Footwear plays an important part in looking after arthritic feet and painful foot joints. We will show you what to look out for and what to avoid when shopping for shoes for Rheumatoid Arthritis and arthritic feet.
The importance of suitable women’s shoes for arthritic feet cannot be emphasised enough! In the early stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis, arthritic shoes can help prevent any changes to your foot shape before any deformation becomes permanent. If you are already suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis in the foot, the best arthritic shoes will support your feet and alleviate any pain or discomfort.
Here are a few top tips for finding the best shoes for arthritic feet:
1. Look for arthritic shoes with a wide toe-box:
The best shoes for arthritic feet have a deep and wide toe-box which can comfortably accommodate your feet. The toe-box is the part at the front of the shoe, which is wear your foot tends to need more space when it is inflamed. A wide toe-box will also ensure that bunions, hammer toes and deformed joints (which often accompany Rheumatoid Arthritis) are comfortably accommodated.
All Sole Bliss shoes have a deep and wide toe-box, as well as a stretch panel for bunions. Read more about what makes our shoes so comfortable here!
2. Look for arthritic shoes with adjustable fastenings:
If you are wearing a more casual shoe, we would recommend opting for a style with adjustable fastenings. Zippers, laces, back straps and ankle straps will all provide additional flexibility in case you need to adjust your shoes when your have arthritis flare-ups and your foot shape changes.
If you are also suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis in your hands and wrists, be careful to ensure that you are not choosing anything which requires too much fuss to put on and take off. We would recommend Sole Bliss Miracle Trainers which have a lace and zipper design. All you need to do is tie the laces once to find your perfect fit then simply use the zip to slip them on and off each time.
3. Look for arthritic shoes with comfortable uppers:
The best arthritic shoes are crafted from soft, comfortable and breathable materials. We would recommend wearing leather arthritic shoes because leather is soft, breathable and durable. Leather shoes also stop your feet from sweating during the warmer months of the year.
All Sole Bliss shoes are handcrafted from the finest Italian leathers and suedes. Our uppers are leather and our linings are leather which is ideal for women looking for quality, comfortable materials in their footwear. We also ensure that all our shoes avoid any seams over pressure areas so that there is no rubbing or discomfort. Shop our full collection of comfortable arthritic shoes here.
4. Avoid high heels:
For women with arthritic feet, we would recommend avoiding very high heels (anything over 3 inches). Heels which are too high for you can put excess pressure on the front of your foot, as well as damage the joints in your knee, back and hips, which is harmful for those with arthritis in these joints.
That's not to say you can no longer wear heels. Comfortable heels for arthritic feet do exist! Browse our full collection of heels for arthritis here.
