Best Shoes for Foot Drop

When you suffer from a foot drop, one of the biggest issues is finding a comfortable and properly fitting shoe that will support your feet, not overly heavy.

A footdrop is not generally an issue but a sign of underlying muscular or neurological problems.

You need something that helps with a shoe’s lightweight and flexible pain.

So we are here to help you find the best shoes for a foot drop.



Foot Drop Risks and Symptoms

A foot drop can make it very difficult to lift the front part of your foot, and it may even drag on the floor when you walk.

In turn, this causes you to raise your thigh when you walk as though you are climbing stairs to help your foot clear the floor.

This very unusual gait form can cause you to slap your foot on the floor with every step you take. This can lead to pain and even numbness in the foot and toes.
Some cause and risk factors of a foot drop may include;

  • Nerve Injuries – The most common cause of most cases where a foot drop is the compression of a nerve in the legs that controls lifting your feet, called the peroneal nerve. This nerve can be injured during a hip replacement surgery is a pinched nerve in your spine. People with diabetes are generally more susceptible to nerve injuries and disorders, sometimes associated with a foot drop.
  • Muscle and Nerve Disorders – Many forms of muscular dystrophy, an inherited disease-causing progressive muscle weakness, contribute to a foot drop. Another disease, such as Charco-Marie tooth disease, may also be a culprit.
  • Brain and Spinal Cord Disorders – Disorders that affect your brain or spinal cord, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, or strokes, may result in a foot drop.
  • Wearing a Leg Cast – Plaster casts enclosing your ankle and the end just below the knee exert pressure on the peroneal nerve, which may cause a foot drop.
  • Prolonged Kneeling – Occupations or activities that may require you to kneel for long periods, such as picking strawberries or tiling floors, can eventually result in a foot drop.
  • Crossing Your Legs – people with a bad habit of crossing their legs when sitting down compress the peroneal nerve in their uppermost leg, which may lead to a foot drop.

Choosing the Best Shoes for a Foot Drop

Now that we know the causes and symptoms of a foot drop, let us look into what shoes you need to choose for a foot drop;

  • Width Options – You will need a shoe that perfectly and snugly fits your foot without squeezing, and some people may need to wear an AFO, so the width of the shoe will need to accommodate this. Choose a shoe brand and model that offers width options.
  • Extra Depth – A shoe with extra depth or removable cushioning layers is ideal for wearing an AFO, brace, or orthotic support. The extra depth provides a more secure fit and room for wider feet.
  • Cushioning – You will still need plenty of comfort and good shock absorbency from your shoes, so choose a shoe that has a cushioning insole and Midsole for shock absorbency.
  • Lightweight – Heavy shoes are one of the biggest issues with a foot drop. Heavy shoes make lifting your feet from the floor much harder and exacerbate a foot drop. You also have more chance of scuffing your toes and falling in heavy shoes. So please make sure the shoes have lightweight materials.
  • Support – You need a shoe that maintains proper support to keep your feet aligned and stabilize your arches and heels. Most lightweight shoes may only sometimes offer this kind of support.
  • Non-Slip – Because you have a larger risk of slips and falls with a foot drop, you need the security of a high grip outsole that will keep you firm and stable even on slippery floor surfaces.

Features of a Good Shoe for a Foot Drop

  • Uppers – Look for lightweight, flexible leather or mesh uppers that breathe well and are comfortable. A lining to wick away moisture and prevent chafing is ideal.
  • Insole and Midsole – A lightweight cushioned insole and foam, or EVA midsole, provides cushioning and shock absorbency.
  • Support – Lightweight support features and stability features such as arc support and a contoured footbed provide support without the weight.
  • Outsole – Opt for a rubber outsole with high traction and grip-patterned tread.
  • Fit – Look for shoe models with different width options.
  • Other Options – Besides size and width, most shoe brands and models for a foot drop also offer some color variations.

Reviews: The Best Shoes for a Foot Drop

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1

Shoes for a Foot Drop

  • The Vionic Walker has genuine leather uppers and a removable textile EVA footbed for cushioning.
  • The American Podiatric Medical Association recognizes it.
  • The EVA technology footbed provides better arch support to align your feet properly.
  • The shoe is generally lightweight and comes in more color selections.

2

Foot Drop Shoe

  • The Nike Flex Experience is a more flexible design of running shoes that is extremely lightweight.
  • Textile uppers with a no-sew fit for less irritation and flex grooves on the sole sides for better flexibility.
  • The footbed has a cushioned insole and an Injected Midsole for shock absorbency.
  • The outsole offers excellent traction and durability.

