The Best Post-Op Shoes

Designed to protect the feet after surgery or injury, post-op shoes come in two types: walking and offloading. While both types feature large toe boxes and adjustable straps, offloading post-op shoes are designed to shift weight from the toes to the heel to reduce pressure on the front of the foot. Check out our list of the best post-op shoes, and give your foot the support it deserves during the healing process.

After-Surgery Foot Care Tips

While each case is different, there are some simple steps you can take to accelerate rehabilitation after surgery and prevent future problems. Do consult your doctor, if you have any questions.

• Wear Appropriate Shoes

  Wearing improper footwear, such as high heels, after an injury or surgery is asking for trouble. Whether you have hammertoe, neuroma, or another condition, it is essential to eliminate the source of the problem, which very likely may be footwear that is overly narrow and constrictive.

• Toe Stretchers

  If your condition is associated with crooked toes, toe stretchers can help. Slipped over the toes, foot stretchers gently realign the toes to their natural position, improving flexibility, blood circulation, and even posture.

• Mobility Exercises

  Surgery or an injury can affect your ability to get around easily. Luckily, certain exercises can help to rebuild joint and tissue mobility in the feet. Most of these exercises involve gently stretching the feet. Your doctor will be able to point you in the right direction.

• Physical Therapy

  Massage therapy, various chiropractic techniques, and even yoga and pilates, can be great tools for building foot strength and speeding up recovery. Manual therapy is particularly beneficial for those who have already passed the first stage of the recovery process.

Q & A About post-op Shoes

• What Does a post-op Shoe do?

  Most post-op shoes feature rigid soles and ankle straps to immobilize the feet after an injury or surgery. The shoes only allow limited movement to slow you down and protect your foot as it heals. Most post-op shoes feature large toe boxes to accommodate bandages or casts.

• What Should I Look for in a post-op Shoe?

  There are a number of things you should consider before investing in a post-op shoe. Some features to look for include a square toe design that acts like a protective bumper as you get around and a non-slip sole to prevent any accidents. If you have injured your toes, you might wish to purchase an offloading shoe, which transfers pressure from the toes to the heel.

• Are There Types of Shoes I Shouldn’t Wear After Surgery?

  While it is a good idea to only wear a post-op shoe during the healing process, there are some shoe types that you should definitely avoid during this period of time. Some of these include high heels, pointy shoes with tapered toes, and sports shoes with toe spring.

• Can I Drive With a post-op Shoe?

  Driving while wearing a post-op shoe is not advised (in fact, the official recommendation is not to drive for at least 6 weeks after foot surgery). This is because post-op shoes have very rigid soles, which makes them less responsive than standard shoes.

• How Long Do You Wear a post-op Shoe?

  The time you will be required to wear your post-op shoe depends on the type of injury you have sustained or surgery you have undergone. Generally, the recommendation is to try not to put any weight on the painful foot for at least 2 weeks. A post-op shoe should be worn during the day for around a month after surgery.

Weighing All the Factors

There are a lot of components that make up the best post of shoes, including comfort and support. Our top choice, Vive’s lightweight post-op shoe, ticks both these boxes. BraceAbility’s shoe for broken foot or toe and Mars Wellness’ premium post-op shoe are 2 other great options worthy of your consideration.