Clarks's Sandals - Podiatry Approved! !

Clarks Reedly Salene Wedge Sandal

Podiatrist Recommended

This Clark's sandal is my new favorite summer shoe! What's great about this sandal is that it meets the 3 of the 4 criteria required for a shoe to be excellent. Most importantly, it has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, which is the most important aspect of a shoe. It's counterintuitive, but less motion through joints means less pain, less inflammation, and less damage. It also has a relatively wide toe box and decent (but not excellent) rearfoot control. The one thing this sandal doesn't have is arch support but despite that I still find this to be an incredibly comfortable shoe.  

This Sandal is Recommended for People with:

* Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint)

* Functional Hallux Limitus (if you're my patient, you probably know what this is!)

* Hallux Rigidus (no motion through the 1st toe joint)

* Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis 

* Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis (check with your podiatrist first)

* Mild Metatarsalgia

* Mild Sesamoiditis

* Mild Capsulitis

* Mild Morton's Neuroma

* Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

* History of previous Lisfranc's Injury (check with your podiatrist first)

* Achilles Tendonitis 

This Sandal is Not Recommended for Patients with:

* Diabetes

* Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

* Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

* Lymphedema

* Severe Over-Pronation 

* Ankle Instability (you need more ankle support than this shoe offers)

* Drop Foot

* History of Foot Ulcerations

* Severe Hammertoes

* Moderate to Severe Bunions & Tailor's Bunions

I hope that this was helpful! For more information, please refer to these articles:

Shoe Recommendations for Patients Recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries:

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/04/podiatrist-shoe-recommendations-for.html

My Feet Hurt! Top 20 Things to do to Alleviate Foot Pain Today:

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-feet-hurt-top-ten-things-relieve.html

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Clarks Wedge Heels - Podiatrist Recommended for some foot types.

Clarks Maritsa Lara

Podiatrist Recommended

The Clark's Maritsa Lara is a great choice for fashion and comfort for some foot types. What makes this shoe comfortable is that it meets 3 of the 4 criteria required for a shoe to be good enough for your feet. 

Most importantly, this shoe has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole which is absolutely crucial for foot comfort. Shoes with flexible soles are horrible for your feet because a shoe that allows motion through joints causes pain, inflammation, swelling and can lead to osteoarthritic joint changes. Secondly, this shoe has a wide toe box that helps prevent the risk of hammertoes, bunions, corns, neuromas, ingrown toenails, and fungal toenails. The rearfoot strap helps to control motion which means that there will be less biomechanical strain on joints and tendons, which will help to speed the healing of pathologies such as Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. Wearing a shoe with rearfoot strapping also helps to decrease strain on the knees, hips and lower back. 

This shoe is recommended for patients with:

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis 

*Mild Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint) 

*Mild Functional Hallux Limitus

*Mild Hypermobility

*Mild Over-Pronation

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Mild Capsulitis

*Mild Tailor's Bunions

*Mild Osteoarthritis (maybe) 

*History of previous Lisfranc's Injury (maybe) 

This shoe is not recommended for patients with: 

*Hallux Rigidus (no motion through 1st toe joint)

*Balance Issues

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation)

*Diabetes

*History of Ulcerations

*Lymphedema (excessive swelling) 

*Drop Foot

*Ankle Instability 

*Severe Hypermobility

*Severe Over-Pronation

*Severe Osteoarthritis 

*Rheumatoid Arthritis 

*Charcot-Marie Tooth

*Charcot Foot 

For more information about comfortable shoes and your feet, please refer to these articles: 

My feet hurt! Top 10 things to alleviate foot pain today. 

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-feet-hurt-top-ten-things-relieve.html

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries. 

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/04/podiatrist-shoe-recommendations-for.html

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Three Podiatry Recommended Women's Wedge Sandals for Summer 2015

Three Comfortable Wedge Sandals

Podiatrist Recommended

Clarks Caslynn Lizzie

Clarks Resin Bangle Wedges 

Born Maldives Wedge Sandal

These are three good choices for summer wedge sandals. The Clark's Caslynn Lizzie should only be worn by women who know that they can handle the slightly higher heel. If that 'heel pitch' is too high, then drop down to the Clark's Resin or Born's Maldive sandal. 

