Comfortable Sandals for Summer 2020!

Podiatrist Recommended

Summer Sandals for Summer 2020

Hello, Everyone! I hope that you are all having a healthy, safe, and fun summer. Here are 4 sandal selections that are great for all-day comfort and will help to decrease the risk of developing foot problems as they each meet 3 of the 4 criteria for what a shoe must have to be Podiatrist approved. 

To review, for any shoe to be good enough for your feet it must meet the criteria:

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 important that it has a soft, wide toe box, which will put less pressure on toes, which helps to prevent corns, ingrown toenails, and will even decrease the risk of developing toenail fungus. Obviously, sandals are a perfect option for decreasing pressure on the toes. 

Third, all shoes that you wear should have rearfoot control (strapping) because shoes without rearfoot 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 can 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. These sandals do not accommodate arch support, so if you know that you need to wear your custom-molded arch support you are better off wearing enclosed shoes that will accommodate them. 

I understand that these shoes can be expensive, but think of them as medical equipment and an investment in your body. If proper shoe gear can help alleviate foot, knee, hip, and lower back pain and ensure that you stay active as you get older then your money will be well spent. 

Mephisto Tarino

These shoes are carried at the Mephisto Store in Scottsdale, 

which you can find at: 

https://www.mephistoscottsdale.com/

Mephisto Dominica

Mephisto Store in Scottsdale: 

https://www.mephistoscottsdale.com/

Alegria Bailee Luggage 

I recommend that you go to your store that carries this brand 

so that you can try them on to ensure a good fit. 

SAS Relaxed Sandal

I recommend that you go to your local SAS Store 

or any other store that carried this brand 

so that you can try them on to ensure a good fit. 

These sandals are recommended for patients with:

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

*Functional Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint when functioning) 

*Hallux Rigidus (No range of motion of the 1st toe joint) 

*Rheumatoid Arthritis (the Mephistos and the SAS are better options than Alegria because they have more cushioning) 

*Osteoarthritis (same)

*Plantar Fasciitis (In general, Mephistos are best for anyone under 65 years old but SAS are better for anyone over 65 years old) 

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

*Metatarsalgia

*Mild Tailor's Bunions 

*Mild Bunions

*Hammertoes 

*Ingrown Toenails 

These sandals are not recommended for patients with:

*Diabetics with history of Ulcerations 

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Charcot Foot

For more information about shoes, please refer to my previous articles: 

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries. 

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

Top 10 reasons why your feet hurt -- and how to alleviate the pain! 

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/search?q=my+feet+hurt

Thank you for reading and I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:)

Dansko Lynnie - Podiatrist Recommended Sandal

Podiatrist Recommended

Dansko Lynnie

I know it's late in the summer season to be recommending sandals, but this sandal is so good that I had to post about it. Plus, I live in Arizona, which is the land of the perpetual summer!

This sandal meets 3 of the 4 criteria required to make a shoe podiatrist recommended: 

1. It has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, which is the most important aspect of finding shoes that are comfortable and good for your feet. If you are in a shoe that stops motion through painful joints and foot structures, then you will have less inflammation, less swelling and less pain. It also will help slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes, and arthritis.

2. It has a wide toe box, which means less pressure on toes. This will help slow the progress of hammertoes and even may help prevent and clear up toenail fungal infections. 

3. It has rearfoot control, which means there is less biomechanical strain because a rearfoot strap on a sandal helps to limit motion through the rearfoot so that you will not have to 'scrunch down' your toes to stay in a shoe (such as a flip-flop). It also has the added benefit of helping to reduce knee, hip and lower back pain. 

4. Arch support.  This sandal, unfortunately, doesn't have arch support. An option is to purchase OTC arch support that has an adhesive underside and can be placed into the sandal for added comfort. This will not be enough arch support for anyone with severely problematic feet, but it should work for someone with only mild to moderate biomechanical issues.  

