Denzel Washington kicks butt in podiatry approved shoegear in his new movie 'The Equalizer'.

Denzel Washington kicks butt in his new movie 'The Equalizer'

while wearing New Balance 1540 - 

podiatrist approved shoe gear! 

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge movie fan! I've always been a Denzel Washington fan and I love a great revenge flick. When I saw that Denzel was wearing the excellent New Balance 1540's that I have been recommending to patients for years, I was thrilled. 

Sure, maybe it was product placement that got the New Balance 1540's into the movie, but I prefer to imagine that Denzel had it written into his contract that he needed to wear podiatry recommended shoegear as he wreaked blood-splattering havoc on the bad guys. Maybe he's been reading my blog? Hey, a podiatrist can dream, right?

By the end of the film, Denzel switched over to a more conservative orthopedic looking black oxford and I'm hoping that they were as comfortable as the NB 1540 shoes. 

The New Balance 1540's is a running shoe and has 'roll-bar technology', which creates a thick and rigid sole for more protection to the foot joints. The NB 1540 has good heel shock absorption, which helps with anyone suffering with heel pain as well as knee, hip and lower back pain. The extra-depth toebox is made of mesh and is great for anyone who has bunions, hammertoes or prominent bone spurs. To maximize comfort, wear a custom-molded functional orthotic, which you can from your Podiatrist, or wear a good over-the-counter insert like 'Footsteps' or 'Powerstep'. 

NB 1540 is recommended for patients with:

*Bunions

*Tailor's Bunions

*Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)

*Osteoarthritis

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Metatarsalgia

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

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

*Morton's Neuroma

*Capsulitis

*Previous Lisfranc's Injury

*Over-Pronation

*Ankle Instability

*Hypermobility

*Ligament Laxity

*Posterior Tibial Tendonitis

*Peroneal Tendonitis

*History of Ankle Sprains

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Some Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (poor circulation)

*Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) 

*Drop Foot (you need to wear an AFO with this condition and the NB 1540 should accommodate the it)

NB 1540 is NOT recommended for patients with: 

*Charcot Foot

*History of ulcerations (Check with your podiatrist)

When I recommend to patients that they wear the New Balance 928 or 1540 - you should see the strange grimaces and facial contortions of horror and disgust that I get in response! New Balance doesn't have the best reputation for being a 'cool' shoe and I have to convince people that 'cool' is a mental attitude and it doesn't matter what you wear on your feet. I think that's why I was so thrilled to see the uber-cool Denzel Washington in the NB 1540's! 

Thank you Denzel for making the NB 1540's cool, which makes my job of getting patients into better shoegear easier! 

Dr. Cathy McCarthy trivia:

I had a screenplay entitled 'There Goes The Neighborhood' declined by Denzel's people (I was told by my manager). My screenplay entitled 'Oh Brother' was optioned by Gold Circle Film (the company that did 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding') in 2005, but the film never went into production. My novel 'Gunning For Angels' is my latest writing and can be purchased on Amazon in Kindle or book form. 

No hard feelings, Denzel! I still love you and can't wait to see your next movie.

I hope this review was helpful,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Podiatry Review of the John Fluevog Hi Wedge Dawn & Prepares Merit...

John Fluevog:

A Review of 

Two Fabulous High Heels

For Women Who Know They Can Wear Heels! 

 

John Fluevog Hi Wedge Dawn

$159

Be still my heart! 

I love John Fluevog shoes and I adore the look of the Hi Wedge Dawn.

I personally am on the verge of not being able to wear heels this high anymore because of the biomechanical structure of my foot 

(mild Hallux Limitus with a slightly elevated 1st metatarsal and the beginning of a dorsal 1st metatarsal-medial cuneiform exostosis - but I digress...)

BUT

If you know that you can comfortably wear high heels, this is a good choice for comfort and style and I will be watching with admiration from the wings (in my lower heeled shoes).

*sigh*

John Fluevog Prepares Merit 

$159 

Perhaps it's the Aquarius in me, 

but I totally dig this!

