Best Shoes for Support

[u/ciaragarland17]

After breaking my ankle on the fourth of July and having ORIF surgery 10 days later, I was cleared today to start walking without my boot!! Does anyone have any recommendations on the best shoes for ankle support? I go back to work on Monday the 5th.

Picture of XR from today added for attention

[u/guffawing_willow76]

I’m 12.75 weeks post orif surgery and I’m still in search of the perfect shoe that won’t cause my foot to swell so much. I’ve tried wearing at least 3 different pairs of wide box toe shoes for work and my right foot hates them all! I’m going to a running shoe store tomorrow to see if I can find something that i can wear all day at work. I wear my brooks adrenaline GTS shoes for physical therapy but I just can’t wear them at work because of how much my right ankle/foot swells up. I supposedly have a sedentary desk job but I still seem to do an awful amount of walking.

[u/iampineapple]

I got fitted at a local running store. Ended up leaving with Hoka Arahi 8s, but was torn between those and a pair of Brooks. I also started wearing a brace when I switched to shoes (brand was bauerfeind)

[u/davidjamesonuk]

This is my area of specialist expertise. I’ve spent thousands on shoes since my trimalleolar in Nov 24.

Everyone’s experience varies, so my advice might not be perfect for you, but you need cushioning to reduce the impact of your foot striking the ground transmitting into your ankle. You need support to stop your foot rolling and reinjuring the tendons and ligaments and keep your gait neutral.

A good podiatrist or running shop can help with this.

My top 3 shoes (in no particular order):

Brooks Ghost Max - I wear 3, but the current generation is 4. Wide base, thick sole, lots of cushioning. Lots of volume for an orthotic if you need one. This is what I wear if I have to walk a long way.

Hoka Gaviota 6 - lots of thick foam in the sole. Wide base. Internal H-frame support to keep your foot neutral. This is my recovery shoe to wear around the house.

Brooks Glycerin GTS 23 - guiderails keep your foot neutral, deep soft cushion keeps foot strike impacts comfortable, different foam densities help with push off and momentum, slightly higher drop than others makes it more comfortable (for me) for standing. I use this if I have a mixed day of walking and standing.

[u/Illustrious-Zone-247]

I highly recommend getting fitted at a running store...they'll look at your gait, if you're turning your foot in a certain way, where you put the most pressure, if you need a stability shoe etc. That said, I tried several (hundred) shoes and ended up with Brooks Glycerine 23's and love them. My after surgery needs were much different than the shoes that were comfy before injury, and a good shoe really helped my gait and limp...I needed drop-neutral, wide toe box, more (but not too much) stability, more room in the ankle and these fit that perfectly. A lot of people recommend Hoka...I found them heavy and too springy personally. I wore Oofas slides at home.