Mash-Up Podiatry Recommended Shoe List!

 

Podiatry Recommended

2022-2023 Winter Mash-Up Shoe List

What makes these shoes 'podiatrist approved' is that they all meet 3 of the 4 criteria for what makes a comfortable shoe:

1. A thick, rigid, and non-flexible sole. A shoe that has a thick, rigid, and non-flexible sole allows less motion through painful joints, which means more foot comfort. The concept is counter-intuitive but less motion means less pain, less strain, and less damage to the joints and will help slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes, and arthritic joint changes. 

2. Wide toe box. Pointy-toed shoes cause bunions, hammertoes, corns,  and ingrown toenails (to name a few!). 

3. Rearfoot control. All of these shoes and boots have rearfoot control, which helps to decrease mechanical strain on tendons, and ligaments and also increases strain on your knees, hips, and lower back. 

4. Arch Support.  Many of these examples will not accommodate a full-length functional orthotic, but most will allow you to wear at least a good over-the-counter insert or a thinner dress orthotic. Arch support is important to help slow the progression of bunions and hammertoes as decreases strain on your knees, hips, and lower back. 

Fredy Platform Boot Marc Fisher LTD

This is a great option for anyone who knows that they can wear heels comfortably. Boots with more rearfoot height are especially good for anyone who has a history of previous Achilles tendonitis.

Dansko Professional Clogs 

The Dansko Professional Clog is the classic 'go-to' shoe for many doctors and nurses. They are great for working long hours on retail or concrete surfaces. They work best if you have feet that are relatively 'straight' with no big 'bumps' such as bunions or a high arch. The best way to figure out if these work for you is to got to the store and try them on. I do not recommend that your order these online unless you already know they work for you and you know your proper size. 

MATISSE

GAVIN PLATFORM BOOT

MATISSE

RONAN CHELSEA BOOT

The above two boots are going to work better on someone who knows that they can handle a heavier or chunkier shoe. I would not recommend these for anyone with drop-foot or any muscle weakness. 

Steve Madden Klayton Black Boot

A solid boot like this used to be my favorite choice for a boot that I could dress up but still be comfortable wearing for hours. As I've gotten older, I cannot tolerate this height anymore, so I do not recommend anything like this unless you know that you are comfortable and safe wearing heels this high. 

Jeffrey Campbell

Book Platform Apron Toe Derby

I love the look of these oxfords! Only consider something like this if you know that you can handle the 'chunkier' and heavier shoes. 

Wonders

Talla Loafer Wedge (Women)

This is a lovely choice for a low wedge and will most likely work best for someone with a more narrow foot and forefoot. I would not recommend this one for someone with painful bunions or hammertoes.

Alegria Paloma

This is a fabulous choice for anyone with a history of heel pain, metatarsalgia, osteoarthritis, and plantar plate issues (to name a few!). I would recommend that you try these on at the store and not purchase your first pair online. 

Kaila Shoes (Sundance)

Woven Naylor Sandals (Sundance)

Rowena Sandals (Sundance)

Living in Arizona, I felt it was important to include several sandals/wedges on the list as these can be appropriate to wear during the winter months. I have a patient who introduced me to the Sundance shoes and I was very impressed with how sturdy and well-made they are. 

Baxter Shoes (Sundance)

This is a great example of a solid Oxford which should feel comfortable for long hours on your feet. I love the chunky sole and color!

Kinetic Breakthru Conquest Boots (Sundance)

Iris Track Boots (Sundance)

These are good examples of sturdy boots that aren't your typical REI look, which isn't bad but these are definitely more stylish. 

Xelero Steadfast Hiker (men's)

Xelero Steadfast Walker (Women's)

Xelero Genesis XPS (Women's)

Xelero Heidi Deep Ocean

Xelero Heidi Black Ice (Women's)

All of the above Xelero's are great shoes! They all have a thick, rigid, and very protective sole that is perfect for anyone with a history of plantar fasciitis as well as any forefoot or midfoot pain such as metatarsalgia, plantar plate issues, a history of stress fractures, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and sesamoiditis. 

Hoka Bondi

My husband loves his Hoka Bondi shoes to the point that he is now even golfing in them! They are great for anyone with heel pain as well as knee, hip, and lower back pain. The only drawback to the Hokas is that, if you are super active (like my husband is!) they will wear out sooner than most other types of shoes such as New Balance or Xelero. I have to replace my husband's Hokas every 4-5 months, which can get expensive.  

Drew Surge (Men's)

Drew Flare (Women's)

These Drew shoes are the gold standard (like the New Balance 928 or 1540s) for anyone who needs a sturdy and comfortable all-day walking shoe. I own the Drew Flare and wear them with my full-length custom-molded orthotics and they are the most comfortable shoe that I own. 

