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8 December 2017

What sort of footwear is suitable for swollen feet?

If you have swollen feet, it’s important that you choose appropriate women's wide shoes. Wearing shoes that are too tight are not only uncomfortable but can restrict your circulation and worsen the swelling...

If you have swollen feet, it’s important that you choose appropriate women's wide shoes. Wearing shoes that are too tight are not only uncomfortable but can restrict your circulation and worsen the swelling. They can also cut into soft tissues and cause injury to your skin. Look for footwear which has either been specially designed for swollen feet or is available in a wider width fitting and offers more depth. You shouldn’t have to buy a larger shoe size to get the width you need.

Think about how easy a shoe is to get on and off. A style which opens down to the front is ideal. Generally, slip-on styles are less suitable for swollen feet as they can cut into your swelling and cause injury. However, if your swelling is minimal over your instep and getting shoes on and off is difficult, then they may be helpful.

Touch-fastening styles are useful as you can alter the fit if your feet become more or less swollen. They are ideal if you are unable to tie laces easily. The position of the fastening is important. Make sure it is placed so that it doesn’t cut into swollen insteps or ankles. Strap extensions are often available for touch-fastening styles. They lengthen the straps on the footwear which gives you more room to accommodate swelling.  Lace styles give the most secure fit with plenty of support and adjustment. 

Daisy-Mae

A touch-fastening style can be adjusted to fit swelling. Style shown: Daisy-Mae from Cosyfeet

It’s important to choose the right time of day to try footwear on. Early morning is not ideal as your feet will have little to no swelling and later on in the day they are likely to be at their most swollen; therefore it’s best to try footwear on sometime around the middle of the day to get the most accurate fit.