Podiatry experts from La Trobe University in Melbourne have designed a shoe that could help reduce falls among the elderly.

A decade in the making, the prototype for the anti-fall footwear features a thin and firm mid-sole made with a tread pattern to optimise slip resistance.

There’s also a Velcro strap for ankle support, and an insole with raised projections.

“With the insole in place, you can feel how your foot is moving and correct that so you don’t lose your balance,” Professor Hylton Menz told 9NEWS.

Prof. Menz said that the shoes, although not the most stylish, could be a step forward in preventing injuries.

“We found the shoe was quite beneficial in controlling lateral stability,” he said.

Yvonne Charter, 73, was part of the study at La Trobe University, putting various footwear to the test along with the “safe shoes”.

“They’re very interesting... they’re comfortable, but they look like hiking boots,” Ms Charter said of the prototype.

“But if it means you’re going to be safe, you have to compromise.”

The shoes could provide a breakthrough for those over 65, with one in three in the age category suffering falls each year; 15 percent result in serious injury, making it the leading cause of injury-related hospitalisation and mortality in older people.

Further study into the effectiveness of the safety shoes is ongoing.

“The plan eventually is improving the appearance of the shoe, while retaining function,” Prof. Menz said.

The prototype for the shoes was 10 years in the making. (9NEWS)

Featuring a slew of features, the "safe shoes" are designed to prevent the wearer from slipping.(9NEWS)

La Trobe University in Melbourne conducted a the study on their special shoes. (9NEWS)