Footwear and Mobility Aids After A Foot Injury: What Should You Be Using?

Posted 12 Jun

So you’ve injured your foot - should this impact your choice of daily footwear and should you be considering a mobility aid? In most cases, yes - at least in terms of being intentional with your footwear choices. Your shoes can play a big role in either supporting or hindering your recovery, so being mindful of your footwear can go a long way in optimising your recovery. Most of the time, you don’t need to do anything drastic - just make sure your feet are as well supported as possible.

Shoes are often viewed as stylish additions to an outfit, but the truth is they go a long way in protecting our feet, supporting our foot function (foot biomechanics) and helping us feel more comfortable as we recover from foot pain or injury. To understand the precautions you should take and the shoes you should choose, it’s essential to first recognise that your ‘best’ shoe choice can vary significantly depending on the type and severity of your injury, as well as the pain and symptoms you’re experiencing. Mobility aids are also an important consideration, especially for a more severe injury or if you’re recovering from surgery. Here’s a range of footwear and mobility aid considerations to think about - and whether or not these could be a good idea for you.

When The Best Shoes Are No Shoes

Immediately following a serious foot injury, especially in the first 24 to 48 hours, rest is key. This can actually help prevent further injury by not further straining the newly damaged area. During this acute phase, inflammation, pain, and swelling are typically at their peak. If you’re not wearing shoes, elevating your foot above heart level, icing, and avoiding excessive weight-bearing are all good strategies to support early healing. 

No shoes can be helpful when you have severe pain and swelling, but for less severe injuries or where shoes are unavoidable, the focus should be on reducing load where possible. Supportive, cushioned shoes with minimal seams and ample toe room can help minimise pressure and friction. 

Crutches and Mobility Aids: Bridging Early Recovery

As you begin to regain mobility (or you’re still able to mobilise within minimal pain and discomfort from the get-go), crutches may be recommended to reduce the load on your healing foot. These aids allow you to stay mobile while keeping weight off the injured area. Crutches can be paired with either no footwear, open footwear or other ideally light-weight shoes that allow your foot to continue to clear the ground. For those with fractures or injuries that require strict non-weight-bearing, total offloading devices (discussed next) can be essential. 

For milder injuries, walking may be permitted right away if you’re in a supportive shoe and possibly using taping or bracing for added protection. The goal is always to balance mobility with protection, preventing unnecessary strain while also avoiding over-reliance on mobility aids.

Moon Boots and Supportive Walkers: Controlled Protection

When weight-bearing after a significant or severe injury is safe and necessary, moon boots (CAM walkers) and other pneumatic walkers may be recommended to protect the injured area while you’re on your feet. These options are especially useful after fractures, ligament tears, or surgeries.

Moon boots are helpful when the foot or ankle needs to stay immobilised while still allowing functional movement. For injuries requiring moderate protection – like stress fractures, tendon injuries or significant sprains – they allow structured support without fully immobilising your lifestyle.

Some people may be advised to wear the boot all day, while others may only need it during longer walking periods or on harder surfaces. If you need a boot or walker, your podiatrist will discuss the ideal requirements for use - how long you should be wearing them for and such. Pneumatic boots can be adjusted to suit changing swelling, making them ideal during the early recovery period. On the other hand, some injuries – like minor tendon strains or nerve-related conditions – may only need a structured athletic shoe with modifications, not a full boot.

If you need stability but don’t require total offloading, ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) may also be another option that your podiatrist will discuss with you.

Transition Footwear + Rethinking Your Everyday Shoes

Once you start transitioning out of a moon boot (or similar), or if your injury is mild to moderate to begin with, your everyday footwear becomes very important. The right shoes can support ongoing healing and help retrain your walking pattern, while the wrong ones may cause setbacks.

Supportive, enclosed shoes with a firm heel counter, cushioning, and a secure fit (like lace-ups or Velcro fasteners) are usually the safest option. For foot injuries involving the toes, forefoot rocker soles can help reduce strain during the toe-off phase of walking.

If you're recovering from plantar fascia pain or Achilles injuries, you may benefit from a small heel lift within your shoe to reduce tendon loading. If your foot is still swollen, wide-fitting shoes with soft uppers may help reduce discomfort without compromising support.

In some cases, taping or bracing inside the shoe adds an extra layer of support. It's about finding the right balance - enough support to promote healing without over-restricting your natural motion.

Orthotics and Shoe Inserts: Supporting Your Foot Function

Custom orthotics or temporary shoe inserts are often introduced during the mid-to-late stages of recovery, especially when compensations have developed, or pain is persisting due to poor biomechanics.

For instance, if you're walking differently due to pain or stiffness, your foot may start rolling in or out more than usual, leading to strain on other joints. Orthotics can help restore alignment, distribute pressure more evenly, and support injured structures.

Short-term solutions might include gel heel cushions for bruised heels or metatarsal domes for forefoot pain. Longer-term, custom foot orthotics are often very beneficial if your injury was caused by an underlying biomechanical issue in the first place, or you have biomechanical (or other) factors that may be interfering with your healing or risking the problem returning in the future.

Even for temporary support, working with a podiatrist ensures the insert is appropriate for your foot shape and injury stage.

Custom Footwear and Modifications

Sometimes recovery isn't straightforward – especially in cases involving foot deformity, post-surgical scarring, or conditions like diabetes that increase injury risk. In these cases, fully custom medical footwear or specific modifications to off-the-shelf shoes may be required.

For example, after a midfoot injury, a stiffened rocker sole can reduce pressure on healing bones. Or for someone with swelling that changes throughout the day, adjustable lacing systems or added depth shoes may be the most comfortable and safe option.

It’s not too often that a recovery needs custom shoes – but when off-the-shelf options don’t provide enough support or protection, modifications can bridge the gap. These are tailored to you and should always be overseen by your podiatrist.

Indoor Footwear and Support at Home

Many people focus on outdoor shoes, but your choice of indoor footwear can be just as important during recovery. Walking barefoot at home can strain injured tissues or increase your risk of slips, particularly on hard or slippery surfaces.

If you’re still in pain or limping, use supportive indoor shoes like recovery sandals with arch support or cushioned slippers with firm soles. For those recovering from surgery or severe injury, even short indoor walks may require a moon boot or medical sandal.

If you're mostly mobile but still feel unsteady or sore, indoor orthotic-friendly slippers or cushioned sandals (with enclosed toes if necessary) can provide that vital mix of comfort and support.

Recover At Your Best With Our Brisbane Podiatrists

The thing with footwear and recovery is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution after a foot injury. Every person and every injury is different - and so our recommendations to you will be too. If you're unsure whether your footwear is helping or hindering your recovery, experiencing ongoing discomfort, or feel like you're not progressing as expected, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support.

Your podiatrist can assess your gait, footwear, and healing progress, and guide you on when to transition between rest, moon boots, supportive shoes, and orthotics. We can also advise on taping or modifications that make daily life easier without compromising healing.

Book your appointment with our podiatry team online here or call us on (07) 3356 3579.