If your body was a building, your feet and ankles would be the foundation. If the foundation isn’t well supported, it affects the entire building. That’s why it’s so important to wear proper shoes to protect and remove pressure from your ankles.

Shoes for Common Ankle Problems

There’s no one-size-fits-all shoe for people with bad ankles. The type of footwear that would best help your ankle pain depends on the cause of the pain you’re experiencing. Let’s take a look at some ankle problems and some shoes that help control them.

1. Unstable Ankles

People with chronic ankle instability often have the outside of their ankle give way, usually during physical activity. This causes pain and swelling, and it makes your ankle feel wobbly a lot of the time.

Most people develop this ankle problem following a poorly rehabilitated ankle sprain. Your ankle becomes unstable if the muscles around it aren’t strengthened again following the sprain.

If your ankle is unstable, you should look for shoes with a firm outside. These will help keep your ankle from turning or giving out because they offer structural support. For extra ankle support, your the podiatrists at Family Foot & Ankle Centers may recommend that you wear an ankle brace, too. A couple of shoes that are good for unstable ankles are Nike Air Zoom Structure 21, Asics Gel Kayano 24. A favorite boot of our foot doctors for unstable ankles is the Danner Kinetic GTX.

2. Flat Feet

Flat feet are extremely common as approximately 20% of babies never develop arches in their feet. People who have had flat feet since birth typically don’t experience much pain.

On the other hand, adults who acquire flat feet often experience pain and discomfort. That’s because the arch collapses as a result of muscle weakness, causing the ankle to lower inward.

If you experience pain from feet, you should probably avoid shoes that have an inward curve at the middle, that look like an hourglass when you look down at them. Instead, you should go for shoes with a straighter silhouette.

That’s because if your feet are flat, they usually spread wider when you put weight down on them. If the sole curves inward, part of your weight will be supported by the fabric of the shoe, instead of being fully supported by a sole. Straighter shoes allow your entire foot to be supported by the sole when you take steps. Examples of shoes recommended by the foot doctors at Family Foot & Ankle Centers are New Balance, Saucony and Asics.

3. Arthritis

Ankle arthritis is when the joint between the shin and the ankle gets worn down. It can cause, pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joint.

To adapt to this condition, you can change your footwear to alleviate the strain on the ankle. This can include shoes with a lot of cushioning in the sole, or you can use cushioned inserts in your normal shoes.

Another option is to wear shoes with rocker soles. Rocker soles replicate the movement of the joint, limiting the actual movement in your ankle and easing the pain. The foot doctors at Family Foot & Ankle Centers recommend the shoe brand Hoka most for this problem.

When To Call The Podiatrist

If the shoe fits… wear it to protect your ankles.

It’s important to remember that while specialized footwear can help keep your ankle pain at bay, it cannot solve the underlying problem. If you’re experiencing pain in your feet and ankles, it’s important to see a podiatrist at Family Foot & Ankle Centers. You can call us to schedule an appointment at 972.597.4132.

For more articles on foot and ankle health, visit our website.

The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about topics related to podiatry, feel free to contact Family Foot & Ankle Centers by clicking here or calling 972-597-4132 to reach our Waxahachie office, 903-872-9910 to reach our Corsicana office, or  972-875-3668 to reach our Ennis office.