Cole Haan ZeroGrand Crisscross
Podiatry Recommended Women's Sandals
The Cole Haan ZeroGrand CrissCross is an excellent choice for many foot types. What makes the shoe so good is that it meets three of the four criteria for what you need in an excellent shoe.
First, it has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, which helps to prevent the progression of bunions, hammertoes, osteoarthritis, and degenerative changes to joints and tendons. By wearing a rigid-soled shoe you are stopping motion through joints that would otherwise be painful. Less motion through foot joints means less pain, less inflammation, and less swelling. The concept is counterintuitive, but it works.
Second, the sandal has a wide toebox that is crucial for prevention of bunions, hammertoes, corns, blisters and will even help to prevent ingrown toenails and toenail fungus.
Third, the sandal has a strap for rearfoot control, which helps to prevent stress and strain on tendons, ligaments, and joints. When you wear flip flops or any shoes that don't have rearfoot control, you are forced to scrunch down your toes to stay in the shoe, which promotes hammertoes and also causes more strain on the knees, hips and lower back.
The fourth thing required to have an excellent shoe is arch support. In my opinion, arch support is actually the least important part of a shoe. Don't get me wrong, having proper arch support is optimal, but it is more important to have a rigid-soled shoe, wide toebox and rearfoot control.
This sandal is recommended for patients with:
*Hallux Limitus (limited motion through the 1st toe joint when you are not weight-bearing)
*Functional Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint while you are weight-bearing)
*Hallux Rigidus (no motion through the 1st toe joint)
*Mild Osteoarthritis
*Mild to Moderate Bunions
*Hammertoes
*Ingrown Toenails
*Morton's Neuroma
*Plantar Plate Issues
*Metatarsalgia
*Tailor's Bunions
*Mild Tendonitis
*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
*Mild Achilles Tendonitis
*Recovered from previous Mild Lisfranc's Injuries
*Mild Over-Pronation
*Mild to Moderate Hypermobility (Ligament Laxity)
This sandal is not recommended for patients with:
*Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (you need more cushioning)
*Diabetes
*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)
*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
*Lymphedema
*Charcot Foot
*History of Foot Ulcerations
*Geriatrics
*Drop Foot
Check with you podiatrist if you have any of these conditions before you wear this sandal:
*Moderate to Severe Osteoarthritis
*Rheumatoid Arthritis
*Recovering from Moderate to Severe Lisfranc's Injuries
*Ankle Instability
*History of Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
For more information on proper shoe gear, please refer to my other articles on this blog:
Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries.
My feet hurt! Top 10 things to do to alliviate foot pain today.
I hope that this was helpful!
Have a wonderful day,
Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy
:)
