Podiatrist Recommended
Top Comfortable Sandals at Dillards
Spring 2014
Clark's Lexi Sumac
What's great about this sandal is that the sole is thick, rigid and not flexible, which offers more biomechanical protection for the foot. An excellent feature is that this is an exceptionally light-weight sandal. This is a great option for older or more sedentary patients who need a comfortable and light-weight shoe.
Alegria Kleo
This sandal is appropriate for a multitude of podiatric conditions. The sole is thick, rigid and not flexible and it has a soft topcover with good arch support. I love that it has wide strapping for forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot control, which translates to more biomechanical control to the foot and ankle structures. I have the Alegria enclosed shoe, which has the same sole and it is amazingly comfortable for all day wear.
This is, in my opinion, the best sandal on this list, so I am including a pathology specific recommendation list:
Alegria Kleo is recommended for patients with:
*Mild to Moderate Bunions
*Hammertoes
*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunions
*Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
*Hallux Limitus
*Hallux Rigidus
*Plantar Plate Injury
*Capsulitis
*Mild Achille's Tendonitis
*Mild Tendonitis
*Osteoarthritis
*Mild to Moderate Rheumatoid Arthritis
*Mild to Moderate Over-Pronators
*Mild to Moderate Hypermobility
*Sesamoiditis
*Metatarsalgia
*Morton's Neuroma
*Patients Recovering from Lisfranc's injury
*Knee, hip & lower back pain
Alegria Kleo not recommended for patients with:
*Diabetes
*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
*Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)
*Charcot Foot
*Drop Foot
*History of ulceration
Dansko Sonnet
This is my new Spring sandal and I love the thick, rigid sole with a wide base, which means less motion, which translates to more comfort, less mechanical strain and decreased chance of injury. Also, the low heel height and the adjustable velcro straps and soft topcover add to the comfort.
One word of caution with Dansko, they do not work well if you are planning to spend lots of time walking on cobblestone. If you are going to Europe or vacationing anyplace with lots of cobblestone, you need a shoe with a thick, rigid sole but something with just a touch of "give" like the Alegria Kleo, Romika Fidji or Ecco Yucaton.
Naturalizer Tanner
This sandal is a good option for anyone who can wear a slight heel. The sole is thick and rigid and it has excellent forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot control. If you have any significant forefoot issues, this is not the best choice because of the heel height.
Teva Capri
For anyone who can wear a heel, this is a good choice. I would not recommend this sandal for anyone who has any significant forefoot issues such as Morton's Neuroma, Hallux Limitus or if you are recovering from injury or fracture of the metatarsal joints.
It may work well for anyone who might have mild Achille's tendonitis because the heel lift decreases tension on the Achilles.
Fit Flop Sandal
I like the Fit Flop sandals for anyone with prominent bunions because it offers the thick, non-flexible sole as well as midfoot and rearfoot control, but it doesn't have any straps causing pressure on the bunion or Tailor's bunion area. It also has enough shock absorption to help with anyone suffering with mild heel pain or Achilles tendonitis. I wish it had more midfoot strapping, but it you have large bunions that hurt with shoe pressure, this is a good choice.
It's very important that you get the Fit Flops with rearfoot strapping as it offers more rearfoot control, which helps with forefoot issues as well as knee, hip and lower back issues. If you get the Fit Flop flip-flop with no rearfoot strapping, you are forcing all your tendons, muscles and joints to work harder to stay in the flip-flop, which causes more mechanical strain and "tired-leg syndrome".
Romika Fidji
The sole doesn't flex or bend and this sandal has excellent forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot control. It also has decent arch support and the wide base makes it a stable shoe. It's well made, sturdy and should work well for anyone with painful bumps on the top of the midfoot area (Lisfranc's exostosis) as well as forefoot problems such as Hallux Limitus, metatarsalgia, and hammertoes.
Ecco Yucaton
If you get this sandal, make sure you purchase one that doesn't bend or flex for more comfort and biomechanical control. I've noticed that the quality can vary significantly from sandal to sandal. If you happen to get one that bends too much, ask the saleperson to let you try another in the same size. The adjustable straps and excellent arch support make this sandal comfortable for all day wear. If you have severe forefoot issues, you would be better off with the Alegria Kleo.
Born Emmy Mouton
I love this sandal, but it is not appropriate for anyone with Hallux Limitus or any forefoot issues. If you know that you can comfortably wear a shoe this height, this should be a comfortable sandal for you. I like the wide forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping that allows for more biomechanical control.
I hope this was helpful!
Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy
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