3

Shoe for a Foot Drop

  • These are two different shoe models from Orthofeet. For the men, we have a closed Loafer shoe, the Carniege, and for the ladies, we have a Mary Jane Style shoe, the Celina.
  • Orthofeet is an orthopedic shoe brand ideal for persons with a foot drop.
  • The shoes have an extra depth design with removable cushioning layers.
  • The footbed is likewise designed to offer full support with a more anatomical design.
  • Furthermore, they are available in wider widths and are medium weight.

4

Shoe for a Foot Drop

  • The Propet stability Walker is a walking shoe chosen by many people with foot conditions such as a Foot Drop.
  • They have durable leather uppers. However, the fit tends to run small to size up a bit.
  • The rigid heel counter provides good stability and a cushioned insole and midsole for comfort and shock absorbency.
  • You can also choose from a few neutral color options.

5

Foot Drop Shoe

  • The Brooks Addiction Walker is another excellent shoe model for persons with a foot drop.
  • The design is more acceptable for occasions, and neutral colors are available.
  • It has more lightweight and breathable uppers and a certified slip-resistant rubber sole.
  • The Diagonal Rollbar technology provides optimal support and soft BioMoGo DNBA adapting cushioning.

6

Shoe for a Foot Drop

  • The Avia Avi-Verge is another recommended shoe for a foot drop.
  • This is a walking shoe with synthetic uppers that are also lighter.
  • It has a plush memory foam sock liner to relieve pressure points and a more supportive compression-molded EVA midsole for shock absorbency.
  • The outsole is a non-marking TPR soleplate ideal for dragging your feet, as it will not leave any marks.

7

Shoes for a Foot Drop

  • Here, we have two chukka boot models from Hush Puppies that are ideal for a foot drop.
  • They have leather uppers and lace-up closures.
  • There are also more colors available.
  • The design is perfect for a foot drop.

8

Training Shoe for a Foot Drop

  • The perfect training shoes for a foot drop.
  • They have synthetic leather uppers and a Revlite midsole foam for cushioning.
  • Inside is a plush memory foam insole.
  • The shoes are also available in more color options.

9

Sneaker for a Foot Drop

  • The Adella Holly and Step Urban Mix are very comfortable shoe models that you can wear for a foot drop.
  • The uppers are breathable and offer a flexible fit.
  • There is Cloudstepper Cushioning for comfort and support.
  • The sole is durable and offers excellent traction.

10

Shoes for a Foot Drop

  • Two more additions from Hush Puppies for a Foot drop.
  • The shoes have a more formal and elegant style for professional use.
  • They offer ample support and cushioning.
  • More color options are likewise available.

11
I recommend this product to manage pain and discomfort caused by post-stroke foot drop and other neuromuscular deficits as it will provide an improvement in the gait cycle via support for drop foot.

Index Table: Top Rated Shoes for a Foot Drop

No.ShoeMen ♂Women ♀FeaturesBrandScore
1Vionic® - Shoes for a Foot Drop Walker Walker
  • Leather
  • Cushioned
  • Podiatrist Design Footbed
Vionic98
2Nike® - Foot Drop Shoe Flex Experience Flex Experience
  • Flexible Fit
  • Cushioned
  • Foam Midsole
Nike97.9
3Orthofeet® - Shoe for a Foot Drop Carnegie Celina
  • Extra depth
  • Wider Widths
  • Layered Cushioning
Orthofeet97.5
4Propet® - Shoe for a Foot Drop Stability Walker Stability Walker
  • Rigid Heel
  • Cushioned
  • Stability Features
Propet97
5Brooks® - Foot Drop Shoe Addiction Walker Addiction Walker
  • Rollbar
  • Slip-Resistant
  • Cushioned
Brooks97.6
6Avia® - Shoe for a Foot Drop Avi-Verge Avi-Verge
  • Memory Foam Sock Liner
  • Cushioned
  • TPR Soleplate
Avia96.5
7Hush Puppies® - Shoes for a Foot Drop Detroit Chukka Bailey Chukka
  • Cushioned
  • Supportive
  • Leather
Hush Puppies97.5
8New Balance® - Training Shoe for a Foot Drop Feulcore Nitrel V1 Fuelcore Nergize V1
  • NB Memory Foam Sole
  • Revlite Midsole
New Balance98
9Clarks® - Sneaker for a Foot Drop Step Urban Mix Adella Holly
  • Flexible Uppers
  • Breathable
  • Wider Widths
  • Cloudstepper Cushioning
  • TPR Outsole
Clarks97
10Hush Puppies® - Shoes for a Foot Drop Expert PT Epic
  • Cushioned
  • Removable Footbed
  • Good Support
Hush Puppies97.6


About the Author

Eliza Ward

Eliza Ward is a running enthusiast, nature lover, and full-time mother for 3 lovely kids in South Africa. She has always had a fetish for shoes and has the best product recommendations for all her friends and family. So she turned what she loved into her full-time job - by testing and recommending the best shoes for our online readers. Read her reviews to know how detailed her observations are.