8 Best Shoes for Stroke Patients

Stroke, a major cause of disability worldwide, often results in impaired mobility and is closely associated with an increased risk of falls. The repercussions of falling can be severe, ranging from fractures to hospitalization, nursing home admission and even death. Surprisingly, poor footwear choices have been identified as a significant factor contributing to up to 50% of falls in the elderly.

According to a study published on Oxford Academic, footwear choice significantly impacts the walking patterns of stroke patients during their recovery phase, with closed fitting shoes demonstrating superior performance compared to regular slippers or going barefoot.

The research further concludes that many stroke patients are often unaware of the importance of selecting appropriate footwear. Addressing this gap in knowledge by providing targeted education on suitable footwear options for stroke recovery could potentially enhance gait quality and mitigate fall risks among individuals recuperating from stroke.

In light of all this, to help you find the perfect shoes for post-stroke gait and balance, we've curated a list of handpicked shoes that can support your feet, legs and posture throughout your journey.

What are the best shoes for stroke patients?

Best tennis shoes for stroke patients 

Women’s Nira

Why you’ll love it

• Simply slip your foot in and go – it's that easy!
• Constructed with fancy orthotic insoles that realign your feet

 

Specs

• Sizes: 5-12
• Widths: Standard (B) - Extra Wide (2E)
• Upper materials: stretch knit
• Available colors: turquoise, light gray, black 

 

Tired of shoes that feel like a chore to wear? It’s time for comfort. Designed with a keen understanding of post-stroke needs, these shoes prioritize support and stability from the ground up. 

Nira is constructed with fancy orthotic insoles that work wonders, realigning your feet and ensuring your posture stays on point, alleviating foot pain. 

But that's only the beginning. Ease of wear is paramount, especially when you're recovering from a stroke. Nira's slip-on design lets you ditch the struggle of laces and tangled footwear. Simply slip your foot in and go – it's that easy! 

Life can be unpredictable, so it's a relief to know these shoes are water-repellent and a breeze to clean. No more worrying about unexpected spills or puddles. Plus, the generous toe box provides ample breathing and wiggle room for swollen feet, bunions, or hammertoes, ensuring a comfortable fit for all. 

Step inside Nira, and you'll find a world of comfort waiting for you. Soft padding and a stretchy knit upper conform to your foot like a custom made sock, eliminating pressure points and ensuring a snug fit that feels soft and gentle on your feet. 

Below, the thick, shock absorbing soles minimize impact on your joints, while the slightly curved design allows for natural movement with each step. Plus, the rubber outsoles offer exceptional grip on any surface, so you can walk with improved confidence.

Feedback from users

“Best shoes EVER! These shoes are amazing. Slipped my feet in and that's all she wrote. So very comfy. I walked almost 3 miles before my feet started to tell me to stop...LOL that is the BEST. I bought another pair in black.”

Dee Coulson

Men’s Monterey Bay

Why you’ll love it

• Soles that offer advanced grip and improved stability
• Easy on-off with discrete Velcro tabs on either side

 

Specs

• Sizes: 7-14
• Widths: Standard (D) - Extra Extra Wide (6E)
• Upper materials: microfiber and fabric
• Available colors: white, black

 

If you’re looking for a reliable partner in stability, the Monterey Bay sneakers may be your solution. Designed with a focus on supporting those with fallen arches, these lace free wonders are a game changer for all day comfort. 

Monterey Bay's innovative design features a tie-less closure system that also offers a customizable fit, thanks to two Velcro tabs on either side used to open and close the shoe. This feature is especially beneficial for persons with mobility issues, who may find traditional laces challenging to manage. 

Still, breathability is just as important as ease of closure. The aerated material of the uppers allows for optimal airflow, keeping your feet cool and dry throughout wear. This is helpful for everyone, but especially for those with sensitive feet, keeping infections and odors at bay. 

Now, let's talk about the premium orthotic insoles. These insoles, complete with anatomical arch support, work wonders for foot and heel pain relief while realigning your foot and entire body posture. 