Each has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, which is excellent for limiting motion through the foot joints, which will allow for more comfort, less mechanical strain and more protection for injured or previously damaged joints. Less motion through foot joints translates to less wear-and-tear on joints, tendons and ligaments. Any time that you are wearing shoes that have a flimsy, flexible sole then you are increasing the progression of bunions, hammertoes, degenerative and osteoarthritic joint changes and increasing the risk of new injuries. What also makes these wedge sandals better than most is that they each have excellent forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping, which allows for more biomechanical control of your foot joints and tendons. Less motion through your foot joints equals less mechanical strain on your feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back. 

These wedges will work for some people, but not everybody. What works for your foot is pathology specific. Please refer to the lists below for more specific recommendations. If you are not sure if a shoe is right for your foot, check with your podiatrist. 

These wedges should work for patients with:

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild to Moderate Hallux Limitus (decreased motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Hallux Rigidus (Clarks Resin & Born Maldives) 

*Mild Metarsalgia (Clarks Resin & Born Maldives)

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Capsulitis

*Previous history of a Lisfranc's injury (please check with your podiatrist)

*Mild Osteoarthritis

*Mild Tailor's Bunion

*Mild Tendonitis

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Over-Pronation & Flat Feet (you can put in a self adhesive 'cookie arch' that most podiatrists offices have in stock or you can find these on Footsmart.com)

These Wedges are not recommended for patients with: 

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*History of Foot Ulcerations

*Charcot Foot

*Drop Foot

*Ankle Instability

*Severe Hypermobility / Ligament Laxity

*Geriatrics

*Muscle Weakness

*Fall Risk Patients

For more information on the basics of what you are looking for in proper shoes, please check out these two articles:

'Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries' 

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/04/podiatrist-shoe-recommendations-for.html

and

'My feet hurt: top ten things to relieve foot pain today'

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-feet-hurt-top-ten-things-relieve.html

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Comfortable Sandals at Dillard's - Podiatrist Recommended.

Podiatrist Recommended

Top Comfortable Sandals at Dillards

Spring 2014

Clark's Lexi Sumac

What's great about this sandal is that the sole is thick, rigid and not flexible, which offers more biomechanical protection for the foot. An excellent feature is that this is an exceptionally light-weight sandal. This is a great option for older or more sedentary patients who need a comfortable and light-weight shoe. 

Alegria Kleo

This sandal is appropriate for a multitude of podiatric conditions. The sole is thick, rigid and not flexible and it has a soft topcover with good arch support. I love that it has wide strapping for forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot control, which translates to more biomechanical control to the foot and ankle structures. I have the Alegria enclosed shoe, which has the same sole and it is amazingly comfortable for all day wear. 

This is, in my opinion, the best sandal on this list, so I am including a pathology specific recommendation list:

Alegria Kleo is recommended for patients with:

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunions

*Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)

*Hallux Limitus

*Hallux Rigidus

*Plantar Plate Injury

*Capsulitis

*Mild Achille's Tendonitis

*Mild Tendonitis

*Osteoarthritis

*Mild to Moderate Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Mild to Moderate Over-Pronators

*Mild to Moderate Hypermobility

*Sesamoiditis

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

*Patients Recovering from Lisfranc's injury

*Knee, hip & lower back pain

Alegria Kleo not recommended for patients with:

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Charcot Foot

*Drop Foot

*History of ulceration

Dansko Sonnet

This is my new Spring sandal and I love the thick, rigid sole with a wide base, which means less motion, which translates to more comfort, less mechanical strain and decreased chance of injury. Also, the low heel height and the adjustable velcro straps and soft topcover add to the comfort. 

