Podiatrist Recommended John Fluevog Women's Shoes

Podiatrist Recommended
John Fluevog Women's Shoes 

Supervog

Akira

Todne

Flame

Capellan

Find

Advisor

Virtue

Luxon

Zenobia

These John Fluvog shoes are a great choice for anyone looking for comfortable yet fashionable footwear. I would recommend that you go to a Fluevog store to try on the shoes if at all possible. If you order online, I recommend that you read the reviews because it will give you tips on getting the best sizing.  

To review, for any shoe to be good enough for your feet it must meet 4 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. 

Third, all shoes that you wear should have rearfoot control 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 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. If your dress orthotics don't work in your dress shoes or heels then don't wear them as trying to force them into a dress shoe can cause problems such as discomfort, calluses, and crowding of toes. Of the four criteria listed here, having arch support is the least important of the four.

These shoes are not recommended for patients with:
*Diabetes 
*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)
*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation)
*History of foot ulcerations
*Charcot Foot


If you are unsure if any of these shoes will work for your foot condition, please refer to your local podiatrist. 

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Nike Zoom Fly - Podiatry Recommended

Nike Zoom Fly

Podiatry Recommended

The Nike Zoom Fly is a great choice for anyone looking for a comfortable running shoe. Although I still prefer the Hoka running shoes for all-around comfort and stellar shock absorption and the New Balance 1540 for stability and the extra depth toe box, the Nike Zoom Fly is a great choice because it has an excellent sole that is thick, rigid and non-flexible, which allows for miles of comfortable running. 

The 4 things that a shoe must have to be comfortable (and podiatry recommended) are:

1. It must have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole so that there is no motion through foot joints, tendons, ligament and even muscles. It is counterintuitive, but the concept is that less motion equals less pain, inflammation, and swelling.  

2. It has a wide and soft toe box that decreases pressure on the toes, which helps stop or slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, and corns (to name a few). 

3. It has rearfoot control, which allows for more biomechanical control and stability of the foot and ankle structures. 

4. This shoe will also accommodate a custom-molded orthotic or an excellent over-the-counter insert for better arch support. 

This shoe is recommended for patients with:

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

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

*Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint when you are non-weight bearing)

*Functional Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint when you are weight bearing)

*Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Sesamoiditis

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Hammertoes 

*History of mild to moderate Lisfranc's Injury

*Tailor's Bunion

*Osteoarthritis

*Mild to Moderate Degenerative Joint Disease

*Mild to Moderate Over-Pronation

*Mild Hypermobility / Ligament Laxity

Check with your Podiatrist before wearing this shoe if you have:

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Vascular Disease (poor circulation)

*History of a severe Lisfranc's Injury

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

This shoe is not recommended for patients with: 

*Charcot Foot

*History of diabetic foot ulcerations

I hope that this was helpful. For more information, please refer to my other articles: 

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

Have a great day!

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

:)

Podiatrist's Top 10 Recommendations to Alleviating Foot Pain!

Podiatrist Top 10 Recommendations 

to Alleviate Foot Pain

The Basics

1. Stop Walking Barefoot. This is absolutely crucial! We are living longer and we are living on concrete floors. It's your feet versus the concrete and the concrete is going to win. Walking barefoot leads to arthritic joint changes, degenerative joint disease, stress fractures, tendonitis, and promotes knee, hip and lower back pain (to name a few). If you do not stop walking barefoot, the foot pain will never resolve.

2. Stop walking around the house wearing only socks. Socks offer only minimal cushioning and they offer zero protection for your joints against the ravages of time and concrete floors. Socks are great for sleeping in or wearing with excellent shoes, but not walking in. The best socks to get are microfiber socks or any man-made fiber socks, which are far superior to cotton socks. 

3. Stop wearing flip-flops. Wearing flip-flops is better than walking barefoot, but not much. Even the 'best' flip-flops aren't good enough for your feet as they do not have the added protection of having rearfoot strapping, which I will discuss later in this article. 

