Rocker Bottom Women's Casual Dress Shoes
Fall 2014
Abeo R.O.C. Bree
Abeo R.O.C. Bethran
MBT Matwa
Shoes with rocker-bottom soles can be excellent for patients with certain biomechanical foot structures, but they are not for everyone. What makes the Rocker Bottom shoes so exceptional is that this is the type of sole that is on the bottom of a below the knee removable walking boot, which is what is used to treat broken foot bones. The most common fracture of the foot, the 'Jones fracture' (the 5th metatarsal), is treated by placing the patient in a walking boot with a rocker bottom sole for 6-8 weeks. By eliminating motion through the bottom of the foot and the ankle, the walking boot gives the body a chance to heal itself. No motion through an area of injury means less pain, less swelling and increased healing rate. The concept of the rocker bottom sole was taken from the walking boots and applied to shoes.
The rocker bottom soles are particularly useful if you have an injury in the forefoot areas such as a sesamoid fracture because it off-loads the forefoot area. It is also a great shoe if you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis or you are recovering from a stress fracture of the heel bone as it also off-loads the rearfoot area. There are exceptions to this rule: if you have a history of Achilles Tendonitis or a previous Achilles tendon injury, this shoe would be a bad choice for you because the rocker-bottom can rock your foot back, which would put too much stress on the Achilles and set you up for a new injury.
If you are recovering from a foot fracture and your doctor has cleared you to start wearing normal shoes, the rocker bottom shoe may be a good choice for you. I recommend wearing a custom-molded orthotic or an excellent over-the-counter insert in the rocker bottom shoes for more arch support. You can also wear a tri-lock brace with the MBT for more ankle support as you recover from your injury. Check with your doctor on his or her recommendations for your particular injury and foot type.
Rocker Bottom Shoes are Recommended for patients with:
*Jobs that require standing on concrete floors for long hours
*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
*Mild overpronation (Wear an orthotic)
*Recovering from Lisfranc's Fracture
*Sesamoiditis
*Previous sesamoid fracture
*Hallux Limitus
*Hallux Rigidus
*Mild Hammertoes
*Morton's Neuroma
*Plantar Plate injuries
*Capsulitis
*Metatarsalgia
*Mild Osteoarthritis
*Mild Bunions
*Mild Tailor's Bunions
*Corns & Calluses
*Back Pain
*Knee, Hip and Lower Back Pain (you will have to try them on and judge for yourself. If they don't feel good, they are not for you. Ease into wearing them. Start by wearing them for one hour the first day, two hours the second and add one hour every day until you are in them for the whole day)
Rocker Bottom Shoes are NOT Recommended for patients with:
*Balance Issues
*The Elderly
*History of Falling
*Vertigo
*Low Blood Pressure
*History of Fainting
*Hypermobility or Ligament Laxity
*Ankle Instability
*Achilles Tendonitis
*Patients who have to walk up and down hills or walk on uneven pavement such as cobblestone
*Severe Overpronation
*Nerve Damage
*Muscle Weakness
*Drop Foot
*Charcot-Marie Tooth Disease
*Charcot Foot
*Excessive swelling
*Severe Supinators (Rolling to the outside of your ankles as you walk)
*History of multiple ankle sprains
Check with your Podiatrist if you have any of thesse conditions to see if a rocker bottom shoe is appropriate for you:
*Diabetes
*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)
*Moderate Over-Pronation
Have a great day,
Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy
:)