Top 25 Comfortable Women's Dress Boots for 2014 - Podiatrist Recommended.

Podiatrist Recommended

Top 25 Comfortable Women's Boots

2014

A Blog dedicated to:

How to find good looking shoes

that are good for your feet

that are pathology specific.

I started with a 'Top 10' list and it quickly snowballed into a 'Top 25' list! Remember, no matter what type of boot you choose for yourself, it must meet four criteria to be comfortable: 

First, it must have a thick rigid sole that you cannot bend or flex. A thin, flimsy sole that bends and flexes will cause excess motion through your foot joints, which can lead to increased chance of injury such as fractures and sprains, arthritis, bunions, hammertoes, mechanical strain and PAIN. A good shoe is a shoe that limits motion so that you have less pain, less damage, less chance of injury and, an added bonus, prettier feet. As you walk through life, you are either beating up your feet or you are beating up your shoes - if you think what your shoes look like after a couple of years of use - without the protection of a thick rigid sole - that damage is going to be happening to your joints. 

Second, you need arch support. Whether it is built into the shoe, over-the-counter arch support or a custom-molded orthotic - it is important to biomecahnically control your arch. When patients say to me that they have great arches and don't need arch support, my answer is that bridges have arches but engineers still put struts under them to decrease mechanical strain. Proper arch support will help decrease knee, hip and lower back pain as well as stop or slow the progression of bunions, hammertoes and soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis and plantar fascial strain. Talk to your Podiatrist about whether or not your insurance plan pays for you to get custom-molded orthotics. They are often a covered benefit. You only have one set of feet and once they break down - you don't get a new pair. Invest in your body and purchase good shoes and get orthotics. It's the same rationale as a dentist telling you to brush and floss on a regular basis and a dermatologist telling you to wear sunscreen. You need to protect your body because it is just a matter of time until it tries to go south on you. 

Third, you need a wide and preferably soft toebox. This will decrease pressure on the toes, which will help prevent ingrown toenails, hammertoes, bunions, Morton's Neuromas and painful corns and calluses. 

Forth, you need a shoe with rearfoot control. Backless shoes such as flipflops and mules are not good enough for your feet. If you are not biomechanically controlling the rearfoot with at least a strap, you are forcing your toes to curl down to stay in the shoe, which promotes deformities such as hammertoes and bunions and increases the chance of knee, hip and lower back pain. Without rearfoot control, you are forcing all of your tendons, ligaments and joints to work harder to stay in the shoe. This also causes 'tired-leg syndrome' and leg fatigue. 

If you have any severe foot issues or systemic diseases, please check with your Podiatrist to make sure that a particular boot is correct for you. I encourage patients to bring in one bag of shoes so that we can check each shoe together and have a discussion about what will or will not work for their feet. Proper shoegear is absolutely crucial! 

My goal as a Podiatrist is to keep my patients as active as possible for as long as possible with as few problems as possible. And this goal can be achieved with the help of proper shoegear. 

Okay - enough preaching! Let's get to the list...

Ugg Kensington II

I love the Uggs! Not all Uggs are good but if you get one with a thick rigid sole, wide toebox and rearfoot control and add a dress orthotic - you are pretty much gold.  

Ugg Kensington II is Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to possibly severe Bunions

*Mild to possibly severe Hammertoes

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

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

*Any patient with a fused toe joint

*Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Anyone recovering from a Lisfranc's Fracture

*Plantar Plate Injury

*Osteoarthritis

*Mild to possibly severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild to severe Over-Pronation (wear dress orthotics)

*Mild to moderate Hypermobility (wear with dress orthotics)

Ugg Kensington II is NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Achilles Tendonitis (these patients need a slightly higher heel lift in the back - such as a low wedge to decrease tension on the Achilles)

*Diabetic (Clear this boot with your Podiatrist)

*History of Ulcerations

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Clear with your Podiatrist)

*Peripheral Neuropathy/Nerve Damage (Clear with your Podiatrist)

Tsubo Kynlee

The Tsubo Kynlee is a gorgeous boot. If you know that you can handle wearing a slight heel, this boot should work for you. If you have severe Hallux Limitus, Hallux Rigidus or significant forefoot isses, the wedge may not be ideal for you. Basically, if you can wear this heel height with no problems, this should be a good choice. 

Tsubo Kynlee Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Hallux Limitus

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Over-Pronation (wear a dress orthotic)

*Mild Hypermobility (wear a dress orthotic)

*Patients recovering from Lisfranc's injuries or fractures

Tsubo Kynlee NOT Recommended for Patients with:

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

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

*Severe Osteoarthritis of any of the forefoot joints.