4. Stop wearing flimsy bedroom slippers. Flimsy is bad. Ninety percent of slippers are flimsy and they offer only minimal protection for your foot joints. The world is full of flimsy shoes and bedroom slippers because that is what sells and that is what people think they need, but what actually feels much more comfortable and is better for your foot is to have a solid, supportive shoe with a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole. Like a firm mattress that has a cushioned top cover for more comfort, the same idea works with shoes. You need a firm, rigid sole (for more protection and support for your foot) and then it needs a cushioned top. 

5. As a bedroom slipper, I've listed your best options below. The only time that you should be barefoot and standing is when you are in the shower. I would recommend that you get a cushioned shower mat to stand while in the shower. As soon as you get out of the shower (or bath), step onto a thick, cushioned rug and, right after you dry yourself, immediately put on your bedroom slippers. If you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, step down directly into your slippers and then stand up and go to the bathroom. At our office, we treat a great deal of injuries that are caused by people walking barefoot between the bed and the bathroom in the middle of the night. Wearing a good slipper will prevent injuries as well as prevent falls for geriatric patients. 

Crocs Specialist (with no vents)

Don't purchase the Specialist Crocs that have the vents as they aren't as good. Crocs don't work as well for patients who have narrow feet because they tend to be wide. If you order these online, you need to order the next size up as they only come in full sizes. For instance, if you wear a size 7.5, then order an 8. If you wear a size 8, then order a 9. If your toes are touching the end of the Croc, then they are too small. If they feel too big, then that is the correct size. Remember, you have to be able to slip into them without fussing with the rear foot strap because you are using them as a bedroom slipper. They are only meant to be worn to get you from the bed to the bathroom and while you are puttering around in the morning. Once you are ready for your day, put on better shoes, such as the New Balance choices listed below.

***

http://amzn.to/2vZX3oa

Fleece Crocs

The fleece Crocs are a great choice if you live in a cold environment or if your feet tend to be cold. If you have severe athlete's foot or sweaty feet, this may not be your best choice. 

***

Orthofeet Diabetic Slippers 

This is my favorite choice for geriatric patients because they can slip into it easily and it offers great stability. It only has minimal rearfoot control, but the sole is extremely supportive. If Crocs don't work for you, this is an excellent choice.  

***

Orthoheel Vionix Relax Slippers

This is another great choice for geriatric patients. It is easy to slip into and the sole is supportive and it has excellent arch support. 

***

Birkenstock Sandals

For patients who don't like to wear enclosed shoes, the Birkenstock sandal is a good choice. Also, if you have sweaty feet, hot feet or chronic athlete's foot infections, the Birkenstock sandals is an excellent choice.

6. Wear only excellent shoes! This doesn't mean that you have to spend a fortune on shoes. This only means that you have to know what you are looking for when shopping for new shoes. For a shoe to be good enough for your feet, they must meet these three criteria, which are listed below:

7. Only wear shoes that have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole. This concept is counterintuitive, but extremely important. If you are wearing a shoe that is flimsy and flexible, then you are allowing too much motion through your foot joints, which causes joint damage such as osteoarthritis and degenerative joint changes as well as stress fractures, tendinitis, and mechanical strain. For example, if you are recovering from a Lisfranc's Injury and you have just gotten out of a below-the-knee walking boot, then the last thing you want to do is wear a flexible shoe that re-aggravates the injury. You have to continue to protect your foot with a thick, rigid sole that never allows motion through the injured joint. And, yes, that is for the rest of your life. 

8. Only wear shoes with a wide toe-box. Pointy-toed shoes cause constant pressure and irritation to the toes, which causes bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, corns, Morton's Neuroma's, and joint damage. It is important that you wear shoes with a wide and preferably soft toe box.   

9. Only wear shoes with rearfoot control. The reason why flip-flops don't work for anyone is that, without rearfoot strapping, then you are forced to scrunch down your toes to stay in the flip-flop, which causes more mechanical strain on your tendons, ligaments, and joints. It also increases your risk of injury as well as strain to your knees, hips and lower back. 

10. Wear arch support. Even if you think that you don't need arch support, the analogy I use is that bridges have arches and engineers put struts under bridges to help decrease stress and strain. Unless you are one of the ten percent of people who cannot tolerate arch support, then I would recommend trying either custom-molded orthotics or at least an excellent over-the-counter insert. Talk to your podiatrist about getting orthotics. Also, most podiatrist offices carry excellent over-the-counter inserts that are much less expensive and quite effective. The over-the-counter insert I recommend is Powersteps, which I've listed below. 

