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Whether you’re dealing with pain from arthritis or are prone to sprains, wearing the best shoes for ankle support can help provide some relief and stability. That’s because sporting ankle support shoes can help make everyday activities more comfortable and reduce your risk of injury.
But shoes with ankle support look different from your average running shoes. In fact, even some of the most comfortable shoes around won’t always fit the bill.
“High-top shoes are great for additional structure and support to prevent ankle injury,” says Dr. Dan Geller, a board certified foot and ankle surgeon and advisor for Kane Footwear. “Running shoes may not always be the best for folks with weak ankles as some can actually roll you out,” explains Dr. Geller.
The exact causes of ankle pain and weakness varies from person to person. For example, some people have weak ankles as a byproduct of loose ligaments from birth, Dr. Geller says. That said, the most “common causes of ankle pain and weakness include chronic ankle instability from multiple ankle sprains, hypermobile feet, rigid, high-arch feet, and ankle arthritis. It can also be caused by tightness or over-lengthening of the muscles in the back of the leg,” says Dr. Alissa Kuizinas, a board-certified podiatrist who specializes in holistic and functional foot health.
Choosing the right shoes for ankle support is a key step in managing ankle-related issues and preventing them from occurring down the line. With these ankle supportive shoes, you can step out in confidence.
In the case of arthritis, ankle joint pain is the result of bones rubbing together when cartilage between two joints breaks down, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Although arthritis tends to be more common in older adults, frequent injuries and overuse can lead to ankle arthritis.
If you do a lot of high-impact activities or sports, such as those that involve jumping and lateral movements, you need extra ankle support. For example, people who play tennis or slip into hiking boots for a trek regularly can benefit from ankle support because there is greater movement at the ankle joint in side-to-side movement, Dr. Kuizinas says.
People with high arches are also prone to outer ankle pain and sprains because they tend to supinate, or roll toward the outside of the ankle, when they walk, Dr. Kuizinas says. They also tend to have less range of motion in the ankle, or tighter calves. A good pair of supportive walking shoes for high arches can help.
Ankle support shoes work by providing stability and comfort around the joint. Ankle support offers proprioceptive feedback to your ankle, so you have a better sense of where it is in space, says Dr. Kuizinas.
The best shoes for ankle support for you will depend on your individual needs and foot type, so it’s always best to consult a podiatrist about what shoes are suited for you. But here are some features to consider before purchasing a pair for yourself:
Tying your shoes can help provide more ankle support. Dr. Kuizinas recommends heel lock lacing, where you utilize the extra lace hole at the top of the shoe to lock your foot in place. You simply loop your laces around the highest lace holes on your shoe and criss-cross them at the top before tying. This will help you feel more stable in the ankles and help prevent your foot from sliding around in the shoe.
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items. When it comes to choosing the best shoes for ankle support, we consulted experts and scoured online customer reviews. The result is this researched list of the best shoes for ankle support of 2023.
Dr. Dan Geller is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and advisor for Kane Footwear.
Dr. Alissa Kuizinas is a board-certified podiatrist based in Concord, MA who specializes in holistic and functional foot health.
Tiffany Ayuda is an editor and writer based in New York City. She writes about fitness, nutrition, health, and general wellness. Most recently, she was a senior editor at Prevention.com, where she expanded their fitness, nutrition, and e-commerce coverage. She held previous editorial roles at Eat This, Not That, Daily Burn, Everyday Health, and South Beach Diet. Tiffany’s work has appeared in the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast, Women’s Health, Mind Body Green, PopSugar, Yahoo! Health, Health and NBC News Better. She is also a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.