*Moderate to Severe Bunions 

*Moderate to Severe Hammertoes

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

Dr. Marten's Pendleton

It's hard to go wrong with Dr. Marten's shoes. I've noticed that some of the Dr. Marten's soles do bend and flex a little but most of the Dr. Marten's have the thick, rigid sole that does not bend or flex. When shopping in the store, double check and make sure that the sole does not bend or flex. 

Dr. Marten's Pendleton Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild to possibly Moderate Morton's Neuroma

*Mild to possibly Moderate Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild to Moderate Ankle Instability (wear a dress orthotic)

*History of ankle sprains 

*Mild to moderate tendonitis (wear dress orthotic)

*Mild to Moderate Over-Pronation (wear dress orthotic)

*Mild to moderate Hypermobility (wear dress orthotic)

*Plantar Fibromas

Dr. Marten's Pendleton is NOT Recommend for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

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

*Severe Osteoarthritis of any of the forefoot joints

*Moderate to Severe Haglund's Deformity (bump on the back of the heel)

*Severe Bunions

*Severe Hammertoes

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

*Anyone with significant 'bumps' or exostosis on the foot

*High arch with 'bumps' or bone spurs on top of the foot

Naot Gratify 

The Naot Gratify is a gorgeous boot and has a full lenfth shaft which allows for less motion through the forefoot and therefore more comfort. Not all Naot shoes have a full length shaft, which is a disappointment so if you are shopping for a Naot - make sure you get one with the full length shaft and not a partial shaft. There's a huge difference in comfort. 

Naot Gratify Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to moderate Bunions

*Mild to moderate Hammertoes

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

*Morton's Neuroma

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Over-Pronation (wear a dress orthotic)

*Hypermobility (wear a dress orthotic)

*Patients recovering from Lisfranc's injuries or fractures

Naot Gratify NOT Recommended for Patients with:

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

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

*Diabetics (Get approval from your Podiatrist before wearing this boot) 

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Get approval from you Podiatrist before wearing this boot)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Get approval from your Podiatrist before wearing this boot)

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

Tsubo Dess 

Gorgeous boot! I love the Tsubo shoes and I love to dress up jeans with this look. This heel height is not for everyone but if you know that you can wear this heel height comfortably, this boot should work for you. 

Tsubo Dess Boots Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain) 

Tsubo Dess Boots NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

*Severe Hypermobility or Instability

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

*Osteoarthritis of any of the toe joints

*High arches with 'bump' or exostosis on the top of the foot

*Haglund's Deformity

*Recovering from a Lisfranc's Fracture

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Plantar Plate Injury

Dansko Crepe Chukka

If you are doing a lot of walking on concrete and hard surfaces - this might be your boot. The Dansko Crepe Chukka has a thick rigid sole with NO motion, which translates into all day comfort. Add a dress orthotic for more arch control and it's hard to go wrong with this boot. The only limitations with Dansko is that if you have prominent 'bumps' such as bunions or exostosis and bone spurs - there might be too much pressure on them which can cause pain. An option is to take the shoe to a Cobbler or Shoe Repair and have them stretch the area over the bunion or 'bump'.  

This Boot Recommended for Patients with:

*Hallux Limitus

*Hallux Rigidus

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

*Plantar Plate Issues

*Capsulitis

*Bunions

*Hammertoes

*Corns & Calluses

*Tailor's Bunions

*History of Lisfrand's Injury

*Recovered from Foot Fractures (Clear with your Pod)

*Osteoarthritis

*Knee, Hip and Lower Back Pain

*Over-Pronation (wear with a dress orthotic)

*Mild Hypermobility (wear with a dress orthotic)

This Boot NOT Recommended for Patients with: 

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics (Clear with your Podiatrist)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Clear with your Podiatrist)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Muscle Weakness

*Drop Foot

*Severe Hypermobility

*Instability

*Geriatrics

Dansko Tabitha 

Dansko is fabulous but they are not for everybody. I would recommend that if you are shopping for Dansko, go to the store to try them on. If you have large bunions or 'bumps' on the top of the midfoot area, Danskos might not work for you.

Dansko Tabitha Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild to moderate Hallux Limitus

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Plantar Plate Injuries

*Mild Capsulitis

*Plantar Fasciits (Heel Pain)

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild to moderate Osteoarthritis

Dansko Tabitha NOT Recommended for Patients with:

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

*Severe Tailor's Bunions

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

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage) 

*History of Ulcerations

*Charcot Foot

Ugg Anais

I had to add this boot because I love the style! The heel height is a bit high but if you know that you can handle this heel height, this should be a comfortable boot for you. The wedge heel gives added protection to the forefoot structures and more of a 'roll off' action when you walk - this will cause less stress to the forefoot. 

Ugg Anais Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Women who know that they can wear this heel height comfortably

Ugg Anais NOT Recommended for Patients with:

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

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

*Osteoarthritis of any of the forefoot joints.