Recommended for patients with:

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

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

*Functional Hallux Limitus 

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Tailor Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Ingrown Toenails

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Osteoarthritis

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

*Plantar Plate Issues

*Sesmoid Issues

*Lisfranc Joint Issues

*Peroneal Tendonitis

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

Not recommended for patients with: 

*Severe Over-Pronation (not enough arch support) 

*Ankle Instability

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

*Drop Foot

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation) 

*Posterior Tibial Tendonitis (not enough arch support) 

*Severe Hypermobility/Ligament Laxity

*Excessive Swelling

*Lymphedema

For more information, please refer to my other articles on this blog:

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc Injuries,

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

Top 10 reasons why your feet hurt - and how to alleviate the pain. 
http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2014/10/top-ten-reasons-why-your-feet-hurt-and.html

Thank you for reading and I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Four Comfortable Sandals for Summer 2015 - Podiatrist Recommended.

Four Comfortable Sandals For Summer 2015

Podiatrist Recommended

Wolky Jewel

Wolky Ruby

Wolky Lily

Aravon Katy

These are four great choices for a comfortable sandal. Each of these sandals meet the four criteria that a shoe must have to be comfortable: 

1. A thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, which is protective of the foot joints and any areas of injury, pain or previous surgery. Less motion means less pain, inflammation and swelling - especially through any problematic or painful areas of the foot. 

2. A wide toebox, which decreases pressure on the toes and helps to prevent the formation of bunions, hammertoes, corns and Tailor's bunions. Each of these sandals have adjustable strapping, which help to accommodate swelling.  

3. Rearfoot control, which helps to decrease mechanical strain of tendons, joints and muscles. If a shoe does not have rearfoot strapping, then you are forcing your tendons, joints and ligaments to work harder to stay in the shoe. Rearfoot strapping also helps decrease mechanical strain on the knees, hips and lower back as well as prevent injuries and risk of falling.  

4. Arch support. Each of these sandals has decent arch support. If you have severe flat-feet, it is possible to remove the insole on the Wolky Jewel and Ruby and replace it with your custom-molded orthotic. Although it has been my experience that sandals work better with the insert that comes with the shoe, so take your orthotics with you when shopping for these sandals to see if it works for you. 

These four sandals are recommended for patients with:

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Corns & Calluses

*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunions

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

*Hallux Rigidus (no range of motion at the 1st toe joint)

*Capsulitis

*Plantar Plate Injuries

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuromas

*Previous Jone's Fractures or Lisfranc's Injuries (check with your podiatrist)

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Tendonitis

*Plantar Fibromas 

*Mild to Moderate Hypermobility / Ligament Laxity

*Previous Metatarsal Stress Fractures (check with your podiatrist)

*Sesamoiditis

*Ingrown toenails

These sandals are not recommended for patient with:

*Charcot Foot

*History of Foot Ulcerations

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation) 

If you have any questions about if these sandals are appropriate for you, please check with your podiatrist. I encourage patients to bring in one bag of shoes on our appointments so that I can physically check the shoe and have a discussion about whether or not the shoe is appropriate for their particular foot type and issue. 

For more information, please use the search box to look up these two articles:

"My feet hurt: top ten things to do to alleviate foot pain today."

and

"Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's injuries." 

Have a wonderful day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Podiatry Recommended Comfortable Sandal for Spring - Naot Relate

Naot Relate

Podiatry Recommended Comfortable Sandal for Spring

First, I'd like to appologize to anyone waiting on an answer through the comment section of the blog. For the last eight weeks, I've had a bit of vertigo and haven't been able to tolerate looking at the computer screen. I'm feeling much better and looking forward to catching up on the comments and questions!

The Naot Relate sandal is an excellent choice for Spring. It has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole that limits motion through the foot joints, which allows for maximum comfort. Less motion through any areas of previous injury or joint damage means less inflammation, swelling and pain to that area. The Naot Relate also has a soft insole that molds to the shape of the foot and will be comfortable for anyone who has painful calluses. The forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping allows for more biomechanical control, which also translates to increased comfort and less mechanical strain. 

