own a couple of pairs of shoes. From the elegant black high-heels for more formal occasions to a comfortable pair of travelling shoes to carelessly explore new places for hours. But, did you know that it has been proven that 8 out of 10 women wear shoes that are uncomfortable? If you’re part of that group, know that not only wearing such shoes can be very painful, but you’re also putting stress on your feet, ankles and joints that often leads to arthritis.
If you’ve already started feeling concerned about your legs’ well being, you should know that a lot of women embrace the benefits of orthopedic footwear for ladies. And that’s not surprising at all, considering what a pair of these can for your health.
How to Decide That You Need Orthotic Shoes?
Before you decide to buy a pair of womens orthotic shoes for your everyday activities, have in mind that not all ladies need their support.
First of all, it’s important to know that orthopedic shoes are designed to provide sturdy feet support and help you maintain a well-balanced posture if you’re dealing with foot deformities such as flat feet or high arches.
Besides being worn for correcting deformities, orthopedic womens shoes are also recommended if you’re struggling with sharp heel pain in the mornings, foot pain or swellings after some simple daily activities such as walking around or standing for a longer period, or if you have recently survived injuries in your limb.
The Different Types of Orthotics
If you decided that you need a pair of orthopedic shoes for women, the next important thing to know is that not all of them offer the same support. For this purpose, it’s always recommended to top up your orthopedic shoes with a pair of orthotics to ensure the right treatment for your feet while performing your daily activities.
These are the different types of orthotics that ensure proper support to your feet:
- Rigid orthotics, which are designed to control the motion of your two major foot joints below the ankles. These orthotics are extended from the sole of the heel to the toes and made from tough materials such as plastics or carbon fibres.
- Semi-rigid orthotics are designed to provide a balance to your feet and support your muscles, joints and tendons while walking or exercising, and are usually made of layers of soft materials that are toughened with sturdier and rigid materials.
- Soft orthotics, which are designed to increase your balance, remove the pressure and absorb the shock of some vulnerable spots of your feet. These orthotics are made of soft, compressible materials and are usually worn to treat deformed feet and arthritis.
How to Choose the Right Womens Orthotic Shoes
Once you choose the orthotics that fit your foot struggles, the next step is to choose a pair of women’s orthotic-friendly shoes to wear them with. But be careful when choosing the right pair of these, since wearing orthotics with the wrong shoes will only prevent them from serving their purpose and functioning properly. Here’s what you need to consider:
- Avoid narrow shoes, since they’re the main reason for achy and inflamed toes. Instead, make sure you choose the women’s ortho shoes which feature a spacious toe box that will comfortably accommodate your toes and the orthotics you chose.
- Choose a deeper pair of orthopaedic shoes, to ensure that your shoes won’t slip off while doing different activities after you fit the orthotics inside.
- The footbed plays a big role, so make sure you choose the shoes that feature a wide and easily removable one. This will help you move with ease, and place your orthotics inside the shoe without any difficulties.
- The midsole’s purpose is to enhance the orthotics’ purpose and provide firm support to your feet, so choose shoes that feature only soft and easily compressible ones.
- Also, make sure that the orthopaedic shoes don’t twist easily, since you won’t get the proper arch and base support for your painful feet.
- Finally, always choose a pair of women’s ortho shoes with a low heel. We all know that high heels are not comfortable at all, and the purpose of orthopaedic shoes is to ensure your feet are comfortable while doing your everyday activities.
Some Other Useful Tips
Choosing the right size is crucial. It’s important to know that different manufacturers use different standards for measuring their shoes, which leads to discrepancies in their shoes. For this purpose, always make sure you check out their sizing charts, instead of buying your usual shoe number. Don’t forget to pay attention to the shoe’s shape too, since buying orthopaedic shoes that are differently shaped than your feet won’t deliver the comfort you’re looking for.
Also, never put your main focus on the shoes’ price, since buying expensive brands doesn’t always mean that you choose the best support for your feet. Instead, make sure you focus on the features and specifications that work best for your feet.
After you buy them, make sure you give yourself an adjustment period. Jumping from high heels to orthopaedic shoes can be uncomfortable at the beginning, but once your feet get used to them, you’ll never want to change them again.
You Don’t Need to Compensate for Your Style
Wearing women’s orthopedic footwear doesn’t always mean wearing bulky, ugly shoes which will not go well with your outfits. Nowadays, these shoes come in different colours, designs and styles and are perfect for various occasions – from the elegant shoes you wear for the office to the ultimate leather sneakers with stylish laces for more casual occasions.
Besides as laced sneakers that are your best ally for walking, these shoes also come as sandals with adjustable straps and different prints which makes them perfect for the warmer days. Go ahead and get yourself a pair of these lovely orthopedic womens shoes and make your feet happy again.