*Bunions 

*Hammertoes

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

Dansko Faith

I love the Danskos but I recommend purchasing this one in the store. I've noticed that since Dansko has started manufacturing more shoes in China - the forefoot area can have too much bend and the toebox has gotten a little smaller and more narrow. Make sure the forefoot wedge does not bend and, if you can know that you can wear this heel height comfortably, this should be a good boot for you. 

Dansko Faith Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Women who know that they can wear this heel height comfortably

Dansko Faith NOT Recommended for Patients with:

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

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

*Osteoarthritis of any of the forefoot joints.

*Bunions 

*Hammertoes

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

John Fluevog On Course Leeward

This is my Christmas gift - that has still not arrived! I can't give a full review on this boot because I don't have it yet but it is so gorgeous and seems to meet all the criteria so I thought I'd add it to the list. I will give a further update once I get these bad boys on my feet! 

John Fluevog Prepares Map

As you know, I love John Fluevog shoes and this boot is no exception. The wedge heel is solid and very comfortable. I can walk in this shoe all day. I love the wide toebox with soft leather that feels like butter. If you purchase this boot, buy extra boot laces because, for some reason, the laces on this boot break easily. 

This Boot Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Hallux Limitus

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild to possibly Moderate Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Over-Pronation (wear a dress orthotic)

*Mild Hypermobility (wear a dress orthotic)

This Boot NOT Recommended for Patients with:

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

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

*Severe Osteoarthritis of any of the forefoot joints.

*Severe Bunions 

*Severe Hammertoes

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

Dansko Vail

Another fabulous Dansko boot. It's very hard to go wrong with this boot - especially if you need to do lots of outdoor walking in bad weather.

Dansko Vail is Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

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

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

*Any patient with a fused toe joint

*Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Patients recovering from a Lisfranc's Fracture

*Plantar Plate Injury

*Osteoarthritis

*Mild to Moderate Rheumatoid Arthritis (Check with your Podiatrist)

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Over-Pronation (wear dress orthotics)

*Mild to Moderate Hypermobility (wear with dress orthotics)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Tendonitis

Dansko Vail is NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics (Clear with your Podiatrist)

*History of Ulcerations

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Clear with your Podiatrist)

*Peripheral Neuropathy/Nerve Damage (Clear with your Podiatrist)

Frye Harness 12R

I own this boot and wore it several years ago on a 10 day walking winter tour of Berlin and Vienna. With socks and my dress orthotic, they kept me warm and dry and walking in comfort all day long. The only issue I have with this boot is that the forefoot area tends to be a bit too tapered so if you have a wide forefoot, this may not work for you. The boot has a rigid sole and great rearfoot control and it looks great under jeans. If you have a 5th toe hammertoe with a corn - either try to size up or get a boot with a wider toebox like the Alegria. 

This Boot Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Hallux Rigidus (Maybe - assuming there are no significant bone spurs)

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild to possibly Moderate Hallux Limitus (limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint)

*Mild Osteoarthritis 

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild to Moderate Ankle Instability (wear a dress orthotic)

*History of ankle sprains 

*Mild to moderate tendonitis (wear dress orthotic)

*Mild to Moderate Over-Pronation (wear dress orthotic)

*Mild to moderate Hypermobility (wear dress orthotic)

This Boot is NOT Recommend for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Moderate to Severe Haglund's Deformity (bump on the back of the heel)

*Prominent Bunions

*Moderate to Severe Hammertoes

*5th toe corns

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

*Anyone with significant 'bumps' or exostosis on the foot - especially the forefoot and top of the midfoot. 

John Fluevog Hopefuls Rosy

This is a great boot and I love the low heel, thick and rigid sole and the gorgous color. Add a dress orthotic for more comfort and it's a winner. 

This Boot Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to moderate Bunions

*Mild to moderate Hammertoes

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

*Morton's Neuroma

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Over-Pronation (wear a dress orthotic)

*Hypermobility (wear a dress orthotic)

This Boot NOT Recommended for Patients with:

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

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

*Diabetics  

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations

Alegria Cami

Excellent boot! Please see my complete review of the Alegria boots (2 blog posts previous to this one, which you can find by scrolling back or typing 'Alegria' in the search box at the upper right hand corner). Wear a dress orthotic for maximum comfort and this is a boot that will work for almost any foot type. 

Camper Filippa Low

I don't own this boot and have not seen it in person but I love the look and it seems to meet all the criteria. The wedge heel should stop motion in the forefoot are and, if you know that you can handle this heel height, it should be comfortable. The reviews also state that it works well for women with a wider calf. 

This Boot Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Plantar Fasciits (Heel Pain)

*Women who know that they can wear this heel height comfortably.