This sandal is recommended for:

*Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Functional Hallux Limitus (decreased motion through the 1st toe joint)

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

*Tailor's Bunion

*Achilles Tendonitis (mild)

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Osteoarthritis

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

This sandal is not recommended for: 

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics

*History of previous ulcerations

*Peripheral Arterial Disease

*Peripheral Neuropathy

For more information about how to find comfortable shoes, please see my articles on this blog entitled:
"My feet hurt - top 10 things to do to alleviate foot pain today"
and
"Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's injuries."


Have a wonderful day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

What Some Shoe Companies Don't Want You To Know.

It was just another day of shoe shopping - or so I thought. 

How could I have known that, while innocently shopping for shoes, that I'd unwittingly stumbled into a different dimension of altered reality? 

A older salesman with kind eyes greeted me as I stepped into a moderately upscale shoe store specializing in comfortable shoes. He asked if he could help me and I replied, "I'm looking for shoes for my husband. I'd like to see whatever shoe you have with a thick, rigid sole - preferably one with a hidden steel shank in the sole."

"I'm sorry, we don't carry anything like that," he replied with a sympathetic smile.

"I thought you carried men's Dansko dress shoes?"

"Not anymore," he said with a polite smile. 

"Okay, so let me see whatever men's shoe that you do carry that has a thick, rigid sole."

He shook his head, not unkindly. "We don't have any."

I gazed at him in astonishment. "Are you telling me that in this entire shoe store, you don't have any men's shoes with a thick, rigid sole?"

"Sorry." He gave an apologetic shrug.

As a podiatrist, I prefer to 'secret shop' shoe stores, but I decided to introduced myself. "My name is Cathy and I'm a podiatrist. I'm looking for a dress shoe for my husband. He's recovering from a foot injury and I need a shoe with a thick, rigid sole so that he can continue to heal and he doesn't re-injure himself."

At this point, the salesman's previously polite mask dropped and his eyes flashed with a knowing gleam. He gave a furtive glance around, to make sure that no one would overhear our conversation. He leaned in and whispered, "You know and I know that a shoe with a rigid sole is better and more comfortable but we had to stop carrying them because we couldn't get our customers to try them on! We'd show them the shoe and they would see a rigid sole and automatically think it was uncomfortable. We stopped carrying them because we couldn't sell them!"

"Are you telling me that every men's shoe in here has a flexible sole and is crap?" I asked in astonishment. 

"Shhh!" He hushed me and looked around, visibly upset. "Keep your voice down!" 

"I'm sorry," I replied. "I just can't believe..."

"What sells is giving people what they want, not what they need," he said. After a moment, his eyes brightened, "Would you like to see some women's shoes?" 

Feeling that this was an isolated incident, I purchased a lovely Earthies women's wedge heel that fit all the criteria of what makes a comfortable shoe. I went home and ordered the men's Dansko 'Wayne' online, which I knew was a good shoe. We received the shoes and they fit my husband perfectly. 

Several weeks later, my husband and I were out shopping and I saw a well known nation chain men's shoe store and we decided to go in. I asked the handsome twenty year old salesman to show us any men's dress shoes with a thick, rigid sole with, preferably, a hidden steel shank in the sole. He led us past every display to the back of the store where he pointed to three shoes on the bottom shelf. 

"This is it," he said. 

My husband picked up the shoes and tried to bend them. "Yup, these don't bend," he said.

"What about all the other shoes that we just passed?" I asked, hooking my thumb over my shoulder to the rest of the store. 

He shook his head with a smile. "This is it." 

Hmmm. 

Several hours later, we passed a well-known national-chain hiking shoe store, which shall also remain unnamed. We proceeded into the store and I was appalled to find that this store, that built their reputation on making and selling comfortable, high quality hiking shoes was now specializing in minimalist shoes. Only five percent of the shoes in the entire store were even decent and, once again, they were all relegated to the back of the store. The best shoe in the store was on the back shelf, bottom row. The other ninety-five percent of the shoes that populated their shelves were complete garbage. Their new marketing plan seems to be catering to minimalist shoes that offers little more protection than enfolding your feet in wrapping paper and tying it with a bow.

By this time, I was simmering with indignation!

