Sports Specific Shoes - Podiatrist Recommended.

Podiatrist Recommended

Sports Specific Shoes

Although this list is not comprehensive, I did my best to give you some excellent options for various sports specific shoe options. 

First, the most important thing to remember is that any shoe that you wear must have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole. The concept is counterintuitive but the idea is that if you have a painful joint then the last thing that you want to do is wear flexible shoes that force motion through joints that can’t handle it. When it comes to the foot, less motion equals less pain, inflammation and joint damage. A sturdy sole with no motion will also stop or slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes, stress fractures, and osteoarthritis. 

Second, it is also important to find shoes with a wide, soft toe box that puts less pressure on toes, which helps to prevent corns, ingrown toenails and even will decrease the risk of developing toenail fungus. 

Third, all shoes that you wear should have rear foot control because shoes without rear foot control force you to scrunch down your toes to stay in the shoe, which promotes hammertoes and mechanical strain on your tendons and ligaments, which can cause tired leg syndrome.

The fourth thing is to wear shoes that will accommodate a custom-molded orthotic or an excellent over-the-counter insert for better arch support, which will help with preventing knee, hip and even lower back pain. 

Running:

Wearing a running shoe with a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole actually will improve your speed and performance. It works off the lever principle, which means that if you wear a rigid sole while running than that will translate into a significant mechanical advantage, improved efficiency, and energy conservation. 

New Balance 1540 V2
(There is also a women's version of the NB 1540)

New Balance 1080 V8

(Men's version also available)

Hoka One One Gaviota

Hoka One One Arahi 2 




Men's Brooks Beast

Walking:

New Balance 928

New Balance 990 V4

Hoka One One Bondi Leather

New Balance 1300 V1

New Balance 1400 V1

Brooks Addiction Walker

New Balance 813

NB 813 is great for older patients with balance issues. It also comes with velcro strapping for added ease of putting on and taking off.

Trail Running:

Hoka One One Speed Goat 2

Hiking:

Hoka One One Tor Ultra Hi

Hoka One One Tor Summit 

Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX

Soccer:

Tekela Pro Fg

Men's Tennis and Pickleball:

New Balance 806 V2

Beach and Pool Activities:

Keen's Newport H2 

Chaco Z1 or Z2

Men's Golf:

Footjoy Originals

New Balance Golf 1701

Women's Golf:

Footjoy Pro SL/BOA

I hope that this list was helpful! I will try to add to the list as I find more shoes that fit the criteria. For more articles and information, you can refer to:

My feet hurt! Top 10 things to do 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

Thank you for reading the blog!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Podiatrist's Review of Hoka Bondi 5 & Tor Summit.

Hoka One One 

Two Excellent Podiatrist Recommended Shoes

Hoka One One Bondi 5 Running Shoe

Hoka One One Tor Summit Waterproof Hiking Shoe

These two Hoka One One shoes are an excellent choice for most patients with finicky feet. What makes these two shoes so good are that they both meet the 4 criteria that a shoe needs to be comfortable:

1. A thick, rigid sole with no motion or flexibility. Less motion through painful or sore joints means less inflammation, less swelling and less damage to the joints. All of this translates into less pain! 

2. A wide toebox, which puts less pressure on toes which stops or slows the progression of bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, corns. 

3. Rearfoot control. If you are walking in shoes without rearfoot control you are scrunching down your toes to stay in the shoe and that promotes hammertoes, bunions, tired leg syndrome as well as knee, hip and lower back discomfort. 

4. Arch support. Both of these shoes can accommodate custom-molded orthotics or a good over-the-counter arch supports, which helps prevent knee, hip and lower back discomfort as well as to and slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes, and tendonitis.  

These shoes are recommended for patients with:

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Mild to moderate bunions

*Hammertoes

*Morton's Neuromas

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Sesamoiditis

*Hallux Limitus

*Functional Hallux Limitus

*Hallux Rigidus

*Osteoarthritis

*Peroneal Tendonitis (wear with orthotics or arch support) 

*PT Tendonitis (wear with orthotics or arch support) 

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*History of Lisfranc's Injuries (wear with orthotics or arch support) 

*Plantar Plate Issues   

These shoes are not recommended for patients with:

*Diabetes with history of Ulcerations

*Charcot Foot

*Drop Foot 

*Severe Achilles Tendonitis (you need a shoe with less cushion and more stability - like a New Balance 928 or 1540)

*Not for Geriatric patients with muscle weakness, instability or severe balance issues (they need a lighter shoe with more stability such as New Balance 813 with velcro strapping).