Powerstep Inserts

Best Shoe Choices:

Women's New Balance 928

The NB 928 is an excellent choice for anyone with foot pain. I always recommend that you go to the New Balance store to try them on and get properly measured. Try to go shopping after 2pm when your foot is a little more swollen and ask the store personel to measure your feet. If there is any pressure on your toes, go up a half size or width. Before you purchase the shoe, double check and make sure that the forefoot sole is not bending or flexing! Ten percent of shoes can be defective, poorly made or broken. Do not buy any shoes that have a sole that is bending or flexing. It's a waste of time, money and it defeats the purpose.

Women's New Balance 1540

If the NB 928 is not to your liking, the NB 1540 is a great second choice. It's not as good as the NB 928, but it is still better than anything else that I've found in the stores.

Women's Hoka One One Stinson ATR

This is a great choice for anyone with plantar fasciitis as it has amazing extra cushioning for the foot. Be aware that the toe box tends to run narrow. 

Remember, if your foot hurts then follow up with your local podiatrist for x-rays and a full evaluation. Avoid surgery and pursue conservative treatment first. 

Have a great day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:)

Podiatrist Recommended Trail Running Shoe - Salomon XA Pro.

Salomon XA PRO 3D CS WP 

Trail-Running Shoes

The Salomon XA Pro is an excellent trail running shoe. I'm not a trail runner, so I have been wearing this shoe for hiking, exercising at the gym and as a general walking shoe. I also like the fact that it is waterproof and has excellent gripping action on the bottom of the sole, which helps with hiking and running on rocky trails. 

What makes this shoe so good is that it meets the four criteria that a shoe must have to be comfortable:

1. A thick, rigid, non-flexible sole. It is crucial that shoes have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole because less motion and flexing through foot joints allows for less inflammation, less damage, and less pain. If you are recovering from a foot fracture or injury, it is important that you protect those bones and joints with a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, so that you don't reinjure your foot. 

2. Wide toebox. It's important to wear a shoe with a wide and preferably soft toe box so that there is less pressure on toes, which will stop or slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes, corns, and calluses.

3. Rearfoot control. Rearfoot control is important because it helps to biomechanically control the rearfoot, which means that there is less mechanical strain to tendons, ligaments, and joints. It also helps to decrease tired leg syndrome as well as decrease knee, hip and lower back strain. 

4. Arch support. Not everyone needs arch support. In fact, about ten percent of patients cannot tolerate arch support. The other ninety percent of patients do benefit from arch support, which helps to place the foot in a biomechanically, neutral position. Doing this helps to stop or slow the progression of forefoot issues such as bunions and hammertoes. It also is important if you are recovering from any foot or ankle injuries, particularly a Lisfranc joint injury. Arch support also helps with knee, hip and lower back pain.  

This shoe is recommended for people with:

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

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

*Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint with no weight bearing)

*Functional Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint while weight bearing)

*Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Achilles Tendonitis 

*Peroneal & Posterior Tibial Tendonitis

*Previous Lisfranc's Injury (check with your podiatrist if needed)

*Corns & Calluses

*Sesamoiditis

*Ingrown toenails

*History of Ankle Sprains

*Hypermobility

*Ligament Laxity

*Over-Pronation

*Pes Cavus (high arches)

*Pes Planus (flat feet)

Check with your podiatrist to see if this shoe is right for you if you have:

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation)

*Drop Foot

*Charcot-Marie Tooth Disease

This shoe is not recommended for people with:

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

*Lymphedema (excessive swelling) 

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!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

 

Anywhere shoes - podiatrist recommended for many foot types.

ANYWEAR Shoes

Excellent choice for a bedroom slipper
or a casual dress shoe for many foot types.

The Anywhere shoe is an excellent choice for many foot types. If you have tried the Rx Crocs and they were not a good fit or they simply did not work for your foot type, this might be a good option for you to use as a bedroom slipper. 

What makes this Anywhere shoe so good is that the sole is thick and has minimal flexibility, which allows for more protection of painful joints. Less motion through painful joints means less inflammation, less swelling, less pain, and less arthritic joint changes. 