It is my opinion that these shoe manufacturers know exactly what what makes a good shoe but they have chosen to follow another path. A path lined with lies and greed as they feed upon the misconceptions of an unsuspecting public. There are perhaps some people out there with perfect biomechanics who will be able to wear minimalist shoes for 'X' amount of time, but there are also a whole host of people who go to these stores expecting that if they shell out one to two hundred dollars for a 'comfortable' shoe that they are getting something of quality and worth. 

I used to advise patients that eighty percent of shoes out there are garbage and only twenty percent are good. The search for good looking shoes that are good for your feet and pathology specific is what led me to start this blog! In the last several months, I have revised that number to a ninety percent garbage rate. 

The problem is that finding comfortable shoes is counter-intuitive. If a person's foot hurts, they go to the shoe store and say, "I need a shoe that is soft and flexible - like a cloud." No one goes into the store and says, "My foot hurts. I need a shoe that is thick and rigid." 

But, if you break a bone, we put you in a cast, which not only allows the body to heal itself but also is much more comfortable. No motion translates to less pain. Finding a comfortable shoe is a counter-intuitive process - and shoe companies know this.

It angers me that shoe companies are selling crap to the public. I'm not talking about sky-scraper heels - everyone knows they are not good for your feet, but I am referring to shoe companies that carry men's dress shoes, running shoes and hiking boots and are making claims that minimalist shoes with flexible soles are good for you. 

My career is based on helping people with foot and ankle pain. In my opinion, there are three main causes of foot and ankle pain: genetics, injury and inadequate shoegear. Fifty percent of my practice is based on properly diagnosing and treating people who have made one bad move in a bad shoe and now have a fracture, torn tendon, sprain or a variety of other pathologies. The first part of the process is to get it healed. The second is to make sure that the patient is in proper shoes and inserts so they do not re-injure themselves and can get back to all their normal activities. So, yes, I get upset when I see companies marketing 'comfort' shoes when, in reality, the shoes are recipes for foot and ankle injuries.

When did we as a society forget how to make a quality shoe? 

Or, is it more insidious than that?

When did some of the major shoe companies decide that they don't give a flying fig for how to make a quality shoe - and that it was easier to make a fast buck on crap shoes?

 

  

THE TRUTH THAT SOME SHOE COMPANIES DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW:

FOUR THINGS THAT A SHOE MUST HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE:

1. A thick, rigid sole that does not bend or flex and has a wide base through the midfoot area.

2. Arch support.

3. A wide, soft square toebox.

4. Rearfoot control. 

It doesn't matter what brand you get or how much you spend - just make sure that your shoes meet these four criteria and you can judge for yourself.

Have a safe and healthy day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

******

Check out my first novel which was written under the pen name C. Mack Lewis. It's available on Kindle or you can download a free Kindle app and read it on your iPad. 

Thank you for your support!

http://www.amazon.com/Gunning-For-Angels-Mack-Lewis-ebook/dp/B00I84NSE0

 

The Wolky Jewel - Podiatrist Recommended Comfortable Dress Sandal for Most Foot Types.

WOLKY JEWEL

This is an incredibly comfortable dress sandal for most foot types! 

What makes it so comfortable is the fact that is has a thick, rigid sole that offers exceptional protection for your foot joints as well as knee, hip and lower back. The built in arch support is excellent and the anatomical cork and latex footbed is removable so that it can accommodate a custom-molded insert if needed. It also has adjustable forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping, which is crucial for increasing comfort, decreasing the risk of injury and decreasing mechanical strain of your joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. 

If you're not sure about this sandal, find out what store in your area carries it and try it on and judge for yourself. This sandal is an investment in your feet that will pay off in abundance in that it will help to stop or slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes, neuromas as well as many other foot conditions and it will significantly help alleviate knee, hip and lower back pain. 