One word of caution with Dansko, they do not work well if you are planning to spend lots of time walking on cobblestone. If you are going to Europe or vacationing anyplace with lots of cobblestone, you need a shoe with a thick, rigid sole but something with just a touch of "give" like the Alegria Kleo, Romika Fidji or Ecco Yucaton. 

Naturalizer Tanner

This sandal is a good option for anyone who can wear a slight heel. The sole is thick and rigid and it has excellent forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot control. If you have any significant forefoot issues, this is not the best choice because of the heel height. 

Teva Capri

For anyone who can wear a heel, this is a good choice. I would not recommend this sandal for anyone who has any significant forefoot issues such as Morton's Neuroma, Hallux Limitus or if you are recovering from injury or fracture of the metatarsal joints. 

It may work well for anyone who might have mild Achille's tendonitis because the heel lift decreases tension on the Achilles. 

Fit Flop Sandal

I like the Fit Flop sandals for anyone with prominent bunions because it offers the thick, non-flexible sole as well as midfoot and rearfoot control, but it doesn't have any straps causing pressure on the bunion or Tailor's bunion area. It also has enough shock absorption to help with anyone suffering with mild heel pain or Achilles tendonitis. I wish it had more midfoot strapping, but it you have large bunions that hurt with shoe pressure, this is a good choice. 

It's very important that you get the Fit Flops with rearfoot strapping as it offers more rearfoot control, which helps with forefoot issues as well as knee, hip and lower back issues. If you get the Fit Flop flip-flop with no rearfoot strapping, you are forcing all your tendons, muscles and joints to work harder to stay in the flip-flop, which causes more mechanical strain and "tired-leg syndrome".

Romika Fidji

The sole doesn't flex or bend and this sandal has excellent forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot control. It also has decent arch support and the wide base makes it a stable shoe. It's well made, sturdy and should work well for anyone with painful bumps on the top of the midfoot area (Lisfranc's exostosis) as well as forefoot problems such as Hallux Limitus, metatarsalgia, and hammertoes. 

Ecco Yucaton

If you get this sandal, make sure you purchase one that doesn't bend or flex for more comfort and biomechanical control. I've noticed that the quality can vary significantly from sandal to sandal. If you happen to get one that bends too much, ask the saleperson to let you try another in the same size. The adjustable straps and excellent arch support make this sandal comfortable for all day wear. If you have severe forefoot issues, you would be better off with the Alegria Kleo. 

Born Emmy Mouton

I love this sandal, but it is not appropriate for anyone with Hallux Limitus or any forefoot issues. If you know that you can comfortably wear a shoe this height, this should be a comfortable sandal for you. I like the wide forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping that allows for more biomechanical control. 

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Clark's Sandals at Macy's Memorial Day Sale...

CLARKS C. SUNBEAT 3-STRAP SANDALS FOR WOMEN...

An excellent women's sandal in three colors are going to be on sale at MACY'S on their MEMORIAL DAY SALE for $49.99, which is an great deal.

The sandal has a thick, rigid sole with good arch support. It has good forefoot control with adjustable straps, which is nice for anyone suffering with mild to moderate swelling in their feet. It also has a rearfoot strap for mild motion control and a soft cushion insole. This is a very popular shoe with my older patients who need support, comfort and want a casual sandal that looks nice. 

This shoe is excellent for:

Patients with mild to moderate foot swelling, an older patient who wants a nice looking and supportive sandal, mild to moderate hammertoes, mild to possibly moderate bunions, Morton's Neuroma's, mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the forefoot and midfoot, mild to moderate plantar fasciitis, mild to moderate flat feet, and mild tendonitis and ankle strain. 

This shoe MAY NOT be appropriate for:

Patients with Neuropathy, Diabetes, dropfoot, and many types of severe foot conditions such as osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, and tendonitis. These patients have special foot needs and need to consult their Podiatrist for special shoes, inserts, and, in some cases, Ankle-Foot Orthosis (braces). 

Where: Macy's on Memorial Day

Cost: $49.99

Have a great day!