Editor’s Note: This post has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy on May 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of the best shoes for women with weak ankles.
Has your medical professional diagnosed you with weak ankles? Have you been advised to wear supportive shoes to support and protect your ankles but you are unsure about what shoes you should buy? I have been fitting women’s shoes for over 10 years and I know which are the best shoes for women with weak ankles from having fitted them before.
Some women develop weak ankles naturally from having high arches and supination, while some others experience ankle weakness from a serious sports injury or arthritis.
Women with weak ankles can’t just wear any type of footwear. Did you know that weak ankles may cause issues in balance and increase your risk for ankle sprains and injuries? Wearing the correct types of shoes for your feet can help with rehabilitation and prevent further injury.
My Experience Helping Women with Weak Ankles
I have noticed how most women who walk into the shoe store are wearing the wrong types of shoes (not supportive enough), or they are wearing shoes that are the wrong size. Wearing the wrong types of shoes cannot only aggravate your weak ankles, but can also lead to foot deformities (bunions) and general foot pain.
Wearing the correct types of shoes can make a tremendous difference when it comes to supporting and protecting your ankles.
What Kind of Shoes are Best for Weak Ankles?
You need to look for shoes that provide firm heel counters with targeted heel and arch support to help support and protect your ankles:
✅ Firm Heel Counters: Look for support in the heel area and a padded collar at the ankle. Adequate support for the heel and ankle is extremely important if you want to keep your ankles healthy. The heel counter is the back part of the shoe, and if you are not sure where the heel counter is located take a look at the image below.
Always press on the heel counter of your shoes to make sure that it feels firm and sturdy. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:
✅ Targeted Heel Support: The shoes that I recommend provide extra cushion and support right below the heels. That extra cushion and support help absorb stress and impact on your ankles, knees, and lower back. Features like gel, EVA, and polyurethane are all good shock-absorbing options. For example, take a look at the image below of a shoe that provides extra cushion (gel) right below the heels:
✅ Arch Support: The shoes come with good arch support to help reduce or fully eliminate the shock that your feet receive every time they impact the ground. Shoes with arch support also help promote proper foot alignment and improve your gait.
✅ Extra Depth: The shoes that I recommend provide extra depth with a deep heel cup to stabilize the foot and ankle better.
Before I show you a list of the best shoes for women with weak ankles, I want to make sure that you know what shoe size you need to order online. This will end up saving you time and money as you won’t have to end up returning the shoes back and forth.
If you wear shoes that are too short, too long, too narrow, or too wide, you won’t get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer. You must wear shoes that fit just right!
When Was the Last Time You Checked Your Foot Size?
Your foot shape and size can change over time, and some of the factors that contribute to this change are pregnancy, aging and weight gain or loss. Over time and because of gravity, our feet might get longer and wider.
As we age, the body’s ligaments and tendons lose their strength and ability to spring back. This means that our arches decrease, which flattens and lengthens the foot and toes.
This often results in an increase in shoe size by a half-size or more. You might also experience a change in foot width, meaning that even though you always ordered medium width shoes now you might have to start ordering wider shoes.
Don’t insist on getting your shoes in a specific size simply because that has been the size that they always wore. I usually have to insist to them that they need to at least try the shoes in a different size to see how they feel.
How to Retrieve Your Exact Shoe Size
Buying shoes online can be a challenge. If you are unsure of your current foot shape or foot length, I suggest that you take a look at a different resource I created where I help women determine their exact foot shape from home:
How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!
Below you can find a list of the best shoes for women with weak ankles. All of the shoes below are available in medium (M), wide (W) and extra wide (XW) widths, so make sure that you choose your shoe width accordingly.
Take a look at the description below each shoe image to check whether that specific style can fit your foot shape. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Shoes for Women with Weak Ankles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Available in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths and also accommodate high insteps
- An ENCAP midsole combines lightweight foam with a durable polyurethane rim to deliver all-day support
- Dual-density collar foam that offers support and comfort for your heels and ankles
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths and also accommodates high insteps
- Cushioning outsole with a mild rocker adds spring to your step.
- Multiple cushioning layers provide pillow-like support that works wonders to enhance comfort and help ease pain on the foot and heel
- Soft, stretchable knit fabric uppers with extra foam padding ease pressure on the foot and provide superior comfort and protection for sensitive feet.
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with narrow or medium feet
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System helps attenuate shock during impact and toe-off phases
- DuoMax system enhances stability and support
- Engineered mesh upper improves breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with narrow or medium feet
- Durable full-length EVA midsole to absorb shock and offer stability
- Breathable open engineered textile mesh upper with seamless synthetic overlays
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths and also accommodates high insteps
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Medial post helps control pronation
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths and also accommodates high insteps
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Medial post helps control pronation
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet and also accommodates high insteps
- VERSARUN cushioning absorbs impact and reduces pressure for comfortable strides at every level of walking and running
- Added heel support for a more comfortable, secure hold.
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- DNA LOFT offers incredibly soft cushioning that now extends beyond the heel, allowing for an easy transition from landing to toe-off.
- Removable foam insole for excellent underfoot comfort and support.
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with narrow, medium, and wide feet
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System helps attenuate shock during impact and toe-off phases
- DuoMax system enhances stability and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths and also accommodates high insteps
- CMEVA (Compression Molded EVA) midsole delivers lightweight, durable, responsive cushioning
- Strategic high-abrasion rubber zones to reduce weight
- Soft, stretchable knit fabric uppers with extra foam padding ease pressure on the foot and provide superior comfort and protection for sensitive feet
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
What Shoe Size to Order?
Take a look at the description below the shoes that I recommended to find out what shoe size you should order.
How to Lace Shoes for Women with Weak Ankles
There is a shoe lacing technique that works wonders for women with weak ankles as it helps keep your feet locked down in your shoes and helps improve stability:
How to Tie Shoes for Women with Heel Pain – Follow These 3 Simple Steps
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If you are unsure about which one of these shoes might work best for your weak ankles do not hesitate to contact me at:
comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com
Are High Top Shoes Better for Ankle Pain?
High-top shoes don’t necessarily provide better support than your regular everyday sneakers.
What Causes Ankle Pain?
What causes ankle pain varies from person to person, but the most common reasons why women experience ankle pain are:
- Sprains or injuries caused by everyday activities or sports.
- Medical conditions such as Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Gout.
- Nerve damage or an injury such as sciatica.
- Blocked blood vessels in your ankles.
- Infection in your ankle joints
Should I Wear Orthotics for Extra Ankle Support?
There are certain types of orthotics that can be a great way to better control the hindfoot and ankle motion.
I suggest trying a pair of supportive shoes first before trying a pair of orthotics. If after wearing a pair of the supportive shoes that I recommend your ankle pain persists, then I suggest trying an orthotic inside of the shoes for extra support.
Many women look for shoes based on their looks. Of course, you need to like the shoes that you wear but your top priority should be cushioning and protection.
Let me know in the comment section below if you have found a specific pair of shoes that worked well for your ankle pain. I am sure other women will benefit from learning about your experiences.
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