Shoes for Rheumatoid Arthritis - What are the Best Shoes for Rheumatoid Arthritis & Arthritic Feet?
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune condition which occurs when your immune system attacks the joint lining tissue, causing painful inflammation and stiffness.
This blog will provide important information on Rheumatoid Arthritis in the feet and finding the best shoes for arthritic feet. Rheumatoid Arthritis can attack multiple joints throughout the body but it often starts with the joints in your feet and hands, which is why it is important to find the best shoes for arthritic feet.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis vs. Osteoarthritis?
If you are looking for the best shoes for arthritic feet, it is important to know the difference between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis, so if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis in your feet, the joints may become swollen and painful. In this case, it is important to find suitable women’s shoes for arthritic feet.
Osteoarthritis is more common than Rheumatoid Arthritis and is also known as a wear-and-tear arthritis. Osteoarthritis usually affects one foot, whereas Rheumatoid Arthritis usually affects both. Osteoarthritis tends to be worse in the morning and subsides in less than an hour, whereas the pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis generally lasts a little longer.
Causes & Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis has a lot of symptoms. It is unlikely for one person to suffer from all of them but it is important to be aware of these symptoms.
The main symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the foot are pain, swelling and stiffness of the foot. You may notice symptoms first appearing in the toes and around the balls of the feet. These Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms may then develop in the middle and back of the foot and then in the ankles. Symptoms are often worse after long periods of exercise, including walking, running and standing.
Other symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include abnormal warmth in one or more areas of the foot, as well as fatigue. There are also further foot issues which can arise due to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Bunions, Flat Feet and Hammer Toes are the most common conditions, and we will discuss these in more detail later. Many of these symptoms can be alleviated by wearing comfortable arthritic shoes.
There are a number of causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Some experts believe that Rheumatoid Arthritis is genetic. Environmental factors such as bacteria and smoking may contribute to Rheumatoid Arthritis too.
There will be periods where the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the foot become more severe. These periods are known as flare-ups. And there will be periods where the symptoms are less noticeable. This is known as remission. There are several causes for these flare-ups and we will address some of the best ways to manage arthritic feet, including wearing suitable arthritic shoes.
Ways to Alleviate Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are lots of ways to alleviate the pain and discomfort of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the foot, particularly by wearing the best shoes for arthritic feet. There are plenty of stylish options for women’s shoes for arthritic feet and we will show you some of these options too!
In addition to arthritic shoes, these are some of the best ways to manage your foot pain:
- Rest your feet
- Ice your feet
- Soak your feet in warm water
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication
- Prescription medication which stops the immune system from attacking your joints
- Steroid injections
- In addition to arthritic shoes, you can use braces, orthotics or insoles
Low intensity exercise, for example walking, can also help increase the strength in your muscles and joints, as well as improving your general health. For these outings, it is particularly important to wear the best shoes for arthritic feet.
Venus: Sand Patent Leather - Square Toe Shoes for Arthritis
Best Shoes for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Footwear plays an important part in looking after arthritic feet and painful foot joints. We will show you what to look out for and what to avoid when shopping for shoes for Rheumatoid Arthritis and arthritic feet.
The importance of suitable women’s shoes for arthritic feet cannot be emphasised enough! In the early stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis, arthritic shoes can help prevent any changes to your foot shape before any deformation becomes permanent. If you are already suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis in the foot, the best arthritic shoes will support your feet and alleviate any pain or discomfort.
Here are a few top tips for finding the best shoes for arthritic feet:
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Look for arthritic shoes with a wide toe-box:
The best shoes for arthritic feet have a deep and wide toe-box which can comfortably accommodate your feet. The toe-box is the part at the front of the shoe, which is wear your foot tends to need more space when it is inflamed. A wide toe-box will also ensure that bunions, hammer toes and deformed joints (which often accompany Rheumatoid Arthritis) are comfortably accommodated.
All Sole Bliss shoes have a deep and wide toe-box, as well as a stretch panel for bunions. Read more about what makes our shoes so comfortable here!
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Look for arthritic shoes with adjustable fastenings:
If you are wearing a more casual shoe, we would recommend opting for a style with adjustable fastenings. Zippers, laces, back straps and ankle straps will all provide additional flexibility in case you need to adjust your shoes when your have arthritis flare-ups and your footshape changes.
If you are also suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis in your hands and wrists, be careful to ensure that you are not choosing anything which requires too much fuss to put on and take off. We would recommend Sole Bliss Miracle Sneakers which have a lace and zipper design. All you need to do is tie the laces once to find your perfect fit then simply use the zip to slip them on and off each time.
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Look for arthritic shoes with comfortable uppers:
The best arthritic shoes are crafted from soft, comfortable and breathable materials. We would recommend wearing leather arthritic shoes because leather is soft, breathable and durable. Leather shoes also stop your feet from sweating during the warmer months of the year.
All Sole Bliss shoes are handcrafted from the finest Italian leathers and suedes. Our uppers are leather and our linings are leather which is ideal for women looking for quality, comfortable materials in their footwear. We also ensure that all our shoes avoid any seams over pressure areas so that there is no rubbing or discomfort. Shop our full collection of comfortable arthritic shoes here.
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Avoid high heels:
For women with arthritic feet, we would recommend avoiding very high heels (anything over 3 inches). Heels which are too high for you can put excess pressure on the front of your foot, as well as damage the joints in your knee, back and hips, which is harmful for those with arthritis in these joints.
That's not to say you can no longer wear heels. Comfortable heels for arthritic feet do exist! Browse our full collection of heels for arthritis here.
Shoes to Avoid if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you wear the wrong shoes with Rheumatoid Arthritis, the condition may worsen. You should never wear shoes which are too narrow or too high for you. Heels are not off the cards (far from it!) but you just need to ensure you are wearing the correct heeled shoes for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Other Foot Problems with Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you are suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the foot, it is likely that you will suffer with some of the more common foot problems which often accompany arthritis.
Bunions are very common among women with arthritis. Fortunately all Sole Bliss shoes are designed for women with bunions and contain our award-winning, podiatrist-approved Comfort Technology. The main bunion-friendly feature of Sole Bliss shoes is our innovative Bunion Bed stretch panel. This is a cushioning panel, invisible from the outside of the shoe, which stretches to accommodate mild to severe bunions. Read more about what makes our shoes so comfortable for bunions!
Some women with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the foot also suffer from a foot problem known as Hallux Rigidus (or Big Toe Arthritis). The base of your big toe is one of the most commonly affected areas by arthritis and Hallux Rigidus happens when the joint between the first bone segment of the big toe and the first metatarsal bone begins to break down. The result is often progressive pain, stiffness and swelling.
Read more about finding the best shoes for hallux rigidus here.
Morton's Neuroma is another common foot problem accompanying Rheumatoid Arthritis in the foot. Morton's Neuroma can flare up when you wear the wrong shoes for arthritis, as swollen joints are compressed. Browse Sole Bliss' full collection of shoes for Morton's Neuroma.
Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain are commonly associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis too. This kind of foot pain can affect the back of the heel, the underside of the heel and in the bottom of the arch. If you are looking for comfortable shoes for plantar fasciitis, Sole Bliss is here to help! Our shoes contain an ultra-cushioned and anatomically contoured footbed with 3 layers of protection for your feet.
Read more about what makes our shoes so comfortable for plantar fasciitis!
Sole Bliss - Best Shoes for Arthritis
Sole Bliss is delighted to be selected by verywellhealth.com as the best heeled shoes for women with arthritis. You can read the full story here: https://www.verywellhealth.com/best-shoes-for-arthritis-5115609