Check with your podiatrist to see if these shoes are appropriate for you if you have: 

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Diabetes

For more information, please refer to these other articles:

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's injuries

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

The basics - top 10 things to do to alleviate foot pain today.
http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-basics-10-steps-to-alleviating-foot.html

I hope this was helpful! 

Dr. Cathleen McCarthy

:)

Top Running Shoes - Podiatrist Recommended

TOP THREE RUNNING SHOES

Podiatrist Recommended

I'm glad that the hype over the Vibram FiveFinger minimalist running shoes are being exposed for what they really are - a poor excuse for shoegear. The Vibram company just settled a class action lawsuit for $3.75 million for making false claims about health benefits runners get from wearing the Vibram FiveFingers. I suspect that the $3.75 million is peanuts compared to all the medical costs associated with the injuries caused by the FiveFinger shoes. 

Here are my top three picks for running shoes:

New Balance 1540

Brooks Beast

Hoka One One - Stinson Tarmac

Each shoe has a thick and rigid sole so there is less motion through the foot, which allows for more protection of the foot and ankle joints, tendons and ligaments. Less motion through the foot translates to less damage to your joints, decreased chance of injury, decreased mechanical strain, and improved performance. 

As far as improving your performance, think of it this way: if you are running around barefoot or in a minimalist shoe and if you have 'biomechanically challenged' feet, then you could be wasting a certain percent of you energy because you are being forced to use 'x' amount of energy trying to stabilize your foot and ankle or by compensating. When you biomechanically control your foot with a thick, rigid sole and a more  protective running shoe, then you can put that previously 'wasted' energy into performance and speed. 

One of the analogies that I use when discussing the advantages of a protective running shoe to my patients is: the car industry has robots that close the car door over and over to see at what number the car door hinge breaks. Think of the joints in your foot as 'hinges'. All hinges have a 'tipping point' where damage is done and the hinge will eventually break down. By wearing a running shoe that protects the 'hinge', you have increased the life of that hinge, which means more miles of running over the course of your life. 

Runners love to run and, as a Podiatrist, my goal is to keep you running for as long as possible and with as few problems as possible.  

I know that the minimalist runners get upset when anyone suggests that minimalist shoes are not good, but I would like to say that all of the information that I am offering is designed to keep you running longer with less problems so you see less doctors. The minimalist enthusiasts love to knock what I am saying, but I would also remind them that as a Podiatist I have a very specific point of view. No one comes to my office and pays me a $50 co-pay to tell me how great their feet are feeling. By the time someone makes an appointment with me, they are having enough pain to interrupt and disrupt their lives, not to mention their running activites. 

I also recommend combining a great running shoe with a custom-molded orthotic, which is often covered by health insurance. If you can't get a custom-molded orthotic, I recommend an over-the-counter insert such as Footsteps or Powerstep. If you are recovering from a Lisfranc's injury or any foot or ankle injury and you are trying to return to running, I would recommend talking to your Podiatrist about possible bracing and physical therapy as you ease back into running activites. 

I recently returned to light jogging and I am wearing the Hoka One One, which I purchased from the Runner's Den, located at 6505 North 16th Street in Phoenix. Scott was very helpful and advised me that if you have a history of Achilles Tendonitis, it is important that you stretch before running in the Hoka One One. The shoe has so much shock absorption that it can cause some added 'play' in the  Achilles tendon, which can cause issues if you have ever had Achilles tendonitis. 

Scott also told me that the shoe that gives them the least amount of returns are the Brooks Beast. He stated that people who get the Brooks Beast periodically return and simply request a new pair. 

I have been recommending the NB 1540 for years and it has roll-bar technology with heel cushioning and is a great choice for anyone having heel pain or Hallux Limitus. 

I hope this was helpful! 

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)