This proactive approach to foot health is complemented by the wide toe box, which alleviates pressure on the forefoot and toes, allowing them to splay naturally. 

Inside, the sneakers offer a soft, padded fabric interior with no overlays, ensuring superior protection against irritation and providing an extra layer of comfort for sensitive feet. 

And finally, the cushioning sole with a mild rocker design enhances ease of walking, adding a spring to each step, while the rubber outsole provides advanced grip and excellent stability, instilling confidence with every stride.

Feedback from users

“Perfect shoe for a stroke patient. These shoes are non-skid, and with Velcro openings are very easy to slide on and off. They give great support for a person learning to walk again. The wide toe box is more comfortable for his swollen toes.”

Dan Fontenot

Best slip on shoes for stroke patients 

Women’s Kita

Why you’ll love it

• Thanks to a hidden spring mechanism, slipping your foot in is effortless
• Stretch knit upper wraps around your unique foot shape

 

Specs

• Sizes: 5-12
• Widths: Standard (B) - Extra Wide (2E)
• Upper materials: stretch knit
• Available colors: black-black, black, blue, gray, rose, white

 

The revolutionary design of the Kita sneakers prioritizes hands-free convenience, transforming the way you put on and take off your shoes. 

Gone are the days of fiddling with laces – thanks to a hidden spring mechanism, slipping your foot into these sneakers is effortless and intuitive, and the back of the shoe gently embraces and molds to your foot with a reassuring bounce. 

Balance and stability are crucial for stroke survivors, and the Kita sneakers excel in this regard. Their slip resistant outsoles offer reliable traction on a variety of surfaces, ensuring you can move with confidence and poise throughout your day. 

The stretch knit upper of these sneakers wraps around your unique foot shape, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit that hugs your unique foot shape. Breathable material keeps your feet feeling fresh and cool, even during long days, while professionally cushioned and ergonomic orthotic insoles provide shock absorption and support for every step. 

But Kita doesn't stop at comfort. Ergonomic soles with a mild rocker design and minimal heel-to-toe drop make walking easier and alleviate strain on the forefoot, promoting a more natural gait. With extra depth, wider widths and removable footbeds, these sneakers can accommodate AFOs or other devices, ensuring a customized fit.

Feedback from users

“I love the Kita. Very comfortable. I suffered from a stroke and have limited mobility and hand function. I am able to handle the shoe without assistance. Love the no tie shoe laces. The shoe look beautiful.”

Teresa N.

Men’s Rex

Why you’ll love it

• No need to tie laces or bend down to put your shoes on
• Water repellent uppers keep your feet dry in any condition

 

Specs

• Sizes: 7-14
• Widths: Standard (D) - Extra Wide (4E)
• Upper materials: stretch fabric
• Available colors: blue, black

 

At the heart of these casual shoes lies a hidden spring in the rear, allowing for easy on and off without the need to bend down and tie laces repeatedly. The rear part of the shoe moves down as your foot enters, securing it in place for a snug fit. No more struggling with laces or worrying about bending down repeatedly. 

On top, water repellent uppers keep your feet dry in any condition and simplify cleaning, adding an extra layer of convenience to your routine. The stretchable knitted upper material also molds to the contours of your feet, ensuring a customized and pressure-free fit for added comfort.

Premium orthotic insoles with anatomical arch support, which are also removable, contribute to realigning your foot and entire body posture. This not only relieves heel and foot pain, but also enhances sensory awareness, helping you maintain balance. 

Inside, the soft, padded fabric interior eliminates irritation, providing superior protection for sensitive feet. This feature is particularly beneficial for those requiring gentle, irritation-free footwear.

The cushioning sole with a mild rocker improves the ease of walking and adds a subtle spring to your step, enhancing overall comfort. With a rubber sole providing advanced grip and excellent stability, you can walk confidently, addressing concerns related to balance and stability.

