Article Last Updated: September 1, 2024
Whether you’re healing from a short-term injury, managing chronic pain, or in post-op, choosing the best shoes for a injury is vital for a quick recovery.
In this review and buyer’s guide, we will discuss the seven best products meant to assist in the recovery process after a stress fracture in the foot, broken toe, bunion, Lisfranc fractures, plantar fasciitis, heel fractures, and sprained toes.
One of the best tips for faster and fuller recovery is, of course, to protect the foot from further injury.
Related: Our top rated ankle pain relief medication – click here
You might be looking for running shoes you should wear, but you should save the running and athletics until your stress fracture or foot injury is healed.
Check out our recommendations to find a post-injury shoe that provides the level of protection and mobility you need.
Providing stable protection following post-operative procedures and forefoot trauma, the post op shoe by Vive is lightweight and durable.
Adjustable ankle strap and padded heel minimize heel slippage and allows for proper foot positioning.
Square toe design acts as a bumper and provides additional room and comfort for your foot
How long should you wait for a stress fracture to heal?
Best Shoes for Stress Fracture in Foot
1. Walking Boot by Vive – Lightweight Shoe w/ Adjustable Straps
PROS
- Adjustable
- Can be worn over bandaging and casts
- Non-skid tread
- Arch support
- Breathability
- Toe protection
- Can be worn on the left or right foot
CONS
- Flexible sole
- Might cause sensitivity from rubbing around ankle
The Vive walking boot is a all rounder. Rated as one of the best shoes for broken foot recovery, it has a great reputation for it’s quality build and lightness. This adjustable, lightweight boot can be worn over a cast or bandage, or alone, for an extra line of defence against pain and re-injury.
Surgical-grade walking boot features non-skid tread for added stability, arch support, and pressure relief on the forefoot and heel, which can cause further stress fractures.
Due to it’s light weight, many people use this shoe for ankle sprains as it does not put much extra pressure on the ankle.
Wide, square toe protects the foot and allows for bandaging to be worn underneath.
2. Premium Post Op Broken Toe / Foot Fracture Square Toe Walking Shoe
PROS
- Keeps dressings and toes clean and dry
- Square toe bumper
- Adjustable ankle strap
- Padded heal
- Sole traction
- Can be worn on right or left foot
- Removable insole
CONS
- Sole might be too flexible for more severe injuries
- Wears out quickly
This foot-fracture walking shoe provides reliable protection after a trauma to the forefoot. It is a stiff soled shoe for a stress fracture and is one of the most recommended in the industry.
Often used when coming out of a walking boot, this design is constructed with quality and built to last.
Velcro strips are adjustable and the stiff rigid rocker sole makes walking as pain-free as possible.
A square toe area offers extra protection to exposed areas of the foot, while padding and an ankle strap ensure minimal slippage and effective positioning of the foot.
Traction and rigidity of the sole allow for easier ambulation and reduces pressure.
Customers have recommended this product for post-op surgeries like broken toes, broken foot, stress fracture, and bunion surgery.
A high-quality product at a reasonable price compared to other top brands.
PRO TIP: order one size larger as the shoe tends to be a little on the small side compared to a normal shoe.
3. ProCare Squared Toe Post-Op Shoe
PROS
- Breathability
- Toe protection
- Secure foot position
- Pressure reduction
- Can be worn on left or right foot
CONS
- Flexible sole
- Might cause sensitivity from rubbing around ankle
This design features a high ankle strap to secure your injured foot in the proper position for recovery.
Squared, open toe allows for maximum breathability and protection of the exposed areas of the foot.
Rigid sole provides traction and easy ambulation with pressure reduction.
4. Post-op Broken Foot / Toe Fracture Shoe
PROS
- Padding
- Adjustability
- Easy application
- Secure strapping
- Open toe
- Toe protection
CONS
- Might experience slippage
This design offers comfortable, interior padding and a multi-strap system for fully customized adjustability. It is one of the best shoes for broken toe recovery due to the increased support on the ankle.
This ensures there is no slippage of the foot when walking and therefore it does not rub or hit your toe against the shoe.
The individual straps make it easy to get the front part of the foot tight which further helps with the foot not moving around.
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It’s easy to put on, utilizing Velcro brand hook and loop tape for security and features the common, open toe for breathability and moisture resistance. The square front protects exposed toes.
The company recommended uses are for post-op surgeries including; Broken toes, bunions, hammer toes, Lisfranc fractures, plantar fasciitis, heel fractures, Morton’s neuroma, and sprained toes.
PRO TIP: Use a product called even up to make sure your new shoe is the same hight as the other.
5. MyShoeCovers 1 Fracture Walking Boot Cover
PROS
- Protects from moisture and bugs outdoors
- Washable
- Water resistant
- Slip resistant
- Removable for indoor/outdoor transitioning
CONS
- Material might rip after repeated use
Wearing a post-injury walking shoe or boot is a lot different than wearing your regular shoes, and they don’t serve quite the same purposes.
While a boot protects you from re injury and speeds up recovery time, a regular shoe protects your feet from the elements and the ground outside, and can be removed when transitioning from outdoors to indoors.
This washable boot cover, made in the United States, features water-resistant uppers and slip-resistant soles.
