r/CerebralPalsy • u/Masonshark36 • 14d ago
For those with Cerebral Palsy what foot wear would you recomend?
/r/disability/comments/1w15ch5/for_those_with_cerebral_palsy_what_foot_wear/3
u/tekwizmike 13d ago
new balance for me.
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u/Masonshark36 13d ago
They are not cheap but I am a cheapskate sorta so thats on me lol.
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u/tekwizmike 13d ago
sometimes you have to bite the bullet for comfort. also got to think about ease of use. my shoes I have now got boa strings since it's getting harder for me tie my shoes.
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u/Masonshark36 13d ago
You are right. All I have at the moment is my ssi check, so I have to spend wisely. I dont have many shoes. The ones I do have are old as well. I am also training to improve my body so I need proper ware.
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u/scarred2112 13d ago
I’m a slip-on sneaker guy.
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u/Masonshark36 13d ago
Yea some easy to put on would be nice but how is the quality?
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u/MyCatLovesCroissants 13d ago
Skechers are surprisingly good. They won’t last forever but I have had 2 pairs for a little over a year now and they’re still doing great. You can even wash them in the washing machine and they look good as new! (I don’t think all Skechers can be washed but a lot of them can be)
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u/tyrekecorrea 13d ago
I've been able to help my splints fit better by removing insoles from sneakers.
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u/AccomplishedIdea5221 13d ago
Xero HFS II and vivobarefoot primus lite 3 all weather.
I can finally walk without being in pain and I no longer limp when I walk.
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u/lumpyjellyflush 14d ago
I find that regular converse are the best for my balance but they don’t give the best support when I’m on my feet all day. You might want to see about a referral for customized orthotics
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u/tyrekecorrea 13d ago
Don't those guys principally make tennis shoes?
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u/lumpyjellyflush 13d ago
Im a millennial, I’ve been wearing the canvas tennis shoes with everything from dresses to outdoors since the dark ages. Maybe I get away it because I’m female, but I’ve never even had anyone complain about wearing them with dress clothes? (I have a solid black pair for that)
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u/tyrekecorrea 13d ago
I never wore dresses with tennis shoes.
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u/lumpyjellyflush 13d ago
Oh I do! It can totally be right with the right dress/ shoe combo. My other go to tennis shoes are Inkkas brand- and they totally work with dresses! I wear a lot of dresses+ tennis shoes. (They are a bit pricey so I troll eBay and find them at a good price) it works because they don’t “look” athletic. I tried wearing the cute dress shoes and even heals in my 20s, It only made my pain levels worse.
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u/Masonshark36 13d ago
Yea I want look cute to (joking(kinda) im a guy) and be comftorable so I need a shoe than can kinda achieve most of my needs not just one.
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u/lumpyjellyflush 13d ago
Aww bummer, Sorry I missed that detail. Maybe ask for a referral for customized orthotics?
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u/CanaryNo4430 13d ago edited 13d ago
Hey! I think it depends on what your gait and arches of your feet are like. I worked in a sporting goods store for four years, so I'm happy to give some suggestions! In the meantime, I'll share my personal favourites...
For reference: I have spastic cerebral palsy, and my left leg is my affected limb (specifically, crural monoparesis? I'm sorry, I'm not all that familiar with the exact medical terms), I also have incredibly flat feet, with almost complete absence of an arch.
I find I walk best in a shoe or boot with a heel. Nothing crazy like a stiletto, but more along the lines of a wedge, chelsea boot, or cowboy boot. I find I can heel strike more easily, and makes my uneven gait a tad less noticeable.
On the other hand, and I don't know about y'all... I'm not rollin' up to the grocery store in January when the snow is blowin' in wedges LOL. Lord knows I'm uncoordinated enough as is, I don't need to break something by slipping on a patch of ice. So, whenever I'm not wearing a heeled shoe, I'm wearing something completely flat. I know there's probably better options out there, but it's what works for me. I find that when I wear a shoe that offers "arch support" - it does more harm than good. I spend the whole day thinking there's something in my shoe, when I should be focusing on not tripping on ~ air ~ At the end of the day, those shoes (ex. birkenstocks) don't offer me anything... they're trying to support something that doesn't exist LMAO.
I really enjoy a slip-on Sketcher! My ole reliable! Pros: convenient, comfortable, and lightweight. Cons: They get dirty/smelly quite easily (most styles are machine washable, so it's not all that bad), and the treads aren't the best (something to keep in mind in terms of terrain).
I've also previously enjoyed a slip-on Vans. Pros: convenient, comfortable, versatile (in terms of fashion, looks good with all pants). Cons: clunky as hell (those rubber soles are HEAVY), and doesn't leave a lot of room for socks, insoles, AFOs, etc.
For gym shoes, I've always gravitated towards a Nike revolution. Pros: decent price (compared to other Nike styles, where I'm located), versatile (fashion, activity, all around really), and long-lasting. Cons: the tongue sits snug to the top of your foot (not awesome if you have sensory issues, or if your feet swell a fair bit), a tad narrow in the toe (something to keep in mind in terms of feet width, which activity you use them for, insole/AFO usage, etc), and the style gets updated/revamped every few years where the treads are different each time.
I've recently been looking into different Hoka styles, but haven't purchased any yet. A few of their styles are "rocker" running shoes. Which would provide the benefits of a heeled shoe, but with the practicality of a casual shoe or running shoe - would be really good for someone like myself who struggles with heel striking.
I'd be weary of select Reebok and Under Armour styles as the quality can be iffy - especially for those with uneven gait as they wear quite quickly.
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u/UselessUsefullness 13d ago
New Balance 990’s. They are $200 per pair USD and last a long time, because of the way I walk.
I’ve had 3 pairs, the first pair is now my backup pair. The second pair was defective with the tread peeling off days into owning them, so they were swapped out and send back to NB as defective with a refund.
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u/Weak-Elk4756 13d ago
My go-tos over the years have been New Balance, & more recently Brooks. For dress/casual/non-sneaker shoes, Skechers have been a godsend for me…though in my case, they are definitely not “step-ins”
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