Apex Women's Walker

Apex Women's Trail Runner

Apex Men's Trail Runner

The above Apex are great options for hiking or walking shoes. They also have a rigid and supportive sole and they can accommodate a custom-molded orthotic. 

Apex Men's Ariya Moc Toe

This is a nice option for all-day comfort for someone who wants a more traditional dress shoe. 

FitFlop Shuv Soft Pink Slippers

Alegria Chillery Smoke

I have not tried the above two slippers myself, but they certainly look super comfortable!

For more articles on painful feet and proper shoes, please check out my articles:

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

My Feet Hurt!

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's fractures: Shoe Recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's fractures

Thank you for reading! 

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

:)

Podiatrist Recommend Hiking Boot - Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX

Podiatrist Recommended 

Men's Hiking Boots

Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX

This is an excellent men's hiking shoe and, if you are a woman who can't find a comfortable hiking shoe, go to REI and try on this men's boot. This is the boot that my husband (aka Mister 15,000 steps per day!) is currently wearing and it has resolved some foot issues that he was developing while wearing his old hiking boots, which were wearing out and getting too flexible (and therefore causing foot pain).

For a shoe to be good enough for your feet (and be comfortable), they must meet 4 criteria:

1. They must have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole that allows no motion through painful joints. It's counterintuitive, but a rigid and non-flexible sole is the most important feature of a shoe. 90% of all shoes out there are complete garbage because their soles are too flexible and flimsy. Soles that allow motion through painful joints cause more pain and joint damage.  

2. A wide toe box, so there is no pressure on the toes and toenails, which can cause bunions, hammertoes, corns, Morton's Neuromas, Tailor's bunions, and fungal toenails.  

3. Rearfoot control, which means that you have to at least have a strap around the back of the shoe (no flip-flops or mules). Rearfoot control allows for more biomechanical control of the foot and ankle structures, which means less inflammation, swelling and pain.  

4. Arch support, which you can do with a custom-molded orthotic or at least an excellent over-the-counter insert for better arch support. 

If your foot hurts, you might want to consider going to the store and trying on this boot because it's sort of like wearing a mini-CAM-walker, which is what is used to treat broken bones in the feet. 

This boot is recommended for patients with:

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

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

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

*Functional Hallux Limitus 

*history of Lisfranc's Joint Injuries

*Morton's Neuroma (make sure that the toe box is wide and causes no pressure on the forefoot area)

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Tailor's Bunions

*Plantar Plate Injuries

*Osteoarthritis

*Degenerative Joint Disease

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis 

*Posterior Tibial Tendonitis

*Peroneal Tendonitis

*Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (wear orthotics) 

*Sinus Tarsi Syndrome 

This boot is not recommended for patients with:

*History of Diabetic Ulcerations

*Charcot Foot

*Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

*Muscle Weakness

*Foot Drop 

Check with your podiatrist if you have these conditions: 

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage) 

For more information, please check out these articles:

Shoe recommendation for patients recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries.

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

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

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:) 

 

Nike Goadome - Podiatrist Recommended Boots for men with painful feet and ankles.

Nike Goadome

A fantastic boot for men with biomechanically challenged feet!

The Nike Goadome is a great choice for anyone with biomechanically challenged feet! This boot offers exceptional biomechanical control of the foot and ankle for many foot types, but it is not for everyone. 

What makes the Nike Goadome boot superior to most other boots is that it meets the four criteria that are needed for a shoe to be podiatry recommended:

1. It has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, which stops motion through any painful or compromised joints. Whether you are recovering from a foot or ankle injury or you have painful, arthritic joints - wearing shoes that do not allow motion through these joints immediately allows the foot to begin to calm down and heal. Less motion through painful foot joints translates into less pain, less inflammation, and less swelling, which allows for all-day comfort. Wearing shoes with a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole will also improve knee, hip, and lower back pain as well as slow the progression of many foot problems, including bunions and hammertoes. 

2. It has a wide toe box, which means that it will help slow or stop the progression of bunions, hammertoes, corns, and ingrown toenails (to name a few!). Shoes that are tight in the toe box and put added pressure on toenails also promotes fungal toenail infections. In my experience, the only way you can get rid of toenail fungus is to always wear proper shoe gear that meets these four criteria for proper shoes. Microtrauma on toenails caused by flimsy shoes or tight toe boxes is one of the main contributing factors to getting a fungal toenail infection. We are surrounded by fungus and, once you injure the toenail, that is how the fungus gets into the nail and sets up an active infection. For more information on toenail fungus, please refer to my article:

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2012/02/effectively-treating-toenail-fungus.html

3. It has Rearfoot Control. The Nike Goadome has amazing rearfoot control because it not only biomechanically controls the rearfoot, but it also controls the ankle. Less motion through the rearfoot means that there is less mechanical strain on tendons, joints, and ligaments. If you are recovering from an ankle injury, PT Tendonitis, or Peroneal tendonitis - this should be a great boot choice for you. 

