-
If the shoe fits . . .
Have you noticed the following situation with your shoes?
I was officially diagnosed with PD about a year ago. Since then, I have been wearing rubber-soled sport shoes outside and, inside, a step-in, lace-less slipper – again rubber soled. With either of these shoes I have had to concentrate on lifting my (PD affected) leg so as not to snag. Doing so causes me to freeze for a brief second.
Recently a shoe sale prompted me to sample and purchase both types of the above footwear. What happened next I found informative, and my experience may help others.
The shoes that I chose to purchase had two features of note. They both lack rubber soles, instead having smoother, non-rubber(?) material. Second, each design is elevated at the rear of the shoe.
Wearing them around the house, I first noticed less “grabby-ness” with fewer incidents disrupting my travels. That was great. What was not so great was the loss of balance – my perception having me fall forward.
At the time of writing about my experience, a week has passed, and both issues persist. Have you encountered similar shoe impacts?
-
2 Replies
-
I went shoe shopping about 18 months ago. I went to REI as they have a good variety. I was there to buy some Hoka shoes as my stepdaughter told me how comfortable they were. Hoka shoes are heavily padded in the soles. After wearing them for a few hours at home I thought I was on stilts. I went back and asked for the flattest shoes they had. I ended up buying Astra running shoes. The best part was the toe box is wide while the back part of the shoes held my heel firmly. I did buy some barefoot shoes for my balance exercises as they make me feel connected to the floor.
-
Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s interesting how much the design of a shoe can affect stability and comfort. The difference you mentioned between the padded soles and the flatter Astra running shoes makes a lot of sense, especially with the wider toe box and firm heel support. The idea of barefoot shoes for balance exercises is also a good point, feeling more connected to the floor could definitely help with stability.
-
Log in to reply.