Women's Comfort Dress Shoe - Podiatrist Approved.

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

:)

Eileen Fisher - Podiatry Recommended Comfortable Women's Dress Shoes

Eileen Fisher

Kudos to Eileen Fisher for designing women's shoes that are sylish and comfortable!

Ivy tall leather boot

Coax bootie

Grip Wedge Boot

Canoe 

What makes these four Eileen Fisher shoes excellent are that they meet the criteria required to create a comfortable shoe. Each has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole that allows for maximal protection to the foot joints. Less motion through your foot joints translates into more comfort, less mechanical strain and less chance of injury. They each have a wide, soft toebox that puts less pressure on the toes. The excellent rearfoot control (particularly with the boots) helps with increased ankle stability for better biomechanical control of the foot and ankle. 

For better arch support, I would recommend wearing a custom-molded dress orthotic or a heat-molded dress insert, which you can get from your local podiatrist. Adding arch support will help decrease knee, hip and lower back strain as well as help prevent or slow the progression of foot deformities such as bunions and hammertoes. 

Please remember that the type of shoe that is most comfortable for you is specific to your particular foot pathology. What works for one person with a specific foot type may not work for another person with a different issue and foot type. Here is a general guideline regarding these shoes: 

The Ivy, Coax and Grip-Wedge recommended for patients with:

*Mild Functional Hallux Limitus

*Mild Plantar Fascitiis

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Hypermobility

*Mild Overpronation

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Women who know that this heel height comfortably

The Ivy, Coax and Grip-Wedge are NOT recommended for patients with:

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

*Moderate to Severe Functional Hallux Limitus (Limited range of motion through the 1st toe joint)

*Osteoarthritis 

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Severe Bunions

*Moderate to Severe Hammertoes

*Severe Tailor's Bunions

*Severe Metatarsalgia

*Severe Morton's Neuroma

*Diabetics

*Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*History of Ulcerations

*Charcot Foot

*Instability or Balance Issues

*Ligament Laxity

*Severe Hypermobility

*Severe Over-Pronation

*Significant knee, hip or lower back issues

*Anyone with a history of falls

*Geriatrics

The Canoe is recommended for patients with:

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

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

*Osteoarthritis 

*Rheumatoid Arthritis (check with your Podiatrist)

*Metatarsalgia

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

*Plantar Plate Injury

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunion

*Sesamoiditis

The Canoe is NOT recommended for patients with:

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Significant Over-pronation

*Ligament Laxity

*Hypermobility

*Ankle Instability

*Diabetics with a history of ulcerations

*If you are diabetic, have nerve damage, poor circulation, or have any foot issues, please talk to your podiatrist about if these shoes are appropriate for you. 

Also, with the Canoe - I highly recommend that you try this shoe on at the store. If you have a narrow heel this shoe has a tendency to let your heel slip upward with walking, which will not be comfortable. 

If you are having foot pain, please check out my other articles on this blog entitled: 

Shoe recommendations for patients recovering from a Lisfranc's injury 

and

My feet hurt: top ten ways to help alleviate foot pain today.

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Dress Shoe for Patients with Bunions - Podiatrist Recommended

Shoe Recommendation for 

Patients with Bunions

Steve Madden's Betsi

Steve Madden Brynn

These are two wonderful options for anyone who needs a shoe that will accommodate a painful bunion. What makes this such a great shoe is that it has the thick, rigid sole that is protective because it does not allow any motion through the bottom of the foot, which means that there is less pain, inflammation, swelling and damage to the forefoot joints, which translates to more comfort, less chance of injury and it slows the progression of bunions and hammertoes. The topcover material is what really sets this shoe apart! The material is a soft, stretchy mesh that puts less pressure on the bunion, which significantly decreases pain. I would recommend adding a dress custom-molded orthotic, which will help slow or stop the progression of the bunions formation. 

This shoe is recommended for patients with:

*Bunions 

*Mild to possible Moderate Hallux Limitus (decreased motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Osteoarthritis

*Mild Plantar Plate issues

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Over-Pronation (wear a dress custom molded orthotic to control pronation) 

This shoe is NOT recommended for patients with:

*Severe Hallux Limitus 

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

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Charcot Foot

*Ankle Instability

*Severe Over-Pronation

*Drop Foot

*Severe Hypermobility

I hope this was helpful!

Dr Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Born Tierney - Comfortable Women's Casual Heel at Dillard's at Paradise Valley Mall

THE BORN TIERNEY

GENE TIERNEY  

Okay, Gene Tierney and the Born Tierney shoe are not related - I just happen to be a big fan of both the actress and the shoe!

I purchased the Born Tierney today and have enjoyed wearing it out this evening. 

Very stylish and comfortable... 

I love the beautiful rich finish and I love the height it gives me (four inches) but because of the wedge sole - it comes out to about only two inches of actual elevation for the foot. The thick rigid sole is protective of the foot and the forefoot and excellent rearfoot strapping allows for more biomechanical control of the foot and ankle and therefore - more comfort. 

This Shoe is Recommended For Most Patients with:

*Mild Heel Pain

*Mild Bunions and Hammertoes

*Mild Tailor's Bunions 

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis 

*High Instep

*Bumps/Exostosis on the top of the Midfoot Area

This Shoe Is NOT Recommended For Patients with:

*Diabetes

*Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcers or Open Sores

*Charcot Foot

*Moderate to Severe Bunions or Hammertoes

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

*Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease of any of the Forefoot Joints

*Capsulitis of the Forefoot Joints

*Moderate to Severe Morton's Neuroma

*Moderate to Severe Ankle Instability 

*Moderate to Severe Hypermobility 

*Moderate to Severe Tailor's Bunions 

*Metatarsalgia

I'm love this shoe! 

It's flattering and comfortable. 

If you have any serious forefoot problems - particularly pain or limited range of motion across the forefoot joints - this is not the shoe for you. 

Rating: 

8 on a scale of 1 to 10 with ten being the best. 

I paid $99 at Dillard's at Paradise Valley Mall. 

I also highly recommend the 1944 classic movie "Laura" starring Gene Tierney. 

Enjoy!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:)