This Boot NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

*Hypermobility or Instability

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

*Severe Osteoarthritis of any of the toe joints

*Large 'bumps' or exostosis on the foot

*High arches with 'bump' or exostosis on the top of the foot

*Severe Haglund's Deformity

*Recovering from a Lisfrac's Fracture

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Plantar Plate Injury

Alegria Raina

This is the boot that I wore on my eleven day walking vacation of Paris and it passed with flying colors. For more information and a full review of the Alegria boots, please go to the search box and type in Alegria. I did a blog post (2 previous to this blog post) where I talk about these two boots in detail. 

Overall, excellent boot and I paid $29 on 6pm.com. 

Ariat Fatbaby

I think I got these because I love saying that I'm wearing my 'Fatbabies'! This is an excellent boot and I wear them under black slacks or jeans and they look professional and feel great. The Fatbaby boot does have a full length shank in it but I did notice that there is still a little bit of flexion in the sole, which was a disappointment because I am a stickler for no motion in the sole of a shoe BUT, with my dress orthotic and my mild Hallux Limitus, it still works very nicely for all day wear.  

Ariat Fatbaby is Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to possibly severe Bunions

*Mild to possibly severe Hammertoes

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

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

*Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Patients recovering from a Lisfranc's Fracture

*Plantar Plate Injury

*Osteoarthritis

*Mild to possibly severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (Clear with your Podiatrist)

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild to severe Over-Pronation (wear dress orthotics)

*Mild to moderate Hypermobility (wear with dress orthotics)

Ariat Fatbaby is NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Achilles Tendonitis (these patients need a slightly higher heel lift in the back - such as a low wedge to decrease tension on the Achilles)

*Diabetic (Clear this boot with your Podiatrist)

*History of Ulcerations

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Clear with your Podiatrist)

*Peripheral Neuropathy/Nerve Damage (Clear with your Podiatrist)

Tsubo Descari

I love the Tsubo brand. This ankle is a bit high on the wedge but I wanted to add it because I love the Tsubo thick, rigid soles and I particularly like the soft adjustable strap across the midfoot area. This boot will not work if you have Hallux Limitus, Hallux Rigidus or any serious forefoot issues because the wedge is too steep of an incline, which will put too much pressure to the forefoot structures. If you know you can wear a heel this height comfortably, the forefoot sole has enough rigidity and cushion to give added protection to the forefoot structures. I was able to wear the Tsubo Heels at this height for many years and, as I got older, my feet were not able to tolerate it anymore. The trick is to listen to your body and if your feet hurt or if you are compensating or changing your gait in any way - don't wear them because they are causing damage.

This Boot Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Women who know they can wear this heel height comfortably.

This Boot NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

*Hypermobility or Instability

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

*Osteoarthritis of any of the toe joints

*Severe Haglund's Deformity

*Recovering from a Lisfrac's Fracture

*Metatarsalgia

*Capsulitis

*Plantar Plate Injury

Fly London Mux Boot

Fly London Yust Boot

Fly London Yink Boot

These three Fly London boots are a nice combination of style and comfort. Once again, they are not going to work for everyone but if you know that you can wear a heel this height comfortably - these boots should work for you. 

Fly London Boots Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to possibly moderate Bunions

*Mild to possibly moderte Hammertoes

*Mild Morton's Neuromas

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Capsulitis

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

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Over-Pronation (wear a dress orthotic)

*Mild Hypermobility (wear a dress orthotic)

*Healed Lisfranc's Injury (Check with your Pod)

Fly London Boots NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

*Severe Hypermobility or Instability

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

*Severe Osteoarthritis of any of the toe joints

*Large 'bumps' or exostosis on the foot

*High arches with 'bump' or exostosis on the top of the foot

*Severe Haglund's Deformity

Women's Ladies Wedge Platform

Lace Up Round Toe Low Heel Boots

Yes, that is actually the official name on ebay. I like the thick rigid sole and, once again, if you know that you are able to wear a low wedge heel comfortably, this boot should work well for you. I also like the fact that you can loosen the laces to adjust for ankle and calf size. At the price of $39 - this is a great option for anyone on a budget. 

This Boot Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Morton's Neuromas

*Mild Metatarsalgia

*Mild Capsulitis

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

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Over-Pronation (wear a dress orthotic)

*Mild Hypermobility (wear a dress orthotic)

This Boot NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

*Balance Issues

*Severe Hypermobility or Instability

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

*Severe Osteoarthritis of any of the toe joints

*Large 'bumps' or exostosis on the foot

*High arches with 'bump' or exostosis on the top of the foot

*Severe Haglund's Deformity

Fit Flop Mukluk Moc 2

Fit Flop Crush Boot

The Fit Flop boots are fabulous! They have the thick, rigid sole that does not bend or flex, a soft and wide toebox, good rearfoot control and you can add a dress orthotic to it for arch control. The only issue with this boot is that they don't come in half sizes so I would recommend sizing up and some patients have issues with pulling them on since they do not have a zipper. Overall, an excellent boot. 

