Easy Spirit Heel Riser - Comfortable Women's Sandal...

Are you addicted to your Fit-Flop's but find that you need more support?

A wonderful alternative is...

The Easy Spirit Heel Riser Sandal.

At $24.97 at Footsmart, 
this is an excellent choice for a casual sandal that is similar to the Fit-Flop but offers more support and comfort. If you prefer to try on the sandal, J.C. Penny's usually carries the Heel Riser. 

This sandal has a thick, rigid sole that is very protective of the foot joints and offers superior biomechanical control because it has forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot strapping. Even though the sole is thick and rigid - it has a lot of cushion that allows for more shock absorption and comfort. 

 If you are currently wearing the Fit-Flop
(or any flip-flop!) and you are experiencing rearfoot pain such as Achilles Tendonitis or heel pain, I highly recommend that you "bump up" to a shoe with rearfoot control! With the Easy Spirit Heel Riser, you get the added benefit of the midfoot and rearfoot strapping, which offers more biomechanical control of the midfoot and rearfoot joints - resulting in less mechanical strain of your tendons, muscles and joints. Not to mention your knees, hips and lower back! More biomechanical control means less mechanical strain, less chance of injury and significantly more comfort. 

Overall, I highly recommend the Easy Spirit Heel Riser for casual wear because it is protective of the foot, has good biomechanical control, wide, soft straps and it's lightweight. 
Not to mention the price is fabulous!

This Sandal IS Recommended For Patients with:

Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

Mild to Moderate Bunions

Metatarsalgia 

Morton's Neuroma

Capsulitis

Sesmoiditis

Hallux Limitus 

(Limited range-of-motion of the 1st toe joint)

Hallux Rigidus 

(No motion of the 1st toe joint)

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Mild Tendonitis

Mild Achilles Tendonitis

 Corns & Calluses

Mild to Moderate Edema (Swelling) 

Mild Hypermobility

 

This Sandal is NOT Recommended For Patients with:

Diabetes

Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

History of Ulcerations

Charcot Foot 

Moderate to Severe Hypermobility

Ankle Instability

Posterior Tibial Dysfunction

Drop Foot

I have as yet to talk to a patient who owns this sandal that doesn't love this sandal!

Hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:) 

For More Info - 

Check out my articles on this blog:

"My Feet Hurt - Top Ten Things to Do To Relieve Foot Pain Today."

and

"Shoe Recommendations For Patients Recovering From Lisfranc's Fractures." 

You can go to the 'search' box at the top of the page and search:

My Feet Hurt

Shoe Recommendations

Naot Prestige - Podiatrist Review of this Comfortable Wedge Sandal...

NAOT PRESTIGE

A great combination of style and comfort!

For women who know that they can 

comfortably wear a one-and-a-half inch 

heel height, this is a great shoe!

What's great about this shoe is the thick, rigid and protective sole that offers maximal protection 

to the foot and ankle structures. 

It also has excellent strapping 

that provides forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot biomechanical control, which provides less wear-and-tear on the joints, less chance of injury and increased comfort. 

There is a subtle flap under the straps in the front of the ankle so - if you have any "bumps" such as painful bone spurs of ganglions in that area - this feature may cause you some discomfort and this may not be a good shoe choice for you.

As always, Naot has an anatomic cork & latex footbed that molds to the shape of the foot, which is one of it's most popular features and sets it apart from most shoes. 

In general, any Naot shoe that has rearfoot strapping is excellent. 

I don't recommend the Naot sandals without rearfoot strapping because (in my opinion) 

it causes the person as they walk to grip down his or her toes to stay in the shoe, which can lead to irritation and progression of such forefoot problems as:

  Hammertoes, Calluses, Morton's Neuromas, Capsulitis of the Forefoot Joints, Plantar Plate Injuries and Joint Damage.  

This shoe is also lightweight 

and offers a narrow to medium fit. 

This Shoe should be able to be worn comfortably by Patients with:

*Mild Plantar Fascitiis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Bunions & Tailor's Bunions

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Tendonitis

*Corns & Calluses

This Shoe May NOT Be Comfortable for Patients with:

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*History of Ulcerations

*Hallux Limitus (Limited Range of Motion of the 1st Toe Joint)

*Hallux Rigidus (No motion across the 1st Toe Joint)

*Moderate to Severe Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)

*Severe Hammertoes

*Moderate to Severe Osteoarthritis/Rheumatoid Arthritis 

*Moderate to Severe Capsulitis 

*Moderate to Severee Plantar Plate Injury and/or Pain

*Moderate to Severe Morton's Neuroma

*Moderate to Severe Sesmoiditis

*Moderate to Severe Metatarsalgia

*Moderate to Severe Tendonitis

*Moderate to Severe Hypermobility

*Moderate to Severe Ankle Instability

*Balance Issues

*Charcot Foot

Hope this is helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Comfortable Women's Shoe - The Alegria.

THE ALEGRIA CLASSIC




THE ALEGRIA PALOMA


The Alegria shoe is amazingly comfortable!


Both shoes feature a wonderfully supportive and rigid sole that has a  cushioned insole and decent arch support. The wide toebox  allows for a roomy, comfortable forefoot area that takes pressure off of bunions, hammertoes and painful corns. This shoe is exceptional for any patients who have osteoarthritis of the forefoot or midfoot areas as well as any patients who deal with any type of chronic low grade pain in their feet. 


Of the two shoes, the superior shoe is the Alegria Classic because it has better rearfoot control which allows for more biomechanical control and therefore should provide more comfort and protection. 


This is one of the rare occasions that I can recommend a shoe that lacks true rearfoot control and the reason is that the Alegria Paloma's strapping controls the forefoot, midfoot and the sub-talar joint which is the joint which translates the forces from the leg into the foot during gait. The Alegria Classic is superior because it controls the forefoot, midfoot, sub-talar joint and the motion of the calcaneus (rearfoot).


I have some patients who prefer the Alegria Paloma because it is easier to slip on and off, they claim they have "claustrophobic feet" and prefer not to wear enclosed shoes or they have a prominent bump on the back of their heel making it painful to wear shoes with an enclosed back. 


The Alegria Classic is Recommended for Patients with:
*Heel Pain
*Mild to Moderate Bunions 
*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes
*Morton's Neuroma
*Metatarsalgia
*Tailor's Bunions
*Corns and Calluses
*Fibromyalgia
*Rhumatoid Arthritis
*Osteoarthritis
*Hallux Limitus/Rigidus (Limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint)
*Midfoot Pain
*Tendonitis
*Knee, Hip and Lower Back Pain
*Hypermobility


The Alegria Paloma is recommended for Patients with:
*"Claustrophobic feet" 
*Patients who have trouble bending to put on shoes and need a slide-on shoe
*Moderate to Severe Haglaund's Deformity (Bump on the back of the heel)


The Alegria Classic and Paloma are NOT Recommended for Patients with:
*Achilles Tendonitis (these patients still need a thick and rigid sole shoe but the back of the shoe needs to be higher than the front to slightly elevate the rearfoot to decrease tension on the Achilles tendon).
*Neuropathic Diabetics (these patients need Extra-Depth Shoes with Accommodative Orthotics)
*Diabetic Patients with history of Ulcers
*Charcot Foot (these patients typically need custom-molded shoes with Accommodative Orthotics)
*Patients who need to wear an Ankle-Foot Orthosis (they need an extra depth walking shoe).


Rating: 9 (On a scale of one to ten with ten being the best). 


Cost: $109




Overall an excellent shoe! 




Have a great day!
Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy