Shoes for people with disabilities

Relief shoes for people with functional disorders of the lower extremities

Being steady on your feet when you have a disability

For many people, choosing the right footwear isn’t easy. But what do you do if you have a disability? This might be advanced osteoarthritis, joint stiffness, artificial joints or a prosthesis, to name just a few possibilities. The likes of prostheses are high-tech constructions that are individually fitted and nowadays enable a normal gait pattern. However, this requires footwear that is matched to the prosthesis. This naturally also applies if you are affected by any of the other disabilities mentioned above.

Relief shoes aim to take away the movements and loads on joints that occur during walking. They should increase safety and be both functional and comfortable – both when walking and standing. Good relief shoes can help to ensure that the pressure on not only the joints but also the back is relieved. This protects the entire joint chain, counteracts back pain and thus improves mobility.

The right fit

Footwear must fit, regardless of whether you have a disability or not. In this context, the correct shoe length is important. Often, people buy shoes that are slightly too large for their feet because a size smaller is too narrow. However, this can become a problem, as shoes that are too long increase risks such as twisting an ankle, slipping or tripping due to catching the toe. The perfect fit also depends on the correct shoe last. The last looks similar to a human foot, but is a model piece that is used in the production process to shape the footwear as desired. The last should be based on the natural shape of the foot so that the shoes don’t pinch or aren’t too big or too small. Prosthetic foot manufacturers also base their designs on lasts.

Especially with relief shoes, it may be important that they can be fitted with insoles to compensate for deficits. When making a purchase, ensure that the wearing comfort does not deteriorate with insoles!

Criteria for a natural gait

To ensure that walking in shoes doesn’t disturb the natural gait pattern, a controlled rolling motion is important. This can be achieved through the likes of midfoot arch supports and widened soles.
The special properties of relief shoes also include effective shock absorption. This can be well implemented through angled heel sections with integrated cushioning elements. A slightly set-back ball roll and pronounced toe spring not only support the rolling motion but also reduce the risk of tripping. The ‘toe spring’ refers to the distance between the tip of the shoe and the ground when the shoe is standing on a flat surface.

Secure stepping

While you normally feel slight unevenness or slippery surfaces when walking, this perception is limited on prosthetic legs. Here, technical aids in the shoes are needed so that the feet can be placed securely. So the soles should have a special profile. In the best-case scenario, they can increase slip resistance through their material composition alone and ensure the necessary grip on smooth, wet surfaces. This is a feature that certainly all those who don’t have 100% gait security will appreciate.

Lightweight and comfortable

Depending on a person’s disability, their mobility may be limited compared to someone with healthy feet. Perhaps your own mobility isn’t ideal, so relief shoes have to compensate for this. They should therefore be designed to be easy and comfortable to put on and take off. A large shoe entry, a loop on the tongue or even a one-hand fastener make putting on and taking off much easier. If the footwear is particularly lightweight, this is also advantageous, because the heavier a shoe is, the higher the centrifugal forces are when swinging through. A weight of less than 500 grams (for size 42) is considered ideal.

The right material

Here, too, footwear should be made of high-quality materials. Such materials include the likes of vegetable-tanned leather with sufficient water vapour permeability and breathable textiles that guarantee a balanced inner shoe climate and pleasant wearing comfort, even during continuous use. So look out for breathable materials to ensure that your feet feel comfortable.

Checklist for back-friendly shoes for people with disabilities

  • The risk of tripping should be reduced and prosthesis swing-through optimised. Ideally, this is solved by a slightly set-back ball roll and a pronounced toe spring.
  • The footwear must enable controlled rolling motion to ensure a harmonious gait pattern. This can be achieved, for example, with midfoot arch supports and widened soles.
  • Effective shock absorption and joint protection are important. This is made possible through the likes of an angled heel section with integrated cushioning element.
  • A perfect fit is ensured if the footwear is sufficiently wide in the forefoot area without unnaturally pushing the big toe towards the middle of the foot. Foot mobility should be possible in all directions without losing secure footing. The natural shape of the foot must not be impaired or altered by the footwear.
  • For relief shoes, the use of insoles may be important. It must be possible to use insoles in such a way that wearing comfort is not compromised and the shoes remain securely on the feet.
  • The footwear must be the correct length.
  • Increased slip resistance provides better grip on smooth, wet surfaces. Special profiles and special rubber compounds in the soles are best suited for this.
  • It should be easy and comfortable to put on and take off the shoes. Large openings at shoe entries and loops on tongues or one-hand fasteners are ideal.
  • The footwear must be made of high-quality materials with sufficient water vapour permeability and breathable textiles.
  • Optional forefoot cushioning can relieve the metatarsal bones.

Additional minimum requirements for relief shoes

  • The feet must be securely held
  • Individual adjustment solutions
  • Foot relief during the rolling motion
  • Secure heel strike without any tilting moments
  • Relief through suitable footbeds

Products with the AGR seal of approval

NUNATAK®
D.O.G. GmbH
Europastraße 8 / I
6322 Kirchbichl
AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 5332/930 81 850
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.nunatak.at

Pictures and videos

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