Fit Flop Boots (above) Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild to Severe Bunions

*Mild to Severe Hammertoes

*Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

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

*Hallux Rigidus

*Rheumatoid Arthritis

*Osteoarthritis

*Capsulitis

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild to Moderate Over-Pronation (wear a dress orthotic)

*Mild to Moderate Hypermobility (wear a dress orthotic)

*Mild to Moderate Tendonitis (wear dress orthotic)

*Recovering from a previous Lisfranc's Injury or fracture 

Fit Flop Boots NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*History of Ulcerations 

Fit Flop Boots MAY works for Patients with:

(Get Approval from your Podiatrist!):

*Diabetics

*Peripheral Areterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

I hope this was helpful and I would love to hear any feedback that you have on these boots - or other great boots that you think should be on the list. 

Happy New Years!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

******

I'f you're into detective stories - check out my book 'Gunning For Angels' which was written under my pen name C. Mack Lewis. It's available on Kindle or in paperback. 

Warning: Adult Content. 

http://www.amazon.com/Gunning-For-Angels-Mack-Lewis-ebook/dp/B00I84NSE0

Men's Comfortable Western Boot - Circle G by Coral Black Caimen Belly Square Toe Boot.

Here's one for the guys...

Circle G by Coral Black Caimen

Belly Square Toe Boot

Not all men's boots are created equal! 

What sets this boot apart is that it has a 13 inch shank that runs the full length of the sole, which allows for less motion across the bottom of the foot which means that the boots are far more comfortable than a boot that has a partial shank. 

We had a lovely Podiatry intern from Texas this past month in our office who came in wearing pointy-toed cowboy boot with a partial shank. After being forced to listen to my 'biomechanical spiel' all month, he picked out these boots and got them as a Christmas gift. He reported back that he immediately noticed that he had less discomfort with all day wear. We added an over-the-counter heat-molded insert for more arch support which he added even more support, stability and biomechanical control. According to him, these boots were less costly than his previous pair and were far more comfortable. As I always tell my patients, it's not how much you spend - it's knowing what you are looking for in a shoe. 

What you're looking for in any shoe is:

*A thick and rigid sole that does not bend or flex.

*Arch suport (which can be added) to a shoe or boot.

*A wide and preferably soft toebox.

*Rearfoot Control.

What makes these boots excellent is that they have the 13 inch shank so there is no motion through the foot. Every boot should have a full shank because anytime you limit motion across the bottom of the foot - you will have less pain, cause less damage to joints and tendons, decrease your chance of injury and strain and you will have less knee, hip and lower back pain. The square toebox will cause less pressure on the toes and can decrease the progression of bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails and corns and calluses. The rearfoot control on this boot is excellent and the slight elevation in the heel will help anyone with heel pain and Achilles Tendonitis issues. I would recommend that if you do wear boots with a heel most of the time that you take the time to do some gentle Achilles Tendon stretching exercises a couple of times a day to prevent Achilles contraction that can occur with patients who wear heels for years. 

These Boots are Recommended for Patients with:

*Mild Bunions

*Mild Hammertoes

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

*Osteoarthritis

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

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

*History of Metatarsal stress fractures

*Anyone recovering from a Lisfranc's Fracture or injury

*Mild Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild Achilles Tendonitis

*Hypermobility

*Over-Pronation (wear a dress orthotic with the boot)

*History of Ankle Sprains

*History of Ankle Instability

This Boot is NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*History of Ulcerations

*Charcot Foot

*Foot Drop

*Muscle Weakness 

*Severe bunions or hammertoes (you will need a boot with an 'extra-depth toebox' and a 13 inch shank for more comfort)

An extra thank you to our Texan Intern who introduced me to this beautiful boot! 

I hope this was helpful!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Podiatrist Recommended Women's Alegria Boots for Winter 2014.

Alegria Boots

Great Boots for All Day Comfort.

I appologize for my 'radio silence' but between our annual vacation which was followed by one week of jet lag and two weeks of a wicked cold and then the Holidays, I have gotten behind. 

The good news is that our vacation gave me a chance to test the Alegria boots. My husband and I went to Paris with three dear friends and, fueled by cheese, bread and red wine, we walked (and ate) our way through 10-12 miles of Parisian streeets on a daily basis. If there was something to climb (Notre Dame, The Arc d'Triumph, The Catacombs, The Metro stairs) we did it all! I would have never guessed that Paris had so many stairs. There were some days that, by the end of the day, by the time we got back to the hotel - I was so tired I was staggering - but my feet never hurt!

