Wearing the right shoes in Parkinson’s disease is often overlooked. Despite the fact that footwear problem affects the patient’s day-to-day routines, there is not much information available on using the proper shoes.
Based on the study published in the International Journal of NeuroRehibilitation, most Parkinson’s patients have difficulties using regular shoes. The study also reported that patients prefer wearing shoes that are lightweight, laceless, breathable, to be slipped on easily, and come with comfortable insoles.
Taking into consideration patients’ preferences reported in the above study, we did some research and came up with the following list of recommended shoes for Parkinson’s patients. We think that using these shoes might solve some of the issues of Parkinson’s patients with regard to the use of footwear.
1. KIZIK Shoes
Source: Parkinson’s Foundation
Description:
Kizik shoes are getting more popular among patients who like to have stylish sneakers. The shoe is designed in a way that helps to remove the challenge of wearing it. Because of its hands-free technology, the patient’s feet can get in and out of the shoe easily. This feature eliminates the need of assistance or additional tools. Also, no bending over is required to put it on. The shoe is lightweight, breathable, and provides all-day comfort.
2. Silverts Ulta-Wide Shoes
Source: www.silverts.com
Description
Silvert’s shoes are lightweight, comfortable, and good-looking. Most of their shoes come with an extra-wide toe box that is best for patients with wider feet. The resistant non-slip sole provides a better grip on the feet while walking. The shoes feature adjustable straps, which makes them easy for patients to wear on and take off easily. However, this feature might not be good for all patients. This required bending over, which might be uncomfortable for especially old Parkinson’s patients.
3. BalancePro Shoe Insoles
Source: www.balancepro.ca
Description
This clinically tested insole is from BalancePro, which is a Canadian healthcare startup company. The CEO and owner of BalancePro is Dr. Stephen Perry, who is a professor in Neurosciences at Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario Canada. The insole is specifically developed for the elderly who are struggling with falls due to Parkinson’s disease or other related disorders. It is designed in a way to improve overall control and stability during walking. They are made with high-quality and durable ethylene vinyl acetate and polyvinyl Chloride. They are lightweight and available in different sizes.
4. Novel Magnetic System Shoe Prototype
Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7029357/
Description
Developed by a team of medical students and physicians, the magnetic system shoe is probably the first shoe backed by a research study. The researchers of the study claim that it may solve some of the problems that Parkinson’s patients have with regard to the use of footwear. The shoe is very similar to a dress shoe and accompanied with laces. A unique feature is its magnetic system, which helps the patient to pull open the shoe, step into it and close it without any trouble. The shoe is still in the prototype stage and hopefully be available for sale very soon.
5. Xero Shoes
Source: www.xeroshoes.com
Description
After being highlighted in many well-known online platforms, Xero shoes gain popularity not only among young adults but also among elderly people. The feature that makes Xero shoes stand apart from other standard shoes is the zero-drop non-elevated heel design. This low-to-ground design helps to maintain the proper posture, balance, and agility of patients. The shoes are lightweight, breathable, and come in different shapes and sizes. Xero shoes have collections for indoor and outdoor use; so they can be used for walking, jogging, and running.
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