Are your slippers hurting your feet?

With a lot of people working from home in the last 2 years, I often get questions about what is best to wear on the feet in the home. I have seen patients of mine in the last 2 years that have recurrent symptoms for conditions such as plantar fasciitis and Morton’s neuroma, despite being custom foot orthotic users. On further questioning I commonly find that the person had been spending more time in the house wearing slippers or going barefoot. There are many benefits of going barefoot, however, some people with certain foot conditions need to have support and mechanical control of their feet, even in the home. Many of the slippers that people wear around the home provide cushioning and warmth, but offer little in the way of support. There are some manufacturers that are making slippers with better supportive features. Some examples are Propet, Vionic and LL Bean. My general recommendation is to use a closed back type of slipper with a non slip sole. Look for additional support features such as a reinforced heel area and arch support if needed. In certain situations custom orthotic inserts can be made specifically for slippers. I have also recommended people buy a pair of “house sneakers” to wear inside only. This way they can use their regular orthotics around the house too. If you need advice on what to wear around the house, we can help. Come in for a visit and check out our new shoe (and slipper!) collection, featuring the entire Propet line!