Types and styles of orthopedic Shoe

Although the term orthopedic shoes is used as a general description for any shoe offering orthopedic characteristics, there are in fact a number of different orthopedic shoe types, each offering differing features.

General orthopedic shoes

The most common orthopedic shoe is one that has been designed and manufactured to offer the highest levels of support and comfort for its wearer. These shoes include many, or all, of the features described on our “Properties of orthopedic shoes” page. These orthopedic shoes can be worn by anyone, either for comfort, or to relieve a foot symptom. They are comfortable shoes and manufactured with function rather than fashion as the main design objective.

The main purpose of this kind of orthopedic shoe is to maintain or improve the health of the feet whilst ensuring that walking and standing are effortless and do not result in discomfort. This type of shoe offers a good footwear option to anyone, even if they are not aware of any foot or walking related problems.

Regular orthopedic shoes are only sold at a small number of specialist high street stores, but they are widely available through on-line retailers via the internet.

Variable width orthopedic shoes

Variable width shoes are shoes that cater for extra wide or narrow fittings, something that few standard shoe manufacturers offer.

This means that, in addition to selecting a “normal” shoe size, you also specify a width fitting – something that should be (but is not) available for all shoes.

Being able to select a shoe that fits not only the length, but also the width of the foot is very important. There is no direct correlation between foot length and foot width and consequently many people wear shoes that, whilst having the correct heel to toe dimension, are often too wide or too narrow. Many foot problems, particularly bunions and tender areas, are caused by shoes that either allow too much movement, or literally strangle the foot in the shoe.

This type of orthopedic shoe is widely available through on-line retailers and is even stocked by some specialist shoe outlets. Most shoes that offer width fitting are bult to orthopedic shoe standards.

Specialist orthopedic shoes

The next category of orthopedic shoes are more focused on a particular problem or localized area of the foot.

These shoe types can include, e.g. diabetic shoes, where the soft cushioning and avoidance of pressure points is a primary design objective.

These orthopedic shoes can be bought at some high street retailers, or more normally online, and their characteristics usually emphasise one or more of the orthopedic shoe design features previously mentioned.

These design features compensate for, or protect against, a specific problem, pain area, or potential damage zone of the foot. They are typically priced in keeping with regular orthopedic shoes.

Custom made orthopedic shoes

Most custom orthopedic shoes are made to address a very specific and “unique to the individual” foot or leg problem.

Typical examples can include, orthopedic shoes with a built up heel to balance out a difference in leg length, orthopedic shoes with unusual shapes and sizes, designed to fit feet that do not conform to regular shapes, and orthopedic shoes with additional padding and internal structures for those with missing or additional toes.

Some problems with the lower leg can also be addressed or at least improved through the addition of this kind of orthopedic shoe.

This kind of orthopedic footwear should only be purchased through a specialist orthopedic shoe maker where careful measurements and fitting (and the input of a medical expert) ensure that the shoe adds quality to the wearers life.

There are very few cobblers who specialise in this area of footwear, but one of them is http://www.specialfootwear.co.uk/.

Styles

Today it is hard to differentiate between many orthopedic shoes and regular shoes. Orthopedic shoes now come in an extensive range of styles that see formal and casual shoes, sandals and trainers, and walking shoes and boots.

The only factors that can guarantee that a shoe is not orthopedic, is when it has a very high heel, or a heel to outer-sole that creates an un-natural angle for the foot.

Orthopedic shoes come in just about every colour and vamp texture and they can be bought with laces, buckles, or Velcro style fastenings. And to make thing seven better, the chunky “walking shoe” look that many of the older orthopedic shoes once possessed is now a fashionable look amongst all ages.

For a comprehensive listing of the various styles and designs of all shoe types (i.e. fashion, comfort and activity based shoes), go to this different shoe types page.

Other shoe types, e.g. Five Fingers

In addition to regular shoes there are some other interesting shoe types worth knowing about. Walking or hiking shoes are designed specifically for walking, normally on uneven surfaces, and they have a tough rugged build. They are ideal if you go on country walks.

Two other unusual footwear designs are - the curved sole "MBT style" shoe which takes a lot of the work away from the foot, and - the "five fingers shoe" which does the complete opposite and tries to return the foot to working in the same way that it would if we were barefoot. You can find out more about each of these shoe types by using the appropriate link below.

For information about walking shoes see this Walking and Hiking Shoes page. It will tell you what these shoes are for and how they are designed and how they work.

For some information about Five Fingers Shoes take a look at this page. These unusual shoes may be the start of a new revolution in shoe design. They work by letting your feet and toes work in the most natural of ways

For some information about Curved Sole "MBT" style Shoes go to the page linked to by this text. These shoes have a novel design that some support and some reject.