pumped up kicks for 40+

October 21, 2023 7:23 AM

Do they make orthopedic shoes with something like the pump mechanism that Reebok created? I know that many fracture boots can be pumped up to stabilize the limb. But I'm wondering about daily walking shoes for people whose feet are just made out of problems, like me. It seems like they could provide custom support.

I have a memory of trying on Pump shoes and finding that they felt amazing but also way too tight to keep inflated for long. That was when I was a kid and didn't have like five different ailments that could use that kind of help. It could do away with an ankle brace and an insole both.

Does this kind of shoe exist? I'm not thinking here of shoes made with static "air cushions," which are usually in the sole and may or may not be supportive. Searching for inflatable shoes either gets results about that or for novelty stuff.

posted by Countess Elena to Health & Fitness (4 answers total)

You could try them on again -- Reebok still sells Pump Tech athletic shoes (Paul Litchfield invented the tech; the patent, & a later one with lower collar; Nike's version; trying to see if either company currently licenses these), but it doesn't look like the insole is removable. Looking for pressurized adjustable bladder collar shoes also turns up those fracture boots.

Litchfield said he was inspired by ski boots ["The ski boot industry has often resorted to using inflatable insertable devices to improve the fit of the boots without the pressure caused by lacing"], if those separate insertables are still sold anywhere? (Though ski boot tech has improved, too).
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:35 AM on October 21, 2023

It's possible that Z coil shoes could work for you.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 2:37 AM on October 22, 2023

Response by poster: Thanks, guys! I think "bladder collar" is the search term I need. I may indeed try a pair of Pumps, but I was hoping to find something in a walking shoe or boot, something that could be dressed up or at least go unnoticed in work/casual situations. Still, a lot of my problems are the result of wearing shoes I liked the look of, so I need to focus on the fit.

Ms. Moonlight -- thanks! I had seen those and wondered what they were for --
posted by Countess Elena at 8:23 AM on October 23, 2023

"Bladder collar" initially netted cervical/neck support devices, when I searched. Adding ankle, shoe, orthopedic shoe, boot, while excluding (neck) (fracture) (cervical) (disk) helped winnow. There are non-boot adjustable ankle supports, likely too bulky/tall/rigid for your purposes: Corflex Pneumatic Ankle wrap (with hand pump); EasyAir Pneumatic & Gel Stirrup Ankle Braces, Air-Stirrup Ankle brace ("pre-filled air cells"). I've worn lace-up short boots with inserts along these lines at the top of the shaft; it's still making ankle-support adjustments with the top bit of lacing, but better, for me, than Velcro straps or buckles at the ankle.
posted by Iris Gambol at 9:31 AM on October 23, 2023 [1 favorite]