Neuropathy can be characterized by sharp stabbing pains, extreme sensitivity, muscle weakness, numbness, or tingling sensations in the feet and hands. Peripheral Neuropathy refers to damage to nerves outside of your brain and spinal cord. It is most commonly found in your extremities such as hands and feet.
It can result from trauma, or it can also be caused by a variety of diseases, including diabetes. Neuropathy can also be caused by repetitive motions and cramped positions. Peripheral neuropathy in the feet can turn your favorite shoes a total no-go. It is a good idea to change your footwear to get some much-needed relief. Women’s shoes that are best for neuropathy have plenty of space for sensitive toes to minimize friction and impacts.
Regular exercise is a great way to manage or prevent neuropathy symptoms, but it can be difficult to move when you are in pain. That’s why best neuropathy shoes are designed in a way that it provides sufficient cushion and increase comfort and protection for those with peripheral neuropathy. These shoes provide best arch support and plenty of cushion in the places you need it.
Although diabetic shoes may have the features neuropathy patients require, many footwear brands compromise style for functionality. Here are top 5 stylish and comfortable shoes for women that will allow you to go outside with peripheral neuropathy.
Best Women Shoes For Neuropathy in UK 2023 – Reviews
Skechers Summits are highly regarded for their long-lasting comfort and support. Its lightweight, fit, and lace-free design were all highly appreciated by many users. It’s comfortable and easy to slip onto for quick errands. You don’t need to tie them up in order to put them on. They are stylish, comfortable, and breathable.
These wide training sneakers are made from a flat mesh knit upper and have a bungee laced front. It also features a memory foam insole, a shock-resistant midsole, and a patterned outsole for a solid grip. These shoes fit true to size and you will not find any tight spots on your feet. The memory foam insole is well cushioned and provides comfort and good support.
The Summit’s flexible, breathable upper is made from thin synthetic material. It contours to your foot when you walk. The lightweight upper provides a good ventilation, keeping your feet cool. The Summit trainer is so light that you don’t even feel like you have shoes on.
The Summit’s outsole is very well-designed. The grooves are non-slip and don’t collect rocks or pebbles. They also make it easy to clean. You can walk on the soles without leaving any marks on the floors because they are non-marking.
Pros
- Lightweight, Comfortable and Durable
- Easy to wear and remove
- Rubber outsole for solid grip and traction
- Shock-resistant midsole
- Well padded memory foam insole
- Versatile style – can be worn at different occasions
Cons
- Some users complain memory foam insole wore out after several wears.
- Non adjustable lace
These casual shoes for women from Orthofeet are super comfortable and come in a wide range of widths. The unique therapeutic design reduces stress on the joints, increases stability, and significantly improves the ease of walking. OrthoFeet is an orthopedic footwear company that is known to build quality footwear that provides comfort and pain relief for 17 different ailments. These include neuropathy, plantar fasciitis, achilles tendon pain, bunions, hammer toes and many more.
OrthoFeet uses their patented Ortho Cushion. It features an orthopedic insole with three layers. This insole is designed to alleviate pain, enhance comfort and improve mobility. The top layers is made from a malleable material and offer good arch support. The middle layer forms an insulating layer and provides extra cushioning. Finally the lower layer is made from a soft form and act like a trampoline pad to absorb impact forces and provide cushion.
The shoe has a stretchable knit upper that molds perfectly to your feet and reduces pressure on bunions and hammertoes and offers a comfortable fit. It also has a soft, smooth interior that runs from the heel to the front of the foot. This reduces any irritation from bunions to the top of the shoe. This is the best pair of shoes for those who have neuropathy that you can walk in without any pain.
Pros
- Provides comfort and relief from foot pain
- This shoe is suited to a wide range of ailments such as diabetes and neuropathy
- Premium orthotic insoles with anatomical arch support
- Soft, foam-padded interior to reduce pressure points and friction against the skin
- Stretchable and breathable upper to reduce pressure on bunions and hammertoes
- Ergonomic Easy-Step design sole made of polyurethane foam
Cons
- Not waterproof
- Not much slip resistance
- Only available in the US. Amazon will ship elsewhere, but this will invalidate the free shipping/returns policy.
This smooth leather sneakers feature a flexible, ultra-lightweight midsole with an anatomically curved footbed. The outsole features flex grooves for ease of movement and slip-resistant rubber pods. This style is so comfortable that it has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal Of Approval for good foot health.
These trainers are stylish and also great for joint support when walking. It is so comfortable and lightweight that you can walk 10 miles without any discomfort. Despite its premium design, it is very affordable. It is available in white as well as a few neutral colors like metallic silver and all-black.
Pros
- Lightweight, comfortable and flexible
- Slip resistant rubber sole
- Curved footbed
- Outer material is made of leather
Cons
- Not premium quality insole
Vionic is a well-known name in footwear company. It manufactures comfortable with a focus on style. Vionic shoes are designed to hug your arches, which supports natural alignment. This shoe from Vionic is a blend of textiles and mesh upper along with an EVA footbed. It’s suitable for leisure wear as well as light gym days.
The trainer feature a removable EVA footbed with a bio-mechanic orthotic footbed, which naturally aligns your feet and decreases over-pronation. The EVA midsole absorbs shock and helps reduce impact on your knees, ankles, and feet. The innovative biomechanics of Vionic provide enhanced stability, forefoot cushioning, and arch support with the midsole. They have essential contact points that hug your foot’s natural curves. These shoes comes in plenty of colours and size, so choose according to your style and comfort.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Shock-absorbing EVA footbed.
- FMT Technology helps support natural alignment and reduce overpronation.
- Good arch support
- Sturdy outsole.
