Foot health reshapes shoe demand as Taiwan turns super-aged

Dynamic assessment tools let people see their own weight distribution and walking patterns.

Taiwan’s super-aged population is changing how consumers choose footwear, with arch support, joint stability and long-term mobility becoming more important than appearance or immediate comfort.

Yang I-Jung, an Occupational Therapist at SHUI-MU International Co., Ltd., said during Medical Taiwan 2026 that the demographic shift has placed greater attention on preventive care and daily health management.

“We're seeing a major shift in Taiwan's healthcare sector right now, with our society becoming super-aged,” Yang said. “There's a much stronger focus on preventive care and a real growing demand for ways to manage our health in our daily lives.”

The shift is pushing footwear companies to add health-related services and product features. SHUI-MU is expanding its pressure-testing services, customised insoles and supportive footwear as consumers seek products suited to their walking habits and physical needs.

The company’s assessment tools show customers how they walk, where they place pressure on their feet and how their weight is distributed. The results are then used to support personalised recommendations for shoes and insoles.

Yang stressed that such services are not intended to replace medical care. He said, “We want to make foot health management an easy, accessible, and natural part of everyone's everyday lives.”

Over the next three years, the company plans to focus on making foot health services easier to access, increasing personalisation and incorporating support features into products used every day.

“Today they care about the real stuff like arch support, joint stability, and how to maintain their mobility over the long haul,” Yang said.

SHUI-MU also plans to connect its shoes, insoles, socks, pressure testing and professional advice. The aim is to help customers understand how they move and choose products that support prolonged standing, walking and work.