The wide toe box works well for accommodating mild to moderate hammertoes and bunions. The medical grade Crocs Specialist (with no vents) is my first choice as a bedroom slipper because it has an extra-depth toebox, which is better for people with severe hammertoes and bunions. The Anywheres do not have an extra-depth toebox, so if you do have significantly large bunions and hammertoes, the Crocs unvented Specialist would be a better choice for you to use as a bedroom slipper.  

Although this Anywhere shoe doesn't have a rearfoot strap, it does have partial rearfoot control, which helps to limit biomechanical strain. Rearfoot control is important for decreasing strain on the knees, hips and lower back. Rearfoot control also helps to decrease foot pain as well as slow the progression of foot deformities such as bunions and hammertoes. The partial rearfoot control does make it an easy shoe to slip into if you use it as a bedroom slipper, which is great for when you get out of bed in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning. 

This shoe is recommended for people with:

*Mild bunions

*Mild hammertoes

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

*Functional Hallux Limitus 

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

*Surgically fused toe joints

*Morton's Neuroma

*Mild to moderate Tailor's Bunions

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Sesamoiditis

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

*Osteoarthritis

*RA

*Corns & Calluses

*Mild to Moderate Overpronation 

*Mild Hypermobility & Ligament Laxity

*Mild to moderate Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain) 

You need approval from your podiatrist before you wear this shoe if you have: 

*Diabetes 

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation)

*Ankle Instability

*History of Ankle Injuries

*Hypermobility & Ligament Laxity

*Severe Overpronation

*Peroneal Tendonitis

*Posterior Tibial Tendonitis 

*Severe Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain) 

*History of stress fractures 

This shoe is not recommended for patient with:

*Excessive swelling 

*Charcot Foot 

*Lymphedema

*Drop Foot (because it will not accommodate an AFO or drop foot plate)

*History of ulcerations or open sores 

*History of Rearfoot Reconstruction (or any rearfoot surgical fusions of joints)

*Achilles tendonitis (because you need more heel elevation to decrease strain on the achilles (try the Crocs Specialist with no vents) 

Other ANYWHERE shoes:

The things you need to know about this Anywhere shoe is that it is not recommended for people with a history of Achilles tendonitis. Because it has a rocker-bottom soled shoe, it can potentially rock you backwards, which would cause strain on the achilles that could lead to a partial tear or even a rupture. Other than this one exception, the recommendations above also work for this shoe style.

I hope that this was helpful & thank you for reading the blog!

Sincerely,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

For more information, please check out these articles:

Top 15 shoes for foot pain!

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2016/07/top-15-shoes-that-will-change-your-life.html

Shoe recommendations for people recovering from Lisfranc's injuries.

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

* * *

*Due to increased volume on the blog, I have been unable to answer questions in a timely manner. The above links will take you to articles that will most likely answer your questions! 

Podiatrist Approved Shoes for Autumn 2016 - Fly London.

Fly London

Four Choices for Autumn 2016 that are

Podiatrist Recommended

Here are four great choices for Autumn 2016! These four Fly London shoes/boot are from the 'Yellow Red' Collection, which can be seen on the FlyLondon.com website under Ladies 2015 (because their 2016 collection is not out yet). Avoid the other collections as the vast majority of the shoes in the other shoe collections seem to have more flimsy soles and do not meet the criteria of what makes a good/comfortable shoe. 

What makes these four shoes good choices are that they each meet the three of the four criteria that a shoe must have to be comfortable. 

1. They each have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, which is absolutely crucial for all day foot comfort. A thick, non-flexible sole means that there is no motion through the bottom of the foot, which means that the joints and foot structures are more protected. Shoes with less motion through the sole means there is less motion through painful joints and that equates to less inflammation, less swelling, less pain and less damage. 

2. Each of these shoes also has a wide toe box, which means less pressure on bunions, hammertoes, and corns. 

3. They also each have rearfoot control, which is important because it helps to decrease mechanical strain on tendons and joints, which means that there is less tired leg syndrome at the end of a long day and it should also help with decreasing strain on the knees, hips, and lower back. 