This Sandal is Recommended For Patients With:

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes 

*Morton's Neuromas

*Metatarsalgia

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

*Hallux Rigidus (No range of motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Mild to moderate Osteoarthritis

*Mild Degenerative Joint Disease 

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Tendonitis 

*Mild Ankle Instability

*Mild Over-Pronation

*Mild Hypermobility 

*Patients who have healed after a Lisfranc's Fracture or Sprain

*Capsulitis

*Mild to Moderate Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Fibromyalgia Patients

This Sandal is NOT Recommended For Patients With: 

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*History of Ulceration or Open Sores

*Charcot Foot

*Drop Foot

If You Have Any Of These Conditions, Check With Your Podiatrist To See If This Sandal Is Appropriate For You:

*Patients recovering from foot injuries or surgeries

*Severe Hypermobility

*Severe Over-Pronation

*Severe Instability

*Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome

*Reflex Systemic Dystropy

*Recovering from Avascular Necrosis

*History of Falling 

I hope this was helpful!

Have a wonderful day,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

 

 

Podiatry Recommended Comfort Sandals For Spring.

SUMMER DRESS SANDALS 

Dansko Scarlett

Sanita Darcy

Dansko Nina

These are three great options for a sandal that you can dress up or down for the summer season. The first two are going to work better for anyone who has Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint) or any other forefoot problems that make it difficult or painful to wear heels while the Dansko Nina is a great option for someone who knows they can comfortably wear a heel.

What makes these three sandals superior to most are that they each have a thick, rigid sole that is protective of the foot joints. Less motion means less mechanical strain, which translates into less pain, decreased chance of injury and more comfort. Each sandal has forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping, which is necessary for more comfort. If a shoe doesn't have a rearfoot strap, then you are forcing your joints, muscles, tendons and ligament to work harder to stay in the shoe. Instead of forcing your foot to do the work - make the shoe do the work!   

If you get 'tired legs' by the end of the day wearing flip flops or a backless sandal, try bumping up to one of these first two sandals. There are no good flip-flops! If your shoe does not have a thick rigid sole and rearfoot control, you are causing mechanical strain, which can promote all types of deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, osteoarthritis as well as knee, hip and lower back pain.

Remember, there are four requirements for a shoes: 

1. A thick, rigid sole (crucial!!)

2. Wide, soft toebox

3. Arch Support 

4. Rearfoot control 

The Dansko Scarlett and Sanita Darcy are Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Tailor's Bunions

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Tendonitis

*Metatarsalgia

*Osteoarthritis

*Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Hallux Limitus (Limited Range of Motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Hallux Rigidus (No motion of the first toe joint)

*Patients who've had a surgical fusion of the first toe joint

*Sesmoiditis

*Brachymetatarsalgia

*Mechanical Strain

*Mild Ligament Laxity

*Mild Hypermobility

*Mild Overpronation

*Patients recovering from foot fractures (Check with your doctor!)

The Dansko Scarlett and Sanita Darcy are NOT Recommended for Patients with: 
*History or Foot Ulcerations
*Diabetics
*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)
*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
*Charcot Foot
*Severe Hypermobility
*Severe Over-Pronation
*Severe Ankle Instability 


*The major difference between wearing the first two sandals versus the Dansko Nina is - do you have any forefoot problems? If you have Hallux Limitus, Hallux Rigidus, Sesmoiditis, Metatarsalgia, Capsulitis, Morton's Neuroma (to name a few) - I would opt for the first two sandals as they will put less pressure on the forefoot structures. If you know that you can wear a heel comfortably then the Dansko Nina would be a good option for a comfortable sandal. 



Hope all is well!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

  

Podiatrist Recommended Sandal for Patients with Bunions.

Fit Flop Sandal

A great option for anyone with bunions...

Patients with bunions are always challenged when it comes to finding comfortable shoes. They need a shoe that is protective and biomechanically controls the foot so that the bunion formation does not progress. They also need a shoe that does not apply pressure to the bunion, which can result it increased pain as well as

enlargement of the bunion. Patients who suffer with plantar fasciitis (heel pain) will also benefit from the shock absorption that this sandal provides.