(Sorry, my seventies are showing...)

The heel takes a bit of getting used to but, once again, if you know that you can comfortably wear heels, this is another good choice for style and comfort. Because the heel height is lower than the Hi Wedge Dawn, this will be the better choice.

 

The Good, the Bad & the Fabulous...

What makes both of these shoes so comfortable is that they have a thick, rigid sole that allows no motion across the bottom of the foot, 

which significantly decreases mechanical strain of the joints, tendons and muscles and allows for more comfort. Both heels have a wide and relatively soft toebox that allows for more accomodation of mild to possibly moderate bunions and hammertoes. They also have excellent midfoot and rearfoot control and, in the case of the Hi Wedge Dawn, excellent ankle control.  

Anytime a shoe can 'lock in' the foot and ankle structures, you get more 'biomechanical control', which means: 

*More Comfort

*Less Chance of Injury

*Less Wear and Tear of the foot structures

*Slowing the progression of foot problems such as bunions and hammertoes

*Less strain on the knee, hip and lower back

Am I saying that these heels better than wearing a good walking shoe? 

No way.

But, if you are going to wear heels and you know can wear heels comfortably -

these are a good choice. 

When it comes to wearing heels, 

I always caution patients to listen to their bodies! If you are having any discomfort, then these are not the shoes for you. 

If any shoe causes you pain - don't wear them. Pain is your bodies way of warning you of a problem.

If your shoes hurt, you are straining something and doing damage!

Remember, it's your feet against a lifetime of all the concrete in the world so, no matter what shoe you choose, try to choose a shoe with a these four things:

*Thick, rigid sole for more protection

*Arch Support

*Wide, soft toebox

*Rearfoot Control 

  

Another thing to keep in mind is that 

choosing the right shoe depends on the biomechanics of your feet. 

That's what this blog is about. 

For example, a rocker-bottom shoe is great for most people with plantar fasciitis (heel pain) but I would never recommend a rocker-bottom shoe for anyone with Achilles Tendonitis as it can cause the condition to worsen.

With that in mind...

The Hi Wedge Dawn Should Be Comfortable For Patients with:

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain) 

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Maybe Mild Over-Pronators (Try wearing a dress orthotic specifically made for dress shoes to give you some arch support. Your health insurance might cover orthotics so ask your Podiatrist's office if they will check with your insurance to see if it is a covered benefit. If it is not a covered benefit, most Pod offices will carry an excellent OTC insert for dress shoes that are significantly less expensive). 

The Prepares Merit Should Be Comfortable For Patients with:

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis

*Mild to possibly Moderate Bunions 

*Mild to possibly Moderate Hammertoes

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis 

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Forefoot Capsulitis

*Possibly Mild Sesmoiditis 

*Mild Tendonitis

*Mild Tailor's Bunions 

*Mild Corns & Calluses 

*Mild to possibly Moderate Over-Pronators (try adding a custom-molded orthotic or over-the-counter insert made specifically for dress shoes or an less expensive over the counter dress insert for more arch control) 

*Mild to possibly Moderate Hypermobility (add an insert if needed)

*Someone who has had a previous Lisfranc's Injury but is healed and having no pain (If unsure, check with your Podiatrist)

 

These Shoes are NOT Recommended for Patients with:

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

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

*Severe Bunions 

*Severe Hammertoes

*Degenerative Joint Disease

*Osteoarthritis

*Rheumatoid Arthritis 

*Severe Over-Pronators

*Severe Ankle Instability

*Severe Hypermobility  / Ligament Laxity

*Exostosis ("bumps" or "bone spurs" on the top of the midfoot area)

*Diabetics 

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*History of Ulcerations or Open Sores 

*Charcot Foot

*Weak Legs

*Moderate to Severe Knee, Hip & Lower Back Problems/Pain

*Balance Issues

*The Elderly

I hope this has been helpful and I thank you so much for reading!

Have a great weekend...

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)