4. You can add arch support by adding a dress orthotic specifically made for a wedge dress shoe (which you can get from your local podiatrist). A dress orthotic should fit nicely into these shoes, which will help with arch support. These shoes don't require arch support, but dress orthotics should help to slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes and help with heel pain and help with people who have over-pronation and hypermobility. 

These shoes/boots are recommended for people with:

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Capsulitis

*Mild Plantar Plate Strain

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

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

*1st toe joint surgically fused (at 15 degrees, which is standard)

*1st toe joint with a surgical implant (check with your podiatrist) 

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Healed Lisfranc's Injury (Check with your podiatrist first)

*Mild Over-Pronation

*Mild Hypermobility or Ligament Laxity (Check with your podiatrist if needed) 

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Osteoarthritis

*Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis (Check with your podiatrist first) 

These shoes/boots are not recommended for people with: 

*Hallux Rigidus (no motion through the 1st toe joint - unless the toe has been surgically fused at 15 degrees dorsiflexion, which is standard)

*Prominent Bunions

*Severe Hammertoes

*Severe Ankle Instability

*Severe Hypermobility or Ligament Laxity

*History of multiple Ankle Sprains

*Severe Osteoarthritis

*Severe Degenerative Joint Disease

*Seere Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Vascular Disease (poor circulation)  

*History of Ulcerations (open sores) 

*Bone Spurs on the top of the midfoot (although you can try skipping a lace over the area to decrease pressure) 

*History of Falling

*Balance Issues

I hope that this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

*For more information, please refer to these articles on this blog:

Top 10 reasons why your feet hurt -- and what to do to alleviate the pain today!

http://podiatryshoereview.blogspot.com/2014/10/top-ten-reasons-why-your-feet-hurt-and.html

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's foot injuries -- or any foot injuries! 

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

Top 15 Shoes for Foot Pain! Podiatrist Recommends Shoes to help with foot, knee, hip and lower back pain.

Podiatrist Recommended:

Top 15 Shoes For Foot Pain!

Crocs Rx - Relief or Ultimate Cloud

or the Crocs Specialist (with no vents)

or the Crocs Mammouth (fleece lined)

Rx Crocs Relief, Ultimate Cloud, Specialist or the Mammouth are my top picks for bedroom slippers. They are prescription strength and they are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for diabetic patients. The Rx Crocs Relief are being discontinued soon, but they can still be found online. The next best option is the Crocs Specialist (without the vents). 

As a general rule, the only time you should be barefoot (and standing) is when you are in the shower. I recommend that you wear Rx Crocs as soon as you get out of bed in the morning and also in the night if you get up to go to the bathroom. As soon as you get out of the shower, put on the Crocs. I treat many foot injuries that happen between the bed and the bathroom at 3am! The Crocs could potentially save you from broken toes, foreign bodies, warts, heel pain (to name a few) and, for geriatric patients, they will significantly decrease the risk of falling. Not all Crocs are good. In fact, many styles of Crocs are terrible, so try any of the ones listed above as they are the best of all of the Crocs. 

The Crocs are only meant to be worn to putter around the house. Once you are ready for your day, you should put on more supportive shoes, which I will cover later in this article. 

If you stop walking barefoot and flimsy bedroom slippers and switch to one of these Crocs, you should see about a 30% decrease in foot, knee, hip and lower back pain within 3 weeks! 

Vionix Relax Slipper

Even thought the Vionix Relax Slipper doesn't have rearfoot control, this is an excellent option for bedroom slippers. The Crocs work for about 95% of people, but they do not work for everyone. If the Crocs aren't working for you, the Vionix Relax Slippers may be perfect for you. What makes them so good is that they have a thick, rigid and nonflexible sole with good arch support and lots of cushion. The straps are adjustable to accommodate for swelling.

Birkenstock Sandals

If you like your foot comfort with a bit of Granola, then this is your shoe! 