4. It will accommodate Arch Support. The Nike Goadome has a removable insole so that it can be replaced by your full-length custom-molded orthotic or an excellent over-the-counter insole like Powerstep, which can be purchased online. Your local Podiatrist will have excellent insole options, such as heat-molded insoles or other over-the-counter products. Our office staff checks our patient's insurance coverage to see if custom-molded inserts are covered under their plan. If they are covered, our doctors cast the patients. If they are not covered, then we advise the patient to bring in their shoes, so they can try on our over-the-counter Footstep insole, which is an excellent alternative for people on a budget. Arch support helps with knee, hip and lower back pain as well as foot and ankle issues such as over-pronation (flat feet), tendonitis and joint pain. 

The Nike Goadome boot is recommended for patients with:

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

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

*Functional Hallux Limitus (limited motion through 1st toe joint when you are functioning)

*Osteoarthritis

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Degenerative Joint Disease

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma (the toe box has to feel roomy and cannot be a tight fit on your foot)

*Mild to Moderate Bunions 

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Mild to Severe Over-Pronation

*Ankle Instability

*Posterior Tibial Tendonitis (wear with arch support)

*Peroneal Tendonitis 

*Hypermobility

*Ligament Laxity

*Ehler Danlos Syndrome

*Marfan's Syndrome

*Recovering from a Lisfranc's Injury (fracture or sprain)

*Recovering from an Ankle Injury (fracture or sprain)

*Drop Foot in someone who is under 65 years of age (maybe)

*Achilles Tendonitis (maybe)

*Mild to possibly a Moderate Haglund's Deformity (maybe)

*History of Stress Fractures

*History of Tendon Injuries  

*Any foot joints that have been surgically fused

The Nike Goadome boot is not recommended for patients with:

*Excessive swelling

*Muscle or leg weakness 

*Charcot foot

*History of Ulcerations

*Peripheral Neuropathy 

*Peripheral Arterial Disease

*Anyone who is elderly or frail

*Severe Bunions 

*Severe Hammertoes

*Drop Foot in anyone who is over 65 years old. (Talk to your podiatrist about a drop-foot plate or AFO, which is a custom-molded foot-ankle orthosis, which is covered by Medicare and can be worn with a New Balance 928 or 1540).

Check with your podiatrist to see if this boot is appropriate for you if you have:

*Diabetes

*Rheumatoid Arthritis 

*If you have someone in your life who only wears sturdy boots and refuses to wear any other type of shoes - this person has what I call 'biomechanically challenged' feet. Whenever a kid or teenager comes into my office wearing heavy boots, I know that that kid has figured out that if he/she wears only boots that allow no motion through their foot or ankle joints - then they will be comfortable. If you know someone like this - or it is you - I highly recommend that you see a podiatrist and invest in a pair of custom-molded orthotics. 

Thank you for reading the blog and I would love it if you could share it with any biomechanically challenged loved ones in your life. 

Due to time constraints, I have not been able to keep up with answering all of your comments and questions, but these articles below will most likely answer any questions that you have about proper shoe gear. 

My Feet Hurt! Top 10 things to do to alleviate foot pain today.

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.my/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

Shoe recommendations for broken toes and how to properly treat a broken toe.

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.my/2015/06/how-to-treat-broken-toe-podiatrist.html

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

John Fleuvog Chief - Podiatry Recommended Men's Shoe.

John Fluevog Chief

Podiatry Recommended Men's Shoe.

The John Fluevog Chief if a great choice for stylish all day comfort. I gave my husband these shoes and he loves them. They are surprisingly diverse as far as dressing up jeans or wearing as a casual dress shoe to work. Well, at least in Arizona, this passes for a dress shoe! 

This shoe meets the four criteria required that a shoe must have to be comfortable:

1. It has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole so that there is more protection for the foot joints. 

2. It has a wide toebox, so there is less pressure on the toes, which helps to prevent the progression of bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and corns. 

3. It has rearfoot control, which helps decrease mechanical strain to tendons and ligaments as well as to the joints of the knees, hips, and lower back. 

4. The insole is removable so that you can put in your custom-molded orthotic for better arch support. It can also accommodate a dress orthotic or a heat-molded insert which goes on top of the insole that comes with the shoe. 

Remember, the most important feature of finding a comfortable shoe is to find shoes that have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole. No motion through the bottom of the foot means less inflammation, less swelling and less pain, which is crucial for all day comfort. 

