Born Lezlie
A great choice for all day comfort!
The Born Lezlie is my new go-to all day comfort shoe for work. I use a heat-molded, thin orthotic for better arch support and I am astonished that this shoe is more comfortable than my Dansko Professional clogs.
What makes this shoe so great is that it meets three of the four criteria that a shoe must have to be good for your feet and to be comfortable.
The four criteria that a shoe must have to be podiatry approved are:
1. Thick, rigid, and non-flexible sole.
2. Wide toebox.
3. Rearfoot control.
4. Arch Support.
The Born Lezlie has a thick, rigid, and non-flexible sole that is crucial for protecting your foot joints. If you are wearing a shoe with a flimsy sole that allows motion through painful or challenged joints, then that excessive motion will promote the formation of bunions, hammertoes, and osteoarthritic joint changes. It also can increase strain on ankles, knees, hips, and the lower back. Wearing shoes with flexible soles causes increased motion through foot joints, which can cause increased pain, inflammation, and swelling.
The Born Lezlie has a wide(ish) toe box that will work for most people who have mild to moderate bunions and hammertoes. The rearfoot control, as well as the added benefit of midfoot strapping, is excellent for improved biomechanical control of the foot joints.
The Born Lezlie is recommended for people with:
- Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)
- Mild to Moderate Bunions
- Mild to Moderate Hammertoes
- Mild Morton's Neuroma
- Mild Metatarsalgia
- Mild to Moderate Hallux Limitus
- Mild to Moderate Functional Hallux Limitus
- Possibly Hallux Rigidus (try it on in the store to ensure that it works for you)
- Surgically fused 1st Toe Joint (because the toe is typically fused at 15 degrees of dorsiflexion - this shoe should work)
- Capsulitis
- Mild Osteoarthritis
- Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis (check with your Rheumatologist)
- Healed Lisfranc's Injury (check with your podiatrist)
- Mild Tendonitis
- Mild Achilles Tendonitis
- Mild Over-Pronation (try to wear with a dress orthotic or heat-molded insert, which you can typically get from your podiatrist)
- Mild Tailor's Bunions
- Mild Corns & Calluses
The Born Lezlie is not recommended for people with:
- Diabetes
- History of Ulcerations
- Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)
- Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation)
- Charcot Foot
- Excessive Swelling
- Lymphedema
- Severe Over-Pronation
- Severe Ligament Laxity / Hypermobility
- Drop Foot
- Balance Issues
- History of Falling
- Severe Bunions
- Severe Hammertoes
- Severe Tailor's Bunions
For more information on proper shoes, please check out my other articles on this 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 do to alleviate 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
:)