For any shoe to be good enough for your feet, they must meet four criteria:

1. A thick, rigid and non-flexible sole with a wide base. Less motion through injured or painful joints means there will be less damage and irritation to these areas. The concept is counterintuitive. Less motion through painful joints means less inflammation, less swelling, less pain and it improves healing and biomechanical function. There is a false idea out there that the foot needs freedom and motion. The problem is, you have 28 bones in each foot and some of these joints (particularly in the midfoot and rearfoot area) have only a limited amount of range of motion. If you are wearing a super-flexible shoe, then you are allowing too much motion through joints that aren't supposed to have that much motion. The result can be broken bones, tendon and ligament injuries, arthritic joint changes and degenerative joint disease. Once your foot hurts and you are limping, it is just a matter of time until you have knee, hip and lower back issues. A shoe with a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole is crucial for good joint health.  

2. Wide toebox. A wide, soft toebox will decrease pressure on the toes, which will slow the progression of hammertoes, bunions, corns and arthritic joint changes. 

3. Rearfoot control. In my opinion, even the best flip-flip is not good enough for your feet! If your shoe doesn't have rearfoot control then you are forcing your tendons, joints, ligaments to work harder to stay in the shoe, which causes tired leg syndrome, inflammation, increased risk of injury and more strain on the knees, hips and lower back. If you are wearing shoes without rearfoot control then you have to grip down your toes to stay in the shoe, which promotes hammertoes. 

4. Arch support. If there isn't arch support built into your shoes, you can often add custom-molded orthotics or an excellent over-the-counter insert like Powerstep or a heat-molded insert that you can get through your Podiatrist. If you don't think you need arch support because you have high arches, consider this: bridges have arches and engineers still put struts and supports under them. Arch support helps to decrease mechanical strain and slow the progression of bunions and hammertoes as well as help with knee, hip and lower back pain. Ten percent of people cannot tolerate arch support. If arch support hurts your feet, then discontinue wearing them and focus on excellent shoes with rigid, non-flexible soles.

Keens Newport H2

The Keens Newport H2 is a great amphibious sandal that you can wear to the beach. For anyone with foot pain or if you are recovering from a foot injury, you should wear this when at the beach and walking into the sand and even into the surf. This is also a good choice for anyone doing weight-bearing exercises or water aerobics in a pool. I recommend that you purchase this sandal in the store because quality greatly varies. You will need to make sure that you only purchase the ones that have the least flexible soles. I find that at least 10% of the time shoes are defective, broken or poorly made. Always double-check the rigidity of the soles before you purchase them. If they are flexing, ask the salesperson to get you another pair. 

Ecco Yucatan

The Ecco Yucatan is a great choice for many people and has the added advantage of extra cushion in the insole and better than average arch support. Once again, quality varies so only purchase them if the sole does not bend or flex!

Fit Flop Sandals

The Fit-Flop sandal is a good choice for anyone who has excessively large bunions and hammertoes. The Fit-Flop flip-flop is carried by many stores, but the Fit-Flop sandals are harder to find and you usually have to purchase these online. The quality of the sole varies and you only want to purchase the ones that have a more rigid and non-flexible sole. Less motion through the forefoot area means less irritation to the forefoot area, which means that a rigid sole will help with metatarsalgia, Morton's neuromas, capsulitis, plantar plate injuries, arthritic joints and will slow the progression of bunions and hammertoes. 

New Balance 928 

The New Balance 928 is the best walking shoe that works for the vast majority of patients. The NB 928 has roll-bar technology that doesn't allow motion through the bottom of the foot and therefore protects your foot joints. It has an extra-depth toebox, which means that there is less pressure on bunions, hammertoes and painful corns. The NB 928 accommodates custom-molded orthotics and can often accommodate custom ankle-foot orthosis (AFOs) for patients with more serious issues. Once again, I highly recommend that you go to the store to try on this shoe. Quality varies and if you happen to find one that has a flexible forefoot sole - don't buy it! Ask the salesperson to get you another pair from the storeroom. They may not understand why as this concept is not common knowledge. You can blame the extra trouble on me - just tell them that your podiatrist insists that you wear shoes that don't allow any motion through your forefoot joints.

The NB 928 also comes in black leather and dark brown and can be worn as a work shoe with casual business wear. If you have a strict dress code at work, your podiatrist can write a prescription stating that it is medically necessary for you to wear this shoe at work. 

New Balance 1540

If the NB 928 don't work for you, then this is your next best bet. The NB 1540 is an excellent shoe that also has roll-bar technology and an extra-depth toebox. 