Alegria Raina

Alegria Cami

Alegria Cami

I wore the Alegria Raina on our eleven day walking trip of Paris. I wanted a boot that would keep me warm and dry but be comfortable for long days of walking cold city streets and standing on unforgiving museum floors. The sole is thick and rigid and I added a dress custom-molded insert for superior arch support. I highly recommend this boot and, although it wasn't nearly as fashionable as the other Parisian women's boots, I was able to walk all day long with no pain. 

About halfway through the trip I asked my husband what he thought of my boots and he replied, "I'm not sure what to think." When questioned further he said, "Well, they're shiny so they look classy - but they look different." I have to agree with him that the wide toebox does make them look different - but they were just too darned comfortable and kept me walking in comfort all day and into the Parisian night.

Plus, I got them on 6pm.com for $29!

These Alegrai Boots are Recommended for Patient's with:

*Mild to Severe Bunions

*Mild to Severe Hammertoes

*Morton's Neuroma

*Metatarsalgia

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

*Hallux Rigidus

*Anyone recovering from a Lisfranc's Injury 

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Mild tendonitis

*Mild to Moderate Ligament Laxity

*Over pronation (Wear a dress orthotic on top of the insert that comes with the boot)

*If you are Diabetic - clear this boot selection with your Podiatrist to see if it is appropriate for you)

If you have any of the following conditions, get approval from your Podiatrist before wearing this shoe:

*Diabetic 

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neruopathy (Nerve Damage) 

This boot is NOT approved for Patient's with:

*Charcot Foot

Overall, this is a great boot and if you add a custom-molded dress orthotic on top of the insole that comes with the boot, it will maximize comfort. This is also a light boot which decreases leg fatigue and 'tired leg syndrome'. 

I hope this was helpful and I am working on a top ten boot list which I hope to have on the blog in the next week so that we can all take advantage of some post-Christmas boot sales. 

Happy Holidays!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Podiatrist Recommended: Your Three Day Plan to Less Foot Pain.

Your Three Day Plan

To Alleviating Foot Pain

Step One:

Immediately, stop walking barefoot, stop wearing flip flops, stop walking around the house wearing only socks and stop wearing flimsy bedroom slippers. 

Step Two:

Purchase RX CROCS and wear them as bedroom slippers around the house. It is important that you wear the strap to the back. The RX Crocs are approved by the American Podaitric Medical Association for Diabetics and works wonders if you are suffering from heel pain or any forefoot pain. They also help alleviate knee, hip and lower back pain. 

Step Three: 

Find a New Balance store and purchase either the New Balance 928 or the 1540. If you are extremely sedentary and have trouble reaching your feet to tie your shoes, purchase the NB 812 with velcro straps. While you are at the store, purchase diabetic socks - even if you are not diabetic. They are amazing. 

Step Four:

REST. For the next three days, whenever you are sitting, elevate and rest your feet. Ice your feet with a bag of frozen vegtables for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day - unless you are diabetic, have poor circulation, have nerve damage or have a history of gout. 

If you are doing all this and you do not get significant pain relief within three days, you need to make an appointment with your local Podiatrist for further evaluation. 

If you have been walking around with a "dull ache" in your feet that is like a nagging tooth ache or you have unexplained swelling - you could potentially be walking around on a broken bone or stress fracture. Most Podiatrists can take X-rays in their offices and offer complete treatment for foot problems such as fractures, sprains, bunions, hammertoes, corns & calluses. If your Podiatrist immediately jumps to suggesting surgery for your bunions or hammertoes, please get a second opinion from a more conservative biomechanical-focused Podiatrist. You should only consider foot surgery after you have tried and failed conservative, non-surgical treatment.

After your Podiatrist properly diagnoses and treats your foot issues, ask him or her about getting Custom-Molded Orthotics, which are often covered by your insurance. CMO's are prescription arch supports that are custom-molded to your feet and hold your foot in the biomechanically correct and neutral position which helps to alleviate foot, knee, hip and lower back pain. CMO's also help slow or stop the progression of bunions, hammertoes and joint changes such as osteoarthritis and Hallux Rigidus. Your Podiatrist can also add "sweet spots" that off-load painful calluses on the bottom of your feet. 

Just remember, if you are limping or compensating for more than three days - it is very tough on your knees, hips and lower back and you are throwing off your biomechanics. The quicker you deal with foot and ankle pain, the better. Most problems with the foot and ankle are very treatable using gentle non-surgical treatment. When you see people limping around with terrible biomechanics - that usually did not happen overnight. The reality is that as soon as we start compensating or limping for any reason - and we ignore it and keep walking  - our bodies get used to it and that becomes our new normal. After decaades of this, we end up in a situation where our bodies start breaking down and it interferes with our ability to have an active and healthly lifestyle.