This shoe is recommended for patients with:

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

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

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

*Functional Hallux Limitus (limited motion through the 1st toe joint while you are functioning)

*Morton's Neuroma (make sure you have plenty of room in the toe box) 

*Metatarsalgia

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Capsulitis

*Sesamoiditis

*Ingrown Toenails

*Corns & Calluses

*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunions

*Recovering from a previous Lisfranc's Injury (check with your podiatrist) 

*Osteoarthritis 

*Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis

This shoe is not recommended for patients with:

*Diabetes (check with your Podiatrist)

*History of previous foot ulcerations

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation) 

*Charcot Foot

*Drop Foot 

I've been having trouble keeping up with answering individual questions posted on the blog, but these two articles should answer most questions that you have about proper shoes. 

For more information on proper shoes, please refer to my other 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 10 things to do 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

:)

Eileen Fisher Chelsea Boot - Podiatrist Approved for Certain Foot Types.

Eileen Fisher Chelsea Boot

A Great Choice For Style & All Day Comfort.

Eileen Fisher is a very smart lady when it comes to designing comfortable and stylish shoes! What makes her shoes so exceptional are that they usually meet the four criteria that a shoe must have to be comfortable. 

Her Chelsea boot has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, which is absolutely crucial for protecting foot joints. If you are wearing shoes that have a flexible sole, then you are forcing too much motion through joints that may not be able to handle it because of previous injury, mechanical strain or arthritic changes. A shoe sole that is thick, rigid and non-flexible stops motion through foot joints, which decreases inflammation, pain, swelling and arthritic changes. Motion through foot joints promotes foot issues such as bunions, hammertoes, corns, ingrown toenails and can be the cause of everything from stress fractures, metatarsalgia, neuromas, and degenerative joint disease. Flexible-soled shoes can also cause more knee, hip, and lower back strain. It's like building a house - if you want a healthy roof, you better have a good foundation. If you want to have healthy knees, hips and less lower back strain, you need to create a solid, sturdy foundation for your skeletal frame by wearing shoes that have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole. 

Secondly, your shoes should have a wide toebox. Shoes with tight toe boxes promote hammertoes, bunions, corns, Morton's Neuromas, and can make it impossible to get rid of fungal toenails. In fact, the only way I am able to get rid of fungal nail infections is getting the patient to wear better shoegear. Pressure on the toenails from tight shoes causes microtrauma to the toenail, which allows fungus to enter the toenail and spread the infection to other nails. 

A shoe also must have rearfoot control. If there is no rearfoot control or no strap around the back of the heel, then your tendons, muscles and joints have to work harder to stay in the shoe, which causes mechanical strain, tired leg syndrome and can make you more prone to injuries, particularly in the rearfoot and ankle. Not having rearfoot control can also cause more strain on the knees, hips, and lower back. 

The fourth component, which is arch support, is actually the least important factor. It is more important to have an excellent shoe with a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, wide toebox, and rearfoot control. Of course, it is optimal to wear excellent arch support, but it is better to have an excellent shoe with no arch support or an excellent shoe with a decent over-the-counter arch support than to be wearing a flexible-soled shoe with custom-molded orthotics. I am probably one of the few Podiatrists who believes this, but in my experience - the sole of the shoe is controlling 100% of the foot joints while the orthotic is only controlling the rearfoot and the midfoot (because the front of the orthotic is only a topcover that is flexible). The forefoot area must be controlled by the sole of the shoe. Custom molded orthotics generally cost $400, so I tell my patients to spend that money on excellent shoes and we can put them in an excellent over-the-counter insert for $50 or a heat-molded insert for dress shoes for $75. In my opinion, the power is in the shoe!

The Eileen Fisher Chelsea Boot is recommended for patients with:

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Metatarsalgia

*Mild Morton's Neuroma 

*Hallux Limitus

*Functional Hallux Limitus 

*Hallux Rigidus

*Previous Lisfranc's Joint Injury 

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Posterior Tibial Tendonitis (wear with a heat molded or dress orthotic if possible)

*Mild Peroneal Tendonitis 

*Mild Arthritis

*Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Mild to Moderate Over-Pronation (wear with orthotic if possible)

The Eileen Fischer Chelesa Boot is not recommended for patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*History of Foot Ulcerations

*Excessive Swelling

*Severe Bunions

*Severe Hammertoes

*High Insteps

*Bone Spurs on the top of the mid-foot area

If you have any of these conditions, check with your Podiatrist to see if the Chelsea boot is appropriate for you:

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Diabetes 

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Mild Foot Drop

For more information on proper shoes, check out these articles from my blog:

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries. 

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

My Feet Hurt! Top 10 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!

Sincerely,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)