There are lots of reasons to invest in a pair of orthopedic shoes. Many podiatrists or physical therapists recommend them if patients have any kind of foot, back, or leg pain that worsens when walking or moving around.
When you go into an orthopedic shoe store, you immediately have more options than a traditional shoe store. Associates will measure your foot using a Brannock device, which takes four separate measurements from each foot. Instead of just using the length from toes to heel, a Brannock device measures the length and width of the foot, the length of the arch, and the length of the toes. After you’ve been sized, you’ll be able to choose from a wider array of styles, as well as shoes that have extra width, more arch support, or stability for flat feet.
If you’re unable to go into a store for a fitting, you can still purchase orthopedic shoes online. These four online retailers make it really easy to find shoes that are right for your feet.
Orthofeet
Orthofeet is so confident in all the online offerings that they offer both free shipping and free returns and exchanges on all their products. From boots to slippers, they offer a huge variety of every style imaginable, or you can browse shoes that are designed specifically for a variety of different conditions. Everything from bunions to neuropathy is accommodated. They also carry extra-wide styles and offer vegan leather options.
Orthofeet’s patented “Ortho-Cushion” system helps every shoe on their website feel comfortable while looking stylish. The Ortho-Cushion is a contoured insole with anatomical arch support. It also includes gel padding under the heel and air cushioning through the ergonomic sole.
Prices start around $79.95 for slippers and climb to around $135 for boots. Most of Orthofeet’s shoes, including pumps, sneakers, and dress shoes, cost between $129 and $135, which is reasonable for a well-designed orthopedic shoe. However, they only stock their own products, so if you’re looking for a specific brand, this isn’t the place to go.
OrthoticShop
The OrthoticShop considers itself a one-stop shop for all healthy footwear, including orthotic shoes, insoles, braces, splints, and socks. They carry products from dozens of popular brands, including Orthofeet, Softwalk, Aetrex Shoes, and Spenco insoles.
If you’re browsing for the first time, you can shop by brand or style. This is great if you already have a product in mind but may not be as helpful if you need recommendations before placing your order. Their website offers lots of options, but it isn’t as slick as the majority of eCommerce stores today, so it requires a bit of patience.
The OrthoticShop offers lots of different style options, but they differentiate themselves from their competition by also offering plenty of non-shoe options like braces, splints, and orthotic socks. You can also pick up medical devices like a cold therapy system to help you get relief from minor injuries.
Typically, the products on OrthoticShop’s website are on the cheaper end of the orthotic spectrum. In fact, they offer shoes for as little as $29.50. Plus, there’s a clearance section with the latest discounted items.
HappyFeet
HappyFeet offers tons of different orthotic products that are designed to make life easier for people with foot, leg, and back issues. They stock their own brand of HappyFeet shoes, as well as products from Orthofeet.
In addition to their online retail store, they offer lots of information on different conditions, including plantar fasciitis corns and calluses, and poor circulation. At the end of each informative article, they offer recommendations for products that can help. This makes it a great option for beginners.
In addition to sorting products by condition, they also stock sports and specialty shoes for golfers, skiers, runners, and military members who need a bit of extra support.
One of their most popular products is they’re patented liquid Massaging Insoles, which can help increase circulation and provide relief from back, hip, and knee pain. These insoles are $44.99 and can be used in many different types of shoes. They also offer to massage HappyFeet Slippers, which are $69.99.
Overall, HappyFeet doesn’t have that many styles available, but once you purchase a pair, they make it easy to register for their free two-year warranty online. This is a great service that larger companies aren’t able to offer.
Protalus
Instead of offering orthotic shoes, Protalus is known for its easy-to-use insoles. Add them to any pair of shoes and they’ll make them as comfortable as a custom-built orthopedic sneaker. They use their own patented cushioning system to build a slim insole that helps to increase the connection between the ankle and the rest of the body, using the kinetic chain which spans from foot to neck. Their insoles have been proven to improve the alignment of the ankle by 31 percent over generic insoles.
They sell a variety of insoles, which are designed to be used with different types of shoes. The T100 insoles replace the insoles that come inside regular shoes, while the H75 insoles are made to be used with heels of up to 2.5 inches in height. All their insoles are $99.95 per pair, which is pricey, but you can reduce the price by signing up for their subscription service, which brings the cost down by up to 50 percent.
Conclusion
If you regularly suffer from foot, leg, or back pain and think that your shoes are to blame, you may want to purchase a pair of orthopedic shoes.
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars. In fact, a new pair of shoes or insoles purchased for less than $130 can immediately minimize your pain and improve the long-term health of your feet by offering more support than traditional shoe styles.
These four options are some of the best online orthopedic shoe retailers open today. They make shopping for orthopedics and orthotics easy and fun.