Hoka One One Stinson ATR

The Hoka shoes were designed for runners who have been told by a doctor that they should never run again because of knee, hip or lower back pain. If you are a runner who is starting to experience joint issues or if you are a runner who wants to prevent issues so that you can get more years of running - this is a great choice! I like the Hoka Stinson better than the other Hoka styles because it has a sturdier sole, which means that the shoe lasts longer. The Hoka Stinson has three times the support and cushion as any other running shoes, which makes this a great choice for anyone with heel pain. This is an all-terrain running shoe and has a grippy-bottom, which decreases the risk of slipping when you are trail running. 

Dansko Professional Clogs

The Danko Professional Clog is not for everyone! This is an amazing shoe for anyone who works long hours on smooth, concrete floors. It doesn't work well if you are walking on uneven surfaces or cobblestone. The Dansko Professional Clog is perfect shoe for anyone with Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint), Hallux Rigidus (no motion through the 1st toe joint), metatarsalgia and arthritis of the forefoot joints. 

What makes the shoe so excellent is that it meets the four criteria required to make a shoe comfortable:

1. Thick, rigid and non-flexible sole.

2. Wide toebox

3. Rearfoot Control

4. Arch Support

I highly recommend that you go to the store to try these on. You will know instantly if you love them or hate them! This is my go-to shoe for work and I love them! 

Alden by J Crew

Expensive, but worth every cent! This shoe is amazing because it has a true full-length metal shank built into the sole. There is simply zero motion through the sole, which means that they are amazingly comfortable. If the toe box was wider and less tapered, this could possibly be the most comfortable dress shoe that I have ever come across. Many shoes claim they have a metal shanks built into the sole, but they are usually referring to a 2/3 metal shank that only controls the midfoot and not the forefoot. For a metal shank to be effective, it must be the length of the entire shoe and it has to be strong enough to stop all motion. Unfortunately, there are many poor quality, 2/3 length shoe shanks out there. 

Brooks Beast

This is an excellent maximum motion-control running shoe that meets all the criteria that is required for foot comfort. This is also an easy shoe to get teenage boys into because it's not orthopaedic looking and they love the name! If you don't have custom-molded orthotics, you can get Powerstep inserts online and it will replace the insole within the shoe for better arch support. 

Aravon Katy

This sandal can be purchased at your local New Balance store. This is an excellent choice for more mature patients who need the rigid sole but also like the extra cushion on the insole. The quality of the sole varies, so make sure that you only purchase them if the soles have as little motion and flexibility as possible. 

Wolky Jewel 

(or Cloggy or Tulip or Rio)

Great choices for anyone looking for a comfortable sandal! The These Wolky sandals work for most of my patients. Make sure you only purchase ones that have a rigid, non-flexible sole and, to do this, I would recommend that you purchase these in a store so you can try them on and test them. The insole has a little cushion and has decent arch support. The strapping allows for more biomechanical control, which is beneficial for anyone recovering from a Lisfranc's injury. The sandal can also accommodate a standard ankle brace.

MBT

The MBT's are excellent shoes, but they are not for everyone! The MBT's have a rocker-bottom sole, which is the same sole that is on a below the knee walking boot, which is what is used to treat broken bones. No motion through the bottom of the foot equals less pain through bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, which will allow for all-day comfort and facilitated healing. 

If you have a history of Achilles Tendonitis - do not wear any rocker-bottom shoe! If this shoe 'rocks' you backwards and puts excessive stain on your Achilles tendon then it can cause a tendon injury. The MBT's are also not recommended for anyone with hypermobility, ligament laxity, muscle or leg weakness, balance issues or a history of tendonitis. 

The MBT's are excellent if you have:

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

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

*Functional Hallux Limitus

*Degenerative joint disease of any of the forefoot joints

*Arthritis of any of the foot joints

*Morton's neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

*Plantar Plate injury

*Capsulitis

*Mild Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Mild Tailor's Bunion

*Corns & Calluses

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Previous history of Lisfranc's Injury 

*Knee, hip and lower back issues

I hope that this was helpful and I sincerely thank you for reading my blog. Please share this article on social media so we can hopefully benefit others who are suffering with foot, knee, hip or lower back pain.  

Thank you for reading my blog,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)