Podiatrist Recommended Trail Running Shoe - Salomon XA Pro.

Salomon XA PRO 3D CS WP 

Trail-Running Shoes

The Salomon XA Pro is an excellent trail running shoe. I'm not a trail runner, so I have been wearing this shoe for hiking, exercising at the gym and as a general walking shoe. I also like the fact that it is waterproof and has excellent gripping action on the bottom of the sole, which helps with hiking and running on rocky trails. 

What makes this shoe so good is that it meets the four criteria that a shoe must have to be comfortable:

1. A thick, rigid, non-flexible sole. It is crucial that shoes have a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole because less motion and flexing through foot joints allows for less inflammation, less damage, and less pain. If you are recovering from a foot fracture or injury, it is important that you protect those bones and joints with a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, so that you don't reinjure your foot. 

2. Wide toebox. It's important to wear a shoe with a wide and preferably soft toe box so that there is less pressure on toes, which will stop or slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes, corns, and calluses.

3. Rearfoot control. Rearfoot control is important because it helps to biomechanically control the rearfoot, which means that there is less mechanical strain to tendons, ligaments, and joints. It also helps to decrease tired leg syndrome as well as decrease knee, hip and lower back strain. 

4. Arch support. Not everyone needs arch support. In fact, about ten percent of patients cannot tolerate arch support. The other ninety percent of patients do benefit from arch support, which helps to place the foot in a biomechanically, neutral position. Doing this helps to stop or slow the progression of forefoot issues such as bunions and hammertoes. It also is important if you are recovering from any foot or ankle injuries, particularly a Lisfranc joint injury. Arch support also helps with knee, hip and lower back pain.  

This shoe is recommended for people with:

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

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

*Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint with no weight bearing)

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

*Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Achilles Tendonitis 

*Peroneal & Posterior Tibial Tendonitis

*Previous Lisfranc's Injury (check with your podiatrist if needed)

*Corns & Calluses

*Sesamoiditis

*Ingrown toenails

*History of Ankle Sprains

*Hypermobility

*Ligament Laxity

*Over-Pronation

*Pes Cavus (high arches)

*Pes Planus (flat feet)

Check with your podiatrist to see if this shoe is right for you if you have:

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation)

*Drop Foot

*Charcot-Marie Tooth Disease

This shoe is not recommended for people with:

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

*Lymphedema (excessive swelling) 

For more information on proper shoes, check out these articles from my 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 relieve 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

:)

 

Danko Clog - Comfortable Shoe For Certain Foot Types.

The Dansko Clog

Let me preface this review by saying that the Dansko Clog is not for everyone! There are patients with certain foot types and medical conditions that I would never dream of putting into a Dansko Clog because it would be a disaster for their feet. That being said, I have many patients (including myself) where the Dansko Clog is the very definition of comfort. In Podiatry school, when I went from sitting all day in classes for two years to suddenly being thrown into 14 hour days on my feet on torturous concrete hospital floors for another four years of school and residency, I suffered horribly from heel pain, swelling in my feet and tired leg syndrome. I was a broke student and I made a very painful $95 splurge on purchasing the Dansko Clog and they were one of the best investments I've ever made!

What's great about the Dansko Clog is the thick, rigid and therefore very protective sole. I always feel extra safe wearing my Dansko clogs because if anyone ever tried to mug me, these shoes are so strong that I'm convinced I could effectively use them as a weapon (forgive me, I'm originally from New Jersey!). If you are suffering with forefoot pain of any kind, this may be the perfect shoe for you. They also have decent arch support, a wide toe-box and rear-foot control. I do not recommend the Dansko shoes that don't have rear-foot control as they force the person wearing them to scrunch down their toes to keep in the shoe, which can cause 'mechanical strain' and 'tired leg syndrome' at the end of a long day.

The Dansko Clogs do not accommodate any type of inserts but, in my experience, they don't need extra arch support. It is the one shoe where I don't have to (or need to) wear my orthotics. 

In general, the Dansko Clog is great for healthy, young, active patients who are on their feet all day, especially on concrete floors. I would never put anyone who is elderly or has any type of muscular or nerve disorder in these shoes as they are simply too heavy. 

Dansko Clogs Are Recommended For Patients With:

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Haglund's Deformity

*Mild to Severe Metatarsalgia

*Mild Bunions & Tailor's Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis of the Forefoot Joints

*Hallux Limitus (Limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Hallux Rigidus (No motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis

*Possibly Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Mild Tendonitis

*Mild to Possibly Moderate Over-Pronators

*Mild Hypermobility / Ligament Laxity

*Plantar Plate Injuries

*Patient's recovering or trying to heal from a fractured toe

*Patient's recovering from a fractured metatarsal bone (Check with your Pod!)

*Mild to Moderate Degenerative Joint Disease

*Over-Use Syndrome

Dansko Clogs Are NOT Recommended For Patients With:

*Weak legs

*Muscle disorders that cause instability or weakness of the legs

*Nerve disorders that cause weakness or instability of the legs

*Drop Foot

*Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics

*Diabetics with history of Ulcerations (Open sores)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Balance Issues

*The Elderly

*Anyone with prominent "bumps" on their feet, especially on the top of the mid-foot area

*Painful Calluses on the bottom of the feet (because they need more cushion in the shoe)

*Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis  (because they need more cushion in the shoe)

*Severe Hypermobility / Ligament Laxity

*Ankle Instability

My best advice to you is go to a store and try them on. You are either going to love them or hate them! Every time I put on my Dansko clogs, I feel like they have been custom made for my feet and can stay on my feet all day in comfort.

