When it’s designed to specifically help provide support for people with foot problems. Regular shoes are more focused on aesthetics, and only recently has comfort become a staple to go along with it, like technologies such as boost and react. Even with these technologies, these shoes are still designed as one-shoe-fits-all to allow as many people as possible to wear them, whereas orthopedic shoes provide custom support depending on what you need, such as arch support for flat feet, shoes specifically for diabetics, etc.
When it’s designed to specifically help provide support for people with foot problems. Regular shoes are more focused on aesthetics, and only recently has comfort become a staple to go along with it, like technologies such as boost and react. Even with these technologies, these shoes are still designed as one-shoe-fits-all to allow as many people as possible to wear them, whereas orthopedic shoes provide custom support depending on what you need, such as arch support for flat feet, shoes specifically for diabetics, etc.