Feedback from users

“My husband is recovering from a massive stroke, we cannot get him out shopping for shoes. We certainly appreciate the option to have two sizes delivered for him to try. These shoes work out very well as he cannot use his right side, needless to say his caregiver and I like them as much as he does. They are attractive, comfortable and warm. Thank you.”

Tamara Popoff

Best slippers for stroke patients

Women’s Lorin | Men’s Vito

Why you’ll love it

• Patented slip-on system eliminates ensures a hassle-free wear experience
• Loosen or tighten the strap on the interior side to adjust fit

 

Specs

• Sizes: women 5-12 | men 7-14
• Widths: women Standard (B) - Extra Wide (2E) | men Standard (D) - Extra Wide (4E)
• Upper materials: leather
• Available colors: Lorin - light brown, bordeaux, black | Vito - olive, black

 

Regular slippers may not be the best footwear choice after a stroke, but the Lorin and Vito are not your regular slippers. Designed with convenience and comfort in mind, Lorin and Vito slippers offer innovative features to make time spent indoors more manageable. 

The patented slip-on system eliminates the need for bending down or using hands to put on or take off these slippers. A built-in spring bends to allow foot entry, then bounces back to secure it, ensuring a hassle-free experience. The result: simply slip your foot in and go!

For those requiring a customized fit, you can loosen or tighten the strap on the interior side of the slipper to adjust accordingly. 

Equipped with premium orthotic insoles featuring anatomical arch support (removable), the Vito and Lorin slippers go beyond conventional footwear. These features realign the foot and entire body posture, promoting optimal support and reducing the risk of imbalance, crucial for individuals recovering from a stroke.

Alleviating pressure on sensitive areas and allowing enough room for the toes to spread naturally, these slippers provide a non-binding fit, making sure your feet aren’t squeezed in. 

The soft suede water repellent upper ensures a dry environment, while the faux fur interior keeps feet warm and comfy. A plush microfiber insole top cover adds an extra layer of comfort, keeping your feet dry from within.

The lightweight cushioning sole, with its outdoor shoe construction and featuring a mild rocker, improves the ease of walking. It softens impacts, alleviates stress on joints and enhances the overall walking experience. 

Crafted from high quality rubber, the soles improve surface grip and maintain stability, providing confidence with each step.

Feedback from users

Lorin 

“Awesome Slippers! Absolutely LOVE these slip on hands free slippers! Sooo comfortable and well made. Will buy more when needed.”

Sandra Ekblom

Vito

“Nice indoor footwear. I really needed the handsfree slippers for a long time due to limited mobility. I'm glad it is available now…These have been sturdy enough to allow me to use comfortably and with my own arch supports from my regular shoes due to plantar fasciitis. Best slippers I have ever found.”

Timothy Ross

Best boots for stroke patients

Women’s Florence 

 

Why you’ll love it

• Two hook and loop straps allow the boots to fully open up for easy foot insertion
• slip resistant rubber sole with a unique tread design offers excellent traction

 

Specs

• Sizes: 5-12
• Widths: Standard (B) - Extra Wide (2E)
• Upper materials: leather
• Available colors: camel, brown, black, taupe

 

Crafted with both practicality and style in mind, Florence boots offer a winning combination for women on their recovery journey. 

The anatomical arch support reduces pronation, guides the foot into its proper alignment and function, and improves gait. With added heel cushioning to protect the sensitive heel bone, these boots enable women to maintain their balance and step confidently without compromising foot health. 

Designed with a rocker bottom sole, the Florence brings a subtle spring-like quality to each step. This innovative feature minimizes walking effort, making these boots an invaluable choice for women experiencing foot discomfort post-stroke.

Putting them on is effortless with two hook and loop straps across the ankles. These straps allow the boots to fully open up, facilitating effortless stepping into the boots while ensuring a secure and customized fit tailored to the unique shape of each woman's foot.

Crafted from soft, non-binding leather with sealed seams, these boots are entirely waterproof, guaranteeing dry and warm feet even in wet conditions. In addition, the design allows enough room for AFOs and other foot devices.

