Shoelaces for Injury, Surgery and Recovery
A swollen foot shouldn't have to fight its shoe. Laces that give as swelling changes, so you never bend to retie.
Flat Elastic Stretch Shoelaces
Tie loose once and the stretch adapts as swelling comes and goes. Slip on without bending or reaching.
Tieless Silicone Elastic Shoelaces | 20 Straps
Silicone straps you can pop on one at a time, so you control exactly where the shoe holds and where it doesn't.
Quick Lock No-Tie Elastic Shoelaces
One-handed adjustment with the center lock, useful with a cast, a sling or limited grip.
Why elastic laces help during recovery
After a broken foot, ankle surgery, a sprain, or with a cast or walking boot on the other side, tying a shoe is the last thing you want to do. Elastic laces let you tie the shoe once, loose, and then the stretch adapts as swelling comes and goes through the day, so the shoe never digs in and never needs retying. You slide the foot in without bending or reaching. Physical and occupational therapists order Stretchlace samples for patients for this reason. Pick the flat lace for a normal-looking shoe, silicone straps when you want to control exactly where the shoe holds, or Quick Lock for one-handed adjustment.
Sizing during recovery
Size up one length from what the shoe normally takes so the shoe can open wide over a swollen foot or a brace. Most adult sneakers then take 45 to 55 inches. See Sizing Help.
Questions we get
Can I get the shoe on one-handed?
Quick Lock is the one-handed option: slide the lock to set tension, no bow. Flat and round laces need two hands to tie once, then nothing after. See the Quick Lock install guide.
My foot swells through the day. Will the shoe still fit at night?
Yes. The elastic expands as the foot swells and pulls back as it goes down, so the shoe stays comfortable without retying. Go up one length from your original laces so it can open wide, per the size guide.
Will the shoe fit over a brace, bandage or compression sock?
Usually yes. Size up one length so the shoe opens wider, and tie the bow loose. Tieless silicone straps let you skip an eyelet pair where the brace sits, see the tieless install guide.
Do physical and occupational therapists use these?
Yes. Therapists order Stretchlace samples for patients through the therapist sample program.