My husband needed a new pair of shoes. We knew the importance of good shoes that provide a stable base and support his balance. His old shoes had soles that allowed his foot to rock through each step, making him feel even more unbalanced. He felt he needed something flat on the bottom so when he is trying to get up from a chair, he has a solid foundation. He can still tie his shoes and it is good exercise for his fingers, so he didn’t need to look at slip-ons or Velcro closures.

I turned to Google for help and found that there are many different approaches to appropriate shoes for Parkinson’s Disease. Most of them look at the challenges associated with putting them on but there are also a few that look at balance and stability. I found one study done in 2013 that addresses the soles and suggests that textured soles might help with postural stability. Another website touted insoles that stimulate the bottom of the foot when walking to encourage balance and a better gait. The internet agreed with my husband that the sole needs to be flat on the bottom; contoured heels can decrease stability, especially when getting out of a chair. Finally, the toebox, as it’s called, must be big enough to accommodate my husband’s toes when they sometimes choose to cramp. It’s a lot to look for in a shoe.

There aren’t many specialty shoe stores in our community and, even though I saw some nice examples, I wasn’t ready to order shoes on-line. I tried that once before and learned that he really needs to try the shoe on to make sure the fit is good. We went to a local shop and found some Dr. Scholl’s that have the flat soul, a cushy and supportive insole and are wide enough for his toes to move. He tried them on and then tried doing a sit to stand in the store before we left, it all seems to work. The new shoes are very lightweight which is another bonus. He is a bit clunky in them as he adjusts to the change, but I think they are going to be okay and give him a greater sense of safety and stability and me the knowledge that he is less likely to fall.

For a look at the science behind this check out Effect of Foot Orthoses and Shoes in Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A PRISMA Systematic Review – PMC (nih.gov) on the National Institute of Health website.