Supportive footwear is as easy as one, two, three.

Your everyday shoes (9 to 5) are the most important shoes you have and they need to be good.

It is less important what you wear for special occasions as you are not in them for as long.

If you wear orthotics, depth is very important. Make sure you try on shoes with your orthotics. If the manufacturer's foot bed can be removed, you can get extra depth by removing this, or simply cutting off the heel section.

Are they still the right size?

1. Firm at the back of the heel (so it cannot be squashed flat)

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2. Bends easily where the foot does (but nowhere else).

3. Fastens with an adjustable fastening high up on the foot, such as laces, Velcro or a buckle. Slip-on footwear can cause muscle fatigue and can contribute to clawed toes if worn long term. Sandals can be very supportive when they have a closed heel, as shown in the picture.

It is also a good idea if shoes do not twist easily. This is especially important for very flexible children.

The more flexible the foot, the more stable the shoe needs to be.