The lightweight, slip resistant rubber sole with a unique tread design offers excellent traction, improving confidence and stability when navigating winter's surfaces. Furthermore, the ankle support provided by these boots enhances stability even further.

Feedback from users

“These boots were nice and warm and I got lots of compliments on them. I have been recovering from a stroke and I’m able to get my foot into the foot bed better. I don’t even have to use an AFO splint. I love your shoe bed, very very comfortable.”

Brenda Casper

Men’s Ryder

Why you’ll love it

• Two zippers at the heel offer hassle-free on-off wear
• Enhance stability and balance with ankle support

 

Specs

• Sizes: 7-14
• Widths: Standard (D) - Extra Wide (4E)
• Upper materials: leather
• Available colors: brown, black

 

Featuring two zippers at the heel, these boots offer hassle-free on-off wear. Simply unzip the back to open the boot wide, effortlessly slide your foot in, and zip it back up for a snug fit. 

The lightweight boots come equipped with premium orthotic insoles, complete with anatomical arch support for enhanced comfort and support. These cushioned insoles can be easily removed to accommodate orthotics, ensuring proper alignment of the foot and entire body posture throughout the day.

Designed with a specialized rubber sole featuring a clever tread design, the Ryder boots offer improved steadiness on various surfaces. The lightweight, ergonomic and cushioned sole incorporates a mild rocker bottom, reducing the effort required during walking for a more comfortable stride. 

The wide and tall toe box allows toes to move freely and rest in their natural position, making it ideal for those with bunions, hammertoes, swelling feet and other foot conditions. Meanwhile, the soft leather upper provides a relaxed fit, while the seam-free fabric interior ensures protection for even the most sensitive feet.

The boots are also biomechanically engineered to provide optimal ankle support, enhancing overall stability and comfort. This feature is particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with balance issues, ensuring a more secure and stable stride.

Feedback from users

“My husband has some issues with his feet from a stroke. Hammer toes and range of motion. The ease of putting these on is wonderful and he loves the support and comfort they give him all day on his feet!”

Stalvey S.

What shoes should a stroke patient wear?

According to Dr. Josh White, DPM, “Stroke patients principally need to be able to easily put on shoes and ensure they fit properly.” He adds that, “If there is difficulty using one hand, slip on styles might be most beneficial. If the foot lacks muscle support, it might benefit from a brace that would need to fit into the shoe. Also, the affected foot might become smaller than the other, necessitating adjustability of fit.”

More specifically, what follows is a detailed list of recommended footwear features for post-stroke. 

Stability and cushioning

It’s best to choose shoes designed to offer stability and ease the discomfort associated with various foot conditions.

Effective cushioning is essential, whether indoors or outdoors, as it reduces impact on feet and joints and lowers the risk of injury.

Arch support

Built-in arch support encourages proper foot alignment, reducing strain on weakened muscles and enhancing overall stability during walking.

Lightweight construction

Choose lightweight shoes to enhance the walking experience and reduce muscle fatigue.

Lighter shoes make lifting the feet easier, which is particularly important for stroke recovery patients.

Mild rocker design

A mild rocker design allows a smoother, more controlled rolling motion from heel to toe.

Curvature of the rocker bottom soles fosters a more natural gait, reducing effort during each step and practically propelling the foot forward. It also ensures even pressure distribution, offering comfort and reducing strain for post-stroke individuals.

Room for AFOs or braces

Ensure shoes have sufficient width to accommodate AFO devices or braces.

Look for extra depth, generous toe space, wider widths, stretch or flexible uppers, and removable insoles for comfortable fit with devices.

Adjustable for personalized fit

Choose shoes with adjustable features like straps or laces for secure fit and to prevent foot slippage.

Adjustable elements cater to individual needs and provide a stable sensation while walking.

Comfort and breathability

Shoes with breathable uppers or features promote moisture evaporation to maintain foot health and prevent infection and odor.

Taller shaft for ankle support

Consider shoes with a higher shaft for added ankle support, enhancing stability and reducing the risk of falls and ankle sprains.