Cover your exposed feet when wearing a boot or post-injury shoe, and remove the cover when you go indoors to prevent tracking and bringing dirt inside.
6. ProCare Evenup Shoe Balancer
PROS
- Added height reduces strain of an unnatural gait
- Rubber straps ensure proper fit
- Can be worn on either foot
CONS
- Sizes run small/narrow
Boots and recovery shoes often cause an imbalance between the lengths of each leg.
This can lead to pain and discomfort in the knees and hips. After an injury, more discomfort is the last thing you need.
This balancer corrects the difference in leg length, making ambulation during recovery much easier.
Tips for buying a Shoe Balancer
7. Cambivo 2 Pair Insoles
PROS
- High-quality material
- Arch support
- Ball and heel gel cushioning
- Can be custom cut for a range of sizes
- Compatible with sports, hiking, working, running and ambulatory shoes.
CONS
- Can be hard to get used to walking on ball and heel cushions
This insole is made of medical-grade materials, with gel cushioning for the ball and heel for shock absorption, and superior arch support to help prevent and heal stress fractures.
How to Choose the Best Shoes for Stress Fracture in Foot
Pain
You pain level is the best tool for figuring out how much support you need during recovery from a stress fracture in the foot.
Stay off of pain medications, and instead avoid activities that cause pain in the injured area. This practice will keep damaging pressure off the foot as it heals.
Material
Material quality needs to be high enough that the shoe or product will last throughout its intended use.
A recovery can last from one week to several, and it’s important that any ambulatory assistance you’re using does not fail you. This can lead to further injury.
Fit
You want to avoid slippage and lose fit whenever possible. Slipping or wobbling on an injured foot can cause a fall or reinjury.
Be sure that your boot, shoe, and/or arch support do not cause your foot to shift around as you walk. The best products provide firm, snug support.
Breathability
As with any bandage or brace, breathability is a huge factor in how well the product works and how comfortable it is to use. Comfort with a fracture isn’t always fully attainable, but a shoe that causes further discomfort is not going to be a good choice.
Low breathability causes sweating, which causes slippage, and we know slippage isn’t a good thing inside a device that’s meant to improve stability.
Arch Support
Many stress fractures occur in the first place because of a lack of arch support, which is critical during recovery.
If your boot or ambulatory shoe doesn’t provide adequate arch support to prevent pain, consider an arch support insole.
Tips for Avoiding Future Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are often seen in the elderly, or those suffering from bone density conditions, but they are also seen in healthy bones when an unusual amount of pressure has been applied.
Athletes often experience low bone strength, because buildups of lactic acid will cause the calcium to be leeched from their bones. Take a lactic acid control supplement and be sure to ingest enough calcium and vitamin D to support bone strength.
Use arch support before a stress fracture occurs. Collapsed or weak arches put pressure on the areas of the foot most likely to experience a fracture. Proper support removes the pressure for more comfortable walking and safer athletics.
Conclusion
Foot injuries can be some of the hardest to heel, because walking is a pretty essential aspect of our lives. It’s important to provide your bones with proper support throughout recovery, which might mean you’ll need a walking shoe at some point.
Use this buyer’s guide to narrow down the endless choices for post-injury support, so you can find the best shoes for stress fracture in foot.
FAQ’s Stress Fractures
How can you tell if you have a stress fracture in your foot?
The best way to tell if you have a stress fracture in your foot is acute pain. Swelling above the foot and on the outside is a sign of a stress fracture. Often the pain increases over time and worsens when extra weight is on the ankle.
Other symptoms include pain that reduces when resting, acute pain that begins and increases with physical activity, tenderness to touch and visible bruising around the foot.
Can you walk with a stress fracture in the foot?
Stress fractures tend to worsen with weight-bearing activities so it is not recommended you continue to walk or put weight on the foot. If you suspect you have a stress fracture, immediately visit a doctor.
It typically takes from 6 to 8 weeks for a stress fracture to heal. During that time, switch to activities that place less stress on your foot and leg.
Can a foot stress fracture heal on its own?
A foot stress fracture that has been diagnosed low risk will likely heal on its own. You doctor will likely recommend you rest, ice, use compression and elevate your leg.
Additionally, the use of anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain and reduce swelling.
Do stress fractures hurt all the time?
Initially, a stress fracture will not hurt all the time. It will start with dull pain or a feeling that the ankle/foot is becoming weak.
As the stress fracture progresses then the pain will become acute and weight-bearing starts to become difficult. If left untreated, it can lead to the ankle bone breaking.
References
DeVries, C. (2015, March 12). 9 Tactics to Prevent Stress Fractures. Retrieved from Sports Health: https://www.sports-health.com/blog/9-tactics-prevent-stress-fractures
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington. (n.d.). Metatarsal Stress Fractures – Home Treatment. Retrieved from Foot and Ankle Center of Washington: https://www.footankle.com/injuries-foot-ankle/stress-fractures-metatarsal/
Health, I. f. (n.d.). IPFH.org. Retrieved from Foot Conditions-Fractures: https://www.ipfh.org/foot-conditions/foot-conditions-a-z/fractures/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2snUBRDfARIsAIGfpqHRhJ-13b_sABOvm3kfgxPjsFTHsEIYkoVoKytXsjFU9dwt2D7CrSUaAtz0EALw_wcB
