How to Make Orthopedic Shoes

Orthopedic shoes can be used to treat many problems. They are often used for children with mild to moderate skeletal issues to correct gait and stance, and many older people wear them to prevent wear on and pain in ankles and other joints. If you have a child who has a skeletal anomaly, you should work with a doctor to get a professionally made pair of orthopedic shoes that address the specific condition. However, if you simply feel that you need the support of a pair of orthopedic shoes to help your feet, then you can make your own at home using a pair of sneakers that you probably have in your closet already.

Things You'll Need

• Sneakers that lace and have ankle support
• Thick ankle socks or aloe socks (often used for pedicures)
• Gel soles
• Foam support sole

Instructions

1. Select the proper types of gel insoles for your orthopedic shoes. These come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Orthopedic shoes are generally designed to relieve as much pressure as possible from the foot, so you probably will want a full-shoe insert. Use thick ones, particularly if your sneakers are used and may be a little flat on the bottom. If you have corns, bunions or other foot issues, then you may wish to buy several different types of inserts that are designed to treat these conditions and build a custom support sole for yourself within your shoe.

2. Ensure your insoles work together. There may be a little overlap if you have more than one gel insert for your shoe. If they overlap too much, you may have to judiciously trim off the liner (the part that is not filled with gel) to keep your shoe fitting comfortably. If the gel parts overlap, then try rearranging them slightly or you may need a different model insert for one of your conditions. Before putting the inserts into your shoe, you can lay them out on a table on top of the thin foam insert.

3. Insert the gel insoles. If you are using a single insert that covers the entire bottom of the show, then you can simply slide it into the shoe. However, if you have selected a variety of insoles to treat different foot conditions, slide a thin, nongel insert made of foam into the shoe and then place your gel inserts on top of it.

4. Wear your shoes with thick ankle socks or aloe socks. While you cannot actually install these socks in your shoes without creating an unhealthy foot environment, you should still consider them part of your orthopedic shoes. The aloe socks or thick ankle socks will provide additional ankle support and will keep your feet from moving around at all in your shoes. They will also absorb shock when you are walking or running.

Tips & Warnings

• When you are picking out your sneakers to turn into orthopedic shoes, try on several pairs. The main thing that you are looking for is that they have good ankle support. While you can supplement other aspects of the shoe, good ankle support is vital to have already in the structure of the shoe before you start altering other aspects to make it orthopedic. You can tell if a shoe has good ankle support if it extends at least to the bump in your ankle and if it keeps your ankle from rolling side to side. Lace your homemade orthopedic shoes tightly to ensure that your foot stays firmly in place throughout the day. These shoes will also help if you have poor circulation because they will keep your feet warm. You will need to use a clean pair of socks each time you put them on.

• If you have serious muscular or skeletal health issues, homemade orthopedic shoes will not correct these problems. Visit a doctor for help and custom orthopedic shoes.