Many women would choose wearing fashionable and stylish shoes over comfortable shoes. Some will even bear the pain of wearing poorly fitting shoes, such as stilettos that are too high. Often these shoes will cause foot injuries, forcing women to exchange expensive, fashionable shoes for more supportive shoes designed to prevent further damage. These shoes do not necessarily have to be unattractive, however. Many companies design flat, specialty shoes that are just as fashionable as high-priced designer shoes. The purpose of specialty shoes is to provide overall long-term health of the feet.

Other shoes, such as Crocs or flip-flops, may not provide enough support and can injure feet just as badly as fashionable high heels. This can occur not only for women's feet, but for men's and children's feet as well. If your foot is injured, it is highly recommended that you wear a shoe that is comfortable and that does not cause further injury: for example, corrective shoes that are designed to help foot injuries to heal.

One common foot injury is plantar fasciitis, or injury to the arch of the foot. This type of injury can be caused by placing too much pressure on the plantar fascia, or arch, of the foot. Vigorous walking, hiking, and excess weight gain during pregnancy can all cause plantar fasciitis. This injury can be treated with ice and heat, and can be prevented by wearing the correct shoes, or shoe inserts.

Arch-support shoe inserts designed by a doctor can be placed in shoes for support during and after the healing process in order to prevent further injury. Preventing future injury to the plantar fascia can also be achieved by wearing shoes that provide good heel and arch support, especially when engaging in activities that place a strain on the plantar fascia.

Some specialty shoes are specially designed for injured or arthritic feet. These shoes usually feature high, deep, roomy toe boxes, seamless spandex uppers, removable depth, and adjustable straps. In addition, these specialty shoes are lightweight, allowing the injured foot to breathe. This prevents the growth of bacteria, which can quickly lead to infection in an injured foot.