What makes this sandal excellent is the thick, rigid sole that provides protection to the foot joints but is also is cushy enough to provide shock absorption. Although the sandal lacks forefoot strapping - it makes up for it with good midfoot and rearfoot strapping for more biomechanical control and, best of all, there is no pressure on the bunions or toes. 

I would highly recommend that you make sure that any Fit Flop that you purchase is a sandal with rearfoot strapping and not the Fip Flop with no rearfoot strapping. It makes a huge difference in comfort! Without rearfoot straps, you are forcing your toes to grip down to stay in the flip-flop, which aggravates forefoot issues such as hammertoes, bunions, calluses and metatarsalgia. It also forces your tendons, muscles and joints including your knees, hips and lower back to work harder to stay in the shoe, which causes more biomechanical pain and 'tired leg syndrome'.

To stop or slow the progression of bunions, it is imperative that you wear shoes with a thick, rigid sole, a wide soft toebox and shoes with some type of forefoot (if possible), midfoot and rearfoot biomechanical control. It's optimal to wear custom-molded orthotics and, although this sandal does not accommodate orthotics, the Fit Flop Sandal is an excellent choice.

This Shoe is Recommended for Patients with:

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Tailor's Bunions

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis 

*Mild Tendonitis 

*Corns and Calluses

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

*Hallux Rigidus

*Osteoarthritis

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Ingrown Toenails

*Morton's Neuroma

*Fibromyalgia

*Mild Knee, Hip and Lower Back Pain

This Shoe is NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Patients with a history of Ulcerations or Open Sores

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage

*Hypermobility 

*Severe Overpronation

*Avascular Necrosis 

Have a lovely day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

 

Easy Spirit Heel Riser - Comfortable Women's Sandal...

Are you addicted to your Fit-Flop's but find that you need more support?

A wonderful alternative is...

The Easy Spirit Heel Riser Sandal.

At $24.97 at Footsmart, 
this is an excellent choice for a casual sandal that is similar to the Fit-Flop but offers more support and comfort. If you prefer to try on the sandal, J.C. Penny's usually carries the Heel Riser. 

This sandal has a thick, rigid sole that is very protective of the foot joints and offers superior biomechanical control because it has forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping. Even though the sole is thick and rigid - it has a lot of cushion that allows for more shock absorption and comfort. 

 If you are currently wearing the Fit-Flop
(or any flip-flop!) and you are experiencing rearfoot pain such as Achilles Tendonitis or heel pain, I highly recommend that you "bump up" to a shoe with rearfoot control! With the Easy Spirit Heel Riser, you get the added benefit of the midfoot and rearfoot strapping, which offers more biomechanical control of the midfoot and rearfoot joints - resulting in less mechanical strain of your tendons, muscles and joints. Not to mention your knees, hips and lower back! More biomechanical control means less mechanical strain, less chance of injury and significantly more comfort. 

Overall, I highly recommend the Easy Spirit Heel Riser for casual wear because it is protective of the foot, has good biomechanical control, wide, soft straps and it's lightweight. 
Not to mention the price is fabulous!

This Sandal IS Recommended For Patients with:

Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

Mild to Moderate Bunions

Metatarsalgia 

Morton's Neuroma

Capsulitis

Sesmoiditis

Hallux Limitus 

(Limited range-of-motion of the 1st toe joint)

Hallux Rigidus 

(No motion of the 1st toe joint)

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Mild Tendonitis

Mild Achilles Tendonitis

 Corns & Calluses

Mild to Moderate Edema (Swelling) 

Mild Hypermobility

 

This Sandal is NOT Recommended For Patients with:

Diabetes

Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

History of Ulcerations

Charcot Foot 

Moderate to Severe Hypermobility

Ankle Instability

Posterior Tibial Dysfunction

Drop Foot

I have as yet to talk to a patient who owns this sandal that doesn't love this sandal!

Hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:) 

For More Info - 

Check out my articles on this blog:

"My Feet Hurt - Top Ten Things to Do To Relieve Foot Pain Today."

and

"Shoe Recommendations For Patients Recovering From Lisfranc's Fractures." 

You can go to the 'search' box at the top of the page and search:

My Feet Hurt

Shoe Recommendations