Don't wait. If you are limping, after three solid days of doing the things discussed here - please make an appointment to see your Podiatrist. 

As I always tell my patients - my job as your Podaitrist is to keep you as active as possible for as long as possible with as little problems as possible - so that you see less of me because you are out there having fun!

For more information - please go to the upper right hand corner of this blog and find the search butteon where you can search: 

"My feet hurt - top ten things to do to alleviate foot pain" 

and

"Shoe Recommendations for patients recovering from a Lisfranc's fracture." 

Have a lovely day,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy 

:)

How to get the cool Converse look - with more support and comfort for your feet.

Platform Converse 

Yes, hipsters of the world, there is a God...

"Chuck Taylor All Stars" were invented in 1917 and have been the cool shoe that has been offering horrible support for almost one hundred years. 

Until 2013! 

Now, I'm not saying that the Converse Platform is perfect BUT it is a great alternative for patients (hello Pediatrics and Hipsters) who want the Converse look but have biomechanically challenged feet. 

I can't tell you how sad it makes me when I have to tell a kid that their beloved Converse All Stars are not good for their feet and they should not be wearing them. I won't lie to you - I've seen grown men cry over this. I'm glad my practice is on the ground floor because, otherwise, I'd spend a good portion of my day talking patients off the ledge. I can usually coax the pediatric patients into the concept of giving up their Converse when I tell them about some of the other cool shoes they can wear, like Nike Shox (the ones with the rigid sole) and the Brooks 'Beast'. The boys love it when I prescribe the 'Brooks Beast', which taps into some primal guy thing that makes their eyes light up at the thought of wearing something with the name 'beast' on their feet. Another running shoe that is great for the Pediatric patients is the New Balance 1540 (not as cool, but they are excellent).

On a personal note, my husband still has not noticed that I 'retired' all his Converse All Stars from our closet (cue evil laugh) and I have been slowly, insidiously replacing all his crap-Converse shoes with supportive shoes that feel great but are cool enough for the advertising world that he works in, which, by the way, is much cooler than my Podiatry world of biomechanical control and good arch support. Going to a party filled with Advertising people versus a party filled with Podiatrists - a jarring experience - much like landing on two different planets with alternate realities - but in a good way.

Needless to say, the Platform Converse is a great alternative to the traditional Converse All Star with it's thin, flexible sole that offers no support and can increase the likeliood of painful fractures, sprains, bunions, hammertoes and a multitude of other injuries. 

Because the platform Converse has a thick and more rigid sole, it is far more protective of the foot joints, muscles and tendons, which makes it more comfortable and decrease the chance of injury. It also meets the criteria of having forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot control that is crucial in what makes a shoe more comfortable. 

I would highly recommend that if you choose to wear this shoe that you wear a custom-molded dress orthotic. A functional orthotic will not fit in this shoe, but a dress orthotic should work nicely. Talk to your Podiatrist about getting custom-molded orthotics. Many people do not realize that their insurance pays for orthotics, which are often covered because insurance companies understand that proper arch support can prevent many foot, knee, hip and lower back issues as well as prevent foot deformities such as bunions. 

The Platform Converse is NOT appropriate for anyone with:

*Diabetes

*Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Charcot Foot

*Drop Foot 

*Severe Hypermobility

*Severe Over-Pronation

*Muscle Weakness

*Geriatric

*Balance Issues

*History of Ulcerations 

*History of Falling

*Severe Ankle Instability

Have a wonderful day,

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

**The Plateform Converse is a fashion statement shoe - I am not recommending this for any type of sports. 

Top Picks for Comfortable Easy Spirit Women's Dress Shoes

Podiatry Recommended

Top Picks 

For Comfortable Women's Shoes

From the Easy Spirit Anti-Gravity Collection

Fall 2013

Brassie 

$89

Oroco

$30

Jomarie

$40

Menke

$189

Cedella  

$29.99

These are my top picks for women's comfortable shoes from the Easy Spirit Anti-Gravity Collection. I've included summer sandals for my Arizona patients since we wear them through the winter as well as  boots and enclosed dress shoes for those women living in colder climates. 

What makes these shoes 'top picks' for comfort are the fact that they have thick, rigid soles that offer more protection for the foot joints as well as good forefoot and rearfoot control, which helps decrease mechanical strain for more comfort and less chance of injury. If you can bend or flex a shoe - it is not good enough for you! When you are walking, if a shoe bends and flexes, it is allowing motion across your foot joints, which causes 'wear and tear', inflammation, swelling and an increased risk of pain as well as injury. It is a counter-intuitive concept, but comfort in shoes is about having a thick and rigid, non-flexible sole, a soft and wide toebox, arch support and rearfoot control. If a joint hurts and is damaged (osteoarthritis, to name only one example) - the last thing you want to do is continuously force motion through it. You want to protect it with less motion so that it hurts less and you stop damaging and already painful and damaged joint. 