Cons
- Some users felt the footbed is very firm
- Some users complaint that shoe has strong odour
These women trainers are made of lightweight mesh have a sock-like fitting and a cushioned insole that gives it bounce and lift. We know that the best people to tell whether the shoe is comfortable and supportive are those who work long hours, such as teachers, nurses, or other professionals. And all these professional talk highly about this lightweight sneaker.
One of the reason for the popularity of Konhill sneakers is that they’re comfortable for everyone, even for those who have wide foot. They are great for people with bunions or hammertoes, and they don’t cause skin friction. These lightweight shoes are wide enough to wear with any socks and have lots of toe room with padded cushion.
Pros
- Comfortable and lightweight
- flexible outsole efficiently adapt to the shape and motion of your foot
- Breathable knit upper provides comfortable fit
- Easy slip on design
Cons
- Not sufficient arch support
- Not very durable
What Causes Neuropathy
The most common reason for neuropathic feet is diabetes. Insensitive feet can be caused by a variety of conditions, including diabetes, syphyilis and pernicious anaemia. This insidious dysfunction is not known to the patient. There is no way to compensate for the loss of sensory protection even if neuropathy is diagnosed. The patient may feel numbness in their feet, tingling or unusual pain later.
The pain may be intense, burning, or lancinating. There may also be hypersensitivity to touch, rest pain, and some cases, severe pain. As sensory loss progresses, the painful neuropathy becomes self-limiting. Sensory neuropathy can be combined with motoric or autonomic neuropathy. Motoric neuropathy affects the muscles and nerves of the feet, commonly known as claw-toes and claw-foot.
The neuropathic foot is more at risk of overloading than the normal one. Ulcers can be caused by a combination of motor and sensory nephropathy. Motor nerve dysfunction, for example, makes the foot’s short muscles paretic. While the long flexors and extensors are activated, which causes the common Claw-toe and claw foot deformities. Sensory loss can also lead to balance dysfunction, which causes the patient to stand and walk with slightly bent knees. This increases the strain on the forefoot.
Why a Person Suffering from Neuropathy Needs Specialized Shoes
Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic condition that was once predominantly a disease in older people. But in recent times, the age of the onset of diabetes has decreased and more young adults are reported to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. If the proper treatment and preventive measures are not, it can lead to complications like peripheral neuropathy. This is a major factor in the development of plantar lesions.
Due to the common habit of wearing shoes almost every day, symptoms such as pain, immobility and skin deterioration are more common in the feet. Diabetic neuropathy sufferers may experience skin deterioration, pain, and deformities such as bunions, Charcot feet, hammertoes, and hammertoes.
Thankfully, there are various therapeutic shoes that are designed especially for people who are diabetic or those suffering from peripheral neuropathy. The use of such therapeutic shoes has shown a remarkable reduction in peak plantar pressure compare to ordinary footwear. This may certainly contribute to the prevention of injuries to those who are associated with peripheral neuropathy.
Basic principle that people with neuropathy should consider in their shoes
- Shoe should be fastened to the foot between the lacing and heel counter.
- To synchronize with the movements of foot, the sole of the neuropathy shoes must be stiff from the heel down to the axis of metatarsophalangeal joints.
- To avoid pressure on the big toe, the medial side of your neuropathy shoe should be straight.
- The shoe should be wide enough to prevent pressure on the side of the fifth or first metatarsal head.
- The toe cap should allow for free movement and distance between the toes.
- The shoe should be 1.5 cm longer that the weight-bearing foot. The toes of the feet must not touch the toe-cap at the toe-off.
How to Choose the Best Shoes For Peripheral Neuropathy?
Shoes that fit well and provide adequate support for the feet, as well as protection from injury and pressure points, can prevent most foot injuries. Here are some of the factors that you should consider before buying a shoes for neuropathy.
Extended Width
Wearing shoes that are narrow can put excess pressure on feet with neuropathy. This can cause skin irritation and open wounds. Therefore it is recommended for those with neuropathy wear wider shoes.
Shoe Height
Shoe height are classified in to high, bottine (ankle high also known as half boots) and low. High shoes are required for the
There are three types of shoe height: high, low and bottine. High shoes are required for the transference of forces. They can be used for correction, relief of pressure on the particular area of the foot, or immobilization of the foot in the shoe. If the foot is prone to slip forward in the shoes, bottine shoes can be used.
Closed Design
It is recommended to wear closed design shoes for people who are suffering from peripheral neuropathy. They offer a better fit, provide protection and are safer to wear.
Protective Interior
The shoes must be designed with soft and smooth interior that runs from heel to front of the foot. It should also have seamless design to reduce irritation at the bunion.
Stretchable Uppers
The shoes you buy should have stretchable uppers to provide comfort, ease pressure points and that conform to the contours of your foot. The upper should also be made from soft fabric, preferably padded with foam to reduce frictions and provides superior comfort and protection to peripheral neuropathy.
Heel
To increase shock absorption, the shoe for neuropathy must have made from a resilient material. If you have mild drop foot consider buying shoe that has heel rounded at the back.
Breathable and Lightweight
For closed-toe shoes, breathability is important factor to ensure your feet are comfortable and cool. Ventilation can be improved by using mesh inserts. The shoe should also be lightweight to provide comfort when walking.
Taking Care of Your Feet After Removing Shoes
Check your shoes for stones and damage every time you take them off. You should inspect your socks for any stains, as this could indicate there is some problem with your foot. Also, examine your feet for signs of infection, injury, or irritation. After checking your feet, use a washcloth to clean them and then dry them gently without rubbing. After you have cleaned your feet, apply a moisturizer to your feet. But make sure the cream does not remain between your toes, as it may cause fungal overgrowth. Consult your doctor if you notice any redness, swelling or soreness or blistering.