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:
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.
Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries.
Shoe recommendations for broken toes and how to properly treat a broken toe.
I hope this was helpful!
Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy
:)
