Eileen Fisher - Podiatry Recommended Comfortable Women's Dress Shoes

Eileen Fisher

Kudos to Eileen Fisher for designing women's shoes that are sylish and comfortable!

Ivy tall leather boot

Coax bootie

Grip Wedge Boot

Canoe 

What makes these four Eileen Fisher shoes excellent are that they meet the criteria required to create a comfortable shoe. Each has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole that allows for maximal protection to the foot joints. Less motion through your foot joints translates into more comfort, less mechanical strain and less chance of injury. They each have a wide, soft toebox that puts less pressure on the toes. The excellent rearfoot control (particularly with the boots) helps with increased ankle stability for better biomechanical control of the foot and ankle. 

For better arch support, I would recommend wearing a custom-molded dress orthotic or a heat-molded dress insert, which you can get from your local podiatrist. Adding arch support will help decrease knee, hip and lower back strain as well as help prevent or slow the progression of foot deformities such as bunions and hammertoes. 

Please remember that the type of shoe that is most comfortable for you is specific to your particular foot pathology. What works for one person with a specific foot type may not work for another person with a different issue and foot type. Here is a general guideline regarding these shoes: 

The Ivy, Coax and Grip-Wedge recommended for patients with:

*Mild Functional Hallux Limitus

*Mild Plantar Fascitiis

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Hypermobility

*Mild Overpronation

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Women who know that this heel height comfortably

The Ivy, Coax and Grip-Wedge are NOT recommended for patients with:

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

*Moderate to Severe Functional Hallux Limitus (Limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint)

*Osteoarthritis 

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Severe Bunions

*Moderate to Severe Hammertoes

*Severe Tailor's Bunions

*Severe Metatarsalgia

*Severe Morton's Neuroma

*Diabetics

*Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*History of Ulcerations

*Charcot Foot

*Instability or Balance Issues

*Ligament Laxity

*Severe Hypermobility

*Severe Over-Pronation

*Significant knee, hip or lower back issues

*Anyone with a history of falls

*Geriatrics

The Canoe is recommended for patients with:

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

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

*Osteoarthritis 

*Rheumatoid Arthritis (check with your Podiatrist)

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

*Plantar Plate Injury

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunion

*Sesamoiditis

The Canoe is NOT recommended for patients with:

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Significant Over-pronation

*Ligament Laxity

*Hypermobility

*Ankle Instability

*Diabetics with a history of ulcerations

*If you are diabetic, have nerve damage, poor circulation, or have any foot issues, please talk to your podiatrist about if these shoes are appropriate for you. 

Also, with the Canoe - I highly recommend that you try this shoe on at the store. If you have a narrow heel this shoe has a tendency to let your heel slip upward with walking, which will not be comfortable. 

If you are having foot pain, please check out my other articles on this blog entitled: 

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from a Lisfranc's injury 

and

My feet hurt: top ten ways to help alleviate foot pain today.

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)