I would highly recommend wearing the Brassie, Oroco and the Menke with a custom-dress orthotic for more comfort and biomechanical control of the foot and ankle. If you do not have a dress orthotic, talk to your Podiatrist as they are often covered under various insurance plans or you can cash pay. Dress orthotics made by Podiatrists can last for years and, when they get old, can be refurbished to look like new. Another option is the get a heat-molded dress insert, which can be purchased from many Podiatry offices and are less expensive than custom-molded inserts. A third option is to get a good over-the-counter dress orthotic that is thin but gives you semi-flexible to rigid arch control, depending on your particular foot condition. Having good arch support will help to slow or stop the progression of bunions and can significantly help with knee, hip and lower back pain. 

These Shoes are Recommended for Patient with:

*Mild to Moderate Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunions

*Mild to Moderate Hammertoes

*Metatarsalgia

*Mild to moderate Over-Pronation (wear with a dress orthotic)

*Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

*Achilles Tendonitis

*Mild Hypermobility

*Mild Osteoarthritis

*Mild to possibly Moderate Hallux Limitus (Limited Range of Motion of the 1st toe Joint)

*Mild Rheumatoid Arthitis

*Mild Morton's Neuroma

*Mild Capsulitis

*Corns and Calluses

These Shoes are NOT Recommended for Patients with:

*Charcot Foot

*Severe Hypermobility

*Severe Over-Pronation

*Diabetics with a history of Ulceration (Open Sores)

*Peripheral Arterial Disease with a history of Ulceration 

*Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

*Foot Drop

*Balance Issues

*High Fall Risk Patients

*Hallux Rigidus (No motion at the 1st toe joint because of severe arthritis or a surgical fusion - unless your surgeon fused you at 15 degrees of dorsiflextion - in which case you can possibly wear the lower heels) 

**If you are diabetic, have nerve damage, poor circulation or any other serious foot issues, please check with your Podiatrist to see if these shoes are appropriate for your particular foot issues. I always encourage patients to bring in one bag of shoes so that we can check them together and discuss what is good and bad about each shoe. It helps the patient understand what they are looking for in a good shoe and saves them money when they are shopping. Also, what works biomechanically for one person is not always appropriate for another patient with a different foot issue or foot type. 

For more information on what makes a comfortable shoe, please use the search box in this blog to look up my articles:

'My Feet Hurt: Top Ten Things to do to Alleviate Foot Pain' 

and

'Shoe Recommendations for Patients Recovering From a Lisfrac's Injury'

Have a great day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)

Dansko Veda - Podiatrist Recommended Comfortable Shoe

DANSKO VEDA

Super-Comfortable Shoe for Fall 2013

I love these Converse-ish looking Dankso shoes! 

What makes the Dansko Veda shoe so comfortable is that it meets all four requirements that a shoe must have to be comfortable: it has a thick, rigid and non-flexible sole, a wide toebox, rearfoot control and it can accommodate your orthotics or an over-the-counter arch support. 

I also love the price! I found these on 6pm.com for a $28, which is a 60% discount. These are hard to find in stores, but you can try on Dansko shoes at local retailers such as Dillards and smaller stores catering to hospital employees such as nurses. Try a scrub store to find the Dansko Professional shoe, which is excellent for anyone who works on concrete surfaces for long hours. 


This Shoe is Recommended for Patients with:
* Plantar Fasciitis / Heel Pain (wear with arch supports or heel cushions for more comfort)
*Mild to Severe Hallux Limitus
*Hallux Rigidus
*Mild to Moderate Bunions
*Mild to Moderate Tailor's Bunions 
*Mild to Severe Over-Pronators
*Mild Achilles Tendonitis 
*Hammertoes
*Capsulitis
*Morton's Neuroma
*Metatarsalgia
*Osteoarthritis
*Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis (wear with a cushioned insole)
*Tendonitis
*Anyone Recovering from a foot fracture (i.e. Jones, metatarsals, toes, ect.) 
*Mild Ankle Instability
*Chronic Pain Syndromes (wear with a custom molded insert with an appropriate topcover such as EVA or plastizote - your Pod will be able to help you with this)


This Shoe is NOT Recommended for Patients with:
*Diabetics with Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
*Diabetics with Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)
*Diabetics with a history of foot Ulcerations
*Geriatric 
*Leg Fatigue in the Elderly
*Muscle Weakness
*Charcot Foot
*Severe Edema (Swelling)

For more information about what makes a shoe comfortable, please go to the search box on this blog (Upper right hand corner) and look up "My Feet Hurt" for an article about ten easy things you can do to significantly alleviate foot, knee, hip and lower back pain. 


Have a great day!

Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy

:)