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:) 

Merrell Encore Breeze: A Comfortable Casual Shoe for Anyone with Bunions & Hammertoes...

Merrell 

Encore Breeze.

This is a great shoe for anyone who suffers with large painful bunions or hammertoes! Although there are shoes with more rigid and protective soles - what sets apart the Encore Breeze is it's wonderfully wide and soft toe-box. The toe-box is made of a breathable and soft mesh upper that applies minimal  pressure on bunions and hammertoes.

The 'lip' in the back provides enough rear-foot control so that the shoe stays firmly on your foot when you are walking but also allows for you to easily slide it on without bending or stooping. This comes in handy for anyone with severe back pain or who has trouble bending. The insert is removable and can be replaced by your custom-molded orthotic or a superior over-the-counter arch support, which will allow for better biomechanical control of the foot and, therefore, more comfort. 

The Merrell Encore Breeze is not the best choice for someone who is super-active or doing vigorous activities. It is, however, a great choice for someone more sedentary who is wearing them for casual activities or even as a shoe to wear around the house. 

This Shoe IS Recommended For Patients With:
*Mild to Severe Bunions
*Mild to Severe Hammertoes
*Mild to Severe Corns & Calluses (See your Podiatrist for periodic debridement to alleviate the pain of corns & calluses!)
*Mild to Moderate Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion across the 1st toe joint)
*Hallux Rigidus in elderly and sedentary patients
*Mild Tendonitis
*Mild to Severe Haglund's Deformity
*Mild Achilles Tendonitis 
*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
*Mild Morton's Neuroma 
*Mild Capsulitis
*Mild Metatarsalgia
*Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis 
*Mild to Moderate Rheumatoid Arthritis
*Mild Over-Pronation (I recommend that you wear your custom-molded orthotics or an excellent over-the-counter insert for more arch control)
*Anyone who has trouble reaching their feet to put on their shoes
*The Elderly 

This Shoe Is NOT Recommended For Patients with: 
*Hallux Rigidus in super-active patients 
*Hallux Limitus in super-active patients
*Diabetics with a history of Ulcerations
*Charcot Foot
*Drop Foot
*Patients wearing Ankle-Foot Orthosis (AFO Brace) 
*Moderate to Severe Hypermobility/Ligament Laxity
*Ankle Instability
*Osteoarthritis of the Ankle Joint

This shoe MAY be appropriate for patients with certain conditions but please check with your Podiatrist to make sure that it is appropriate for you...
*Diabetics
*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation) 
*Leg Weakness
*Muscle Weakness


*For more information, please see my articles within the blog entitled:

My Feet Hurt: Top Ten Things To Do To Alleviate Foot Pain Today.
and
Shoe Recommendations For Patients Recovering From Lisfranc's Injuries.



Have a wonderful day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)


 

Comfortable Walking Shoe

KURU WALKING SHOE...
The Company Claims: 
"World's Most Anatomical Active Footwear"


I was contacted by the Kuru Company and asked if I was interested in reviewing their women's walking shoe and they sent me the Women's Insight Walking Shoe (Not the one pictured above but very similar) which I have been wearing for the past several weeks. 


This is a VERY comfortable shoe. In my opinion, this is a funky cool shoe whose comfort and style sneak up on you...


When I first saw it I was a little put off by the aesthetics as I thought it looked a bit clunky but after wearing it and experiencing their comfort - I grew more and more fond of their looks. I wore them several days with the insert that comes with the shoe and was quite taken with their excellent arch support - much better than what is in the typical walking shoe. When I added my Custom-Molded Orthotic the shoe was even more comfortable but, even without a CMO, the arch support in the shoe is very effective. It has a firm arch with cushioning in strategic areas for added comfort. The sole is rigid and has a wide base and, my favorite feature, there are two lateral panels for added support of the midfoot (not on the shoe pictured above) which is beneficial for anyone who has tendonitis issues (specifically PT and Peroneal Tendonitis) and pain with lateral motion of the midfoot or rearfoot. The toebox is exceptionally wide which is perfect for anyone with mild to moderate bunions, hammertoes or a Morton's Neuroma. 


The shoe can accommodate an over-the-counter ankle brace and a lighter AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis - custom-molded brace) although a true extra-depth shoe would work better for the heavier AFO's. 


Overall, I can highly recommend this shoe!


This Shoe is Recommended For Patients with:
*Mild to Moderate (and Maybe Severe) Bunions and Hammertoes. 
*Mild to Moderate (and Maybe Severe) Morton's Neuroma. 
*Posterior Tibialis Tendonitis.
*Peroneal Tendonitis.
*Mild to Moderate Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
*Mild to Moderate (Possibly Severe) Osteoarthritis. 
*Painful Toenails.
*Mild to Moderate Calluses.
*Mild to Moderate Ankle Instability. 




This Shoe May Not Be Effective for Patients with:
*Achilles Tendonitis - due to the fact that the shoe is pretty flat and patients with A.T. need a shoe with a slightly elevated rearfoot and more cushioning and shock absorption.  


This shoe is NOT Recommended for Patients with:
*Diabetic Foot Ulcers.
*Neuropathic Ulcers.
*Charcot Foot.




Shoe Rating: 9 on a scale of one to ten with ten being the best. 


Cost: $109.97


Great Shoe!
Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy