Foot Wear

Foot Wear (2)

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we know that fashion boots are popular among our patients. Although this type of footwear can be a stylish accessory to your fall clothes, they need to be designed with the health of your foot in mind and also fit properly, just like any shoes you buy. Below are some tips to remember when purchasing new boots or evaluating the ones currently in your closet.

  • Take foot disorders into consideration. If you have a chronic podiatric problem such as weak ankles or plantar fasciitis, you’ll need to choose boots that will accommodate your condition. If you haven’t been to our Long Beach office recently, it may be a good idea to make an appointment with our podiatrists, Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas to have your condition checked. The foot doctor monitors the progression of any chronic foot condition and can also make recommendations for footwear styles that will be best for your individual feet.
  • Choose styles with roomy toe boxes. Pointy boots, just like pointy shoes, cram your toes together exacerbating and speeding the progression of toe deformities like hammertoe. Toes that spend too much time pushed up against one another are also more likely to develop ingrown toenails.
  • Exercise heel smarts. The heel on your boot will impact stability and comfort. Don’t exceed two inches in heel height. Wide heels will help you avoid slips and ankle twisting injuries. The heel cup should fit snugly and ideally will have some cushioning to help absorb shock.
  • Get support. Many patients wonder why their heels hurt at the end of boot season. It’s because many fashion boots contain little or no arch support. When your arch goes flat, it puts excess strain on the ligament on the bottom of your foot and can cause plantar fasciitis which leads to heel pain.
  • Have your foot professionally measured. If one foot is larger than the other, buy to accommodate the bigger foot. Always try on both boots and walk around for several minutes to determine if they fit comfortably. Shopping at the end of the day when your feet are the most swollen is likely to result in boots that will be comfortable all day.

If you have specific questions about your feet Superior Foot & Ankle Care can help with any foot conditions you may have in the Long Beach office in Douglas Park CA, contact us.

Tuesday, 20 November 2018 19:05

6 Shoe Tips for Holiday Shopping

It’s that time of year again—flyers are flooding your mailbox and ads on television are getting you primed for holiday bargains. At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we want to make sure that the money you save on holiday shopping isn’t at the expense of your feet and ankles. Your best defense against foot pain and injury is the shoes you wear. Below are 6 tips for choosing the best shoes for long shopping days:

  1. Go for fit first. Did you know that some studies estimate as many as 90% of people are wearing shoes that are too small for their feet? The longer you’re on your feet, the more your feet swell. If you are starting with shoes that are too small, your shopping day is going to be shortened because your feet will begin to hurt after just a couple of hours of power walking from store to store. It’s a good idea to get your feet professionally measured to ensure the proper size.
  2. Don’t wear a new pair of shoes. Even if they felt comfortable in the store, a new pair of shoes should be worn for short periods of time at first to make sure there is no rubbing or friction. A marathon shopping day is not the time to try them out. Wear a pair that you know to be comfortable.
  3. Be light on your feet. Choose a lighter weight pair of shoes for a long day of shopping. The heavier the shoes, the faster your feet will get tired out wearing them.
  4. Don’t forget your orthotics. If the foot doctor has prescribed a custom orthotic device to be worn in your shoes, it’s to keep your feet properly positioned to help correct a biomechanical problem and avoid foot pain.
  5. Choose a thick sole. Shock absorption is key to preventing foot pain. Gel insoles and cushioned midsoles can increase comfort by cushioning your steps to protect your feet.
  6. Prevent injury. High top shoes with solid ankle support and shoes with a grooved tread can help prevent slips and ankle twisting injuries which could bring bargain shopping to a screeching halt. If you do sustain an injury, don’t wait. Contact our Long Beach office (562-420-9800) so that our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas can examine your feet and determine the extent of your injury and the appropriate treatment.

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