Wolky - Podiatry Recommended Womens Casual Shoes for Troubled Feet.

WOLKY

Wolky shoes are fabulous shoes for anyone who has problem feet. 

The shoes featured here have a a thicker more rigid sole and are going to be more comfortable because they are going to offer more protection and biomechanical control of your foot. 

 If you have any forefoot issues such as 

bunions, hammertoes, metatarsalgia, 

Morton's Neuromas - 

be sure to only get a shoe with a thick sole.  

A common mistake for patients with these problems is to only get shoes with a wider toebox. This is important but what is more important is to get a shoe with a thick rigid sole that allows less motion through the forefoot area with each step so that there is less aggravation and "wear and tear" to the forefoot structures that need protection.

Remember, if you have forefoot problems - you want a shoe with a thick, rigid protective sole and a wide soft toebox. 

 

Wolky Assen 

 

Wolky Nijmegen

These shoes have a a removable insole so that you can replace it with a custom-molded orthotic if needed. They feature a

"thick, contoured, removable cork and memory foam footbed" as well as 

"an adjustable instep strap accomodates different height arches."

I find that most patients prefer the insole that comes with this shoe to any other insert.

The Wolky Assen and The Wolky Nijmegen are Recommended For Patients With:

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

*Mild to Moderate Tendonitis

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

*Osteoarthritis

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Degenerative Joint Disease 

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Calluses

*Knee, Hip and Lower Back Pain

*Tired Leg Syndrome

*Mechanical Strain

*Plantar Plate Injuries

*Mild to Moderate Ligament Laxity

*Hypermobility 

Check with your Podiatrist to see is The Wolky Assen and Wolky Nijmegen will be appropriate for you if you have:

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Neuropathy

*Peripheral Arterial Disease 

The Wolky Assen and Wolky Nijmegen are NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations of the foot

The Wolky Sud

The Wolky Sud is a lesser variation on the above two shoes. It is an excellent shoe and if you have mild issues - this is a great option. If your foot issues are more severe - you probably want to start with the Assen or the Nijmegen as they offer more protection and biomechanical control for your foot.  

Wolky shoes are expensive but they are

an investment in your body

which needs to work and play for you for 

hopefully a nice long healthy lifetime of activities!

Have a great day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:)

 

Tsubo Magda - Comfortable Heels for Certain Foot Types.

Tsubo Magda 

 

Although the Tsubo Magda is not for every type of foot, this is a comfortable shoe for women who know that they can wear a shoe with a three inch heel height. The shoe gives you three and a half inches of height but the forefoot is one half inch thick.

First, it's gorgeous!

Second, it has a wedge type sole with a thick rigid sole that allows for more protection and comfort - particularly in the forefoot area. 

 The inside of the shoe has added cushioning in the form of "latex foam padding and a forefoot compression platform" that allows for more comfort and protection of the forefoot.

Tsubo has ergonomic design that "complements the nature form of the foot." 

I personally love the Tsubo shoes and can wear the lower-heeled Tsubo's all day. 

This, however, is a higher heel than might be comfortable for many women. 

The rule of thumb is - if you know that you can wear a three inch heel comfortably -  this shoe should be an excellent shoe for you. If you know that you can't tolerate heels this high, that means that your foot's biomechanical structure is not suited for heels and I would not recommend these for you. It may sound simplistic but, when it comes to heels, women typically know how high they can go. The trick is to not learn that lesson the hard way! 

This shoe is NOT Recommended for Patients with: 

*Hallux Limitus (Limited Range of Motion of the 1st Toe Joint)

*Osteoarthrutis of any of the Toe Joints 

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Degenerative Joint Disease

*Moderate to Severe Bunions or Hammertoes 

*Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

*Ankle Instability

*Severe Hypermobility or Ligament Laxity

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*History of Foot Ulcerations 

*Charcot Foot

Overall, if you know that you can comfortably wear a three inch heel, this is a great choice! 

Price: $104 - 150

Rating: 7 out of 10 

on a scale of zero to ten with ten being the best.

Have a great day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:)

Comfortable Shoe for Painful Bunions and Hammertoes - Fly Flot

Fly Flot Flexi Slingback Sandal

A great shoe for ladies with "tender toes" and painful bunions. 

Fly Flot Flexi-Slingback Sandal

$65

For some reason, I'm on an uber-comfort kick!

 Our intrepid Office Manager, Callie, 

spotted one of our patients in these shoes and told me I had to write about them on the blog. 

This patient has severe peripheral arterial disease, fragile skin and painful hammertoes and calluses. She claims that they are the best shoe she has ever owned and I believe her. She is elderly so it benefits her to have a light shoe and this shoe is very light. The shoe has a supportive sole that is rigid enough to protect the foot of someone but also has shock absorption for more comfort. What really sets this shoe apart is the material it is made of - the toebox upper is made of a "stretchy nylon textile and leather combination" that puts minimal pressure on the toes and bunion. 

If you work on concrete floors for extended hours or are very active, this shoe is probably not the optimal shoe for you. 

This shoe is great for light wear and especially for  elderly people who aren't as active as someone who works forty hours a week on their feet. 

If that is the case, you need a shoe with more rigidity across the forefoot area than this shoe so as to have less motion, which makes it much more protective and comfortable. 

I highly recommend this shoe for anyone who is elderly and has "tender toes". 

Also:

Fly Flot Ardelle Clog 

$49

Although I am not a fan of shoes that do not have proper rearfoot strapping for biomechanical control, I do recommend this shoe for certain patients. Particularly, any patients who have painful bumps on the back of their heels and can't tolerate a strap. Also, for patients who can't bend far enough to tie laces and need a comfortable slip on shoe. This is an excellent choice because of the protective sole, the wide toebox and the "lip" in the rearfoot area which does allow for some biomechanical control of the rearfoot. When it comes to the rearfoot - some control is better than no control. If there is no rearfoot control, it forces you to "grip" your toes down which can help promote hammertoes, corns and a multitude of other problems including knee hip, lower back pain and "tired-leg syndrome". 

For more information on this subject, please refer to my article called "The Basics" in this blog. 

I hope that was helpful!

Have a wonderful day,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:)

Comfortable Slippers...

The Adjustable Sheepskin Slippers 

www.SkyMall.com
$59

Maybe it's the chilly weather, the Christmas tree, maybe the hot chocolate - 
but I've got a yen to review a uber-comfortable, warm and cozy slipper.

My husband and I just got back from vacation and one of my secret fascinations is the airplane's SkyMall magazine. 
From the "temperature regulating pet bed" to "the healthiest deep fryer" to the "the motion mimicking robotic pugilists" - I'm fascinated! 

The Adjustable Sheepskin Slippers are made from Mongolian Sheepskin and have a cushioned sheepskin insole with a rubber outsole that provides stable footing. 
I particularly like the adjustable top for anyone who has problems with swollen feet and this slipper is especially recommended for any patients suffering with diabetes, neuropathy or peripheral arterial disease.

Recommended For Patients for:

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Osteoarthritis

*Rhematoid Arthritis

*Mild Heel Pain

*Geriatric Patients 

*Foot and Ankle Swelling

*Painful Toenails

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

Not Recommended For Patients with:

???

Can't think of any type of patient who this slipper would not be appropriate for...

Needless to say, I highly recommend this slipper! 

Hope all is well,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy