Healthy Feet Help - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Healthy Feet Help

Beth Ann

Veteran

So.... that aging thing!

I've flirted with plantar fasciitis in the last few years -- train a little too hard, or forget to stretch, and it becomes moderately painful for a while.

The past few weeks, however, I've had pain that passed from my hip, to my knee, and now is causing havoc on the inside of my ankle. Through stretching and some careful exercise and ice, the knee and hip are better, but the ankle causes a sharp pain when I move "just the wrong way." My research indicates that I would be wise to wear a shoe with good arch support and a firm sole, at least for a while.

All of my "comfort" shoes are snuggly and squishy --- I do better right now in my hard soled flats, that have no support at all!

I went to the "expensive orthopedic shoe store," and brought home one pair of Danskos (the black sandal). I think I liked the nude clog better, but the sandal is lighter to wear around the house. I tried Vionic (not a good fit -- too high in the arch) and Naot (too narrow). All of the Danskos were a beautiful fit in size 40, if a bit clunky to look at.

I'm calling on YLF wisdom: Those of you needing support and firm outsoles -- what are you wearing and what have you learned?

View Info

Top Pick

1

View Info

Top Pick

2

Shopping

32 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

LaPed

Veteran

Maybe not what you'll want to hear, Beth Ann, but what really solved my plantar fascitis (and other unidentified foot pains related to trail running and long-distance backpacking) was switching to barefoot/minimalist shoes. Not Vibram Fivefingers, which I find both hideous and uncomfortable, but Vivobarefoot and the old "Glove" series from Merrell (which I'm not sure they still produce), along with a few other small brands that work well for me. Honestly, a combination of 1) zero-drop soles to stretch and strengthen the achilles, 2) a wide enough toe-box to let the metatarsals spread out, and 3) a thin and flexible sole that forces the small muscles in the feet to do some work, has pretty much eliminated my foot pain and overall alignment issues. It's incredibly limiting from a fashion perspective, and I do cheat in a few pairs of not-completely-flat shoes as necessary.

Greenjeans

Veteran

Yoga, specifically Kaiut yoga, but also yin yoga (toes pose, squats) has done wonders for my injured foot, knee and hip. I only wear comfortable, roomy shoes and strongly prefer flat soles. The brands I wear vary, but have had good luck with Keen (when I can find ones I like), Frye and Clark's. Dansko's are lovely (I actually like the look of them) but heavy.

Runcarla

Veteran

Firm arch support is what worked for me. I use an over the counter insert in all my running shoes, and any other shoe that will accept them. The insert that worked for me is by "Superfeet". I use the green version. They can set you back about $35.00 a pop, but my PF went away and has never come back.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I have had PF on and off for a couple of years-no fun. The "HTP" inserts worked quite well, http://www.amazon.com/HTP-Heel.....B000KPHHPG
I also used the black superfeet, both full and half inserts.

For shoes, Its a challenge. A slight heel helps a lot. Supportive sneakers, Nike Pegasus have worked well. Not the minimalist versions (Nike free) I tried them first and it was the opposite of what my podiatrist recommended.
Over the winter I have been wearing ankle boots from Sebago. http://www.amazon.com/Sebago-W.....el&ie

Naot has also been good, but the versions that have the wider footbed, not the narrower ones. and Birkenstock sandals in the summer

Ecco has good arch support for me, the Soft 7 sneaker is very comfortable-many have been raving about it for good reason!
http://www.amazon.com/Footwear.....c&ie=

DonnaF

Veteran

My friend with severe PF has to wear Hoka running shoes which are darn pricey. I would check the Barking Dog site for recommendations on the best shoes for PF.

Other than my gear shoes, my most supportive shoes are a particular pair of Dansko Pros. I have two other pairs of Dansko Pros that don't have quite that perfect fit. Other Danskos in other styles are okay for awhile but again, not quite up to the support of my Pros. Not what you wanted to hear, right?

I need a stiff sole, if not a platform, so those squishy soles are out for me, too. Lace-ups tend to give my low volume feet the most support, but I generally need to add a heel cup.

Diana

Veteran

I use superfeet insoles in most of my closed toe shoes. You need to experiment a bit to find the one that works best for you. For me, my feet are flat but my arches are also naturally very low, so the lowest-arched superfeet (the black ones) work best for me. The half ones (find below) fit in almost all of my shoes and work very well. (The higher-arched superfeet, and things like running shoes with very high arches, do relieve the PF pain but cause the arches themselves to ache because they don't want to be pushed up that high.) A slight heel (like 0.5-1") helps for me as well, and the superfeet inserts tend to lift your heel up maybe about a cm or so as well. Very, very flat soles like on Converse are the absolute worst for me; even superfeet can't really fix that.

For sandals, I like Naots best but I have narrow, low volume feet. I have a pair of dansko sandals with a similar footbed to the ones you've shown, and they are good as well. I have to be careful with Danskos and other shoes with firm rocker soles because my left ankle is prone to rolling outward (due to a number of old sprains) and the rocker sole means that it's easier to roll your ankle and fall. Danskos tend to be higher volume (a little too much so for me much of the time). The styles with ankle straps are better IMO because the strap gives some ankle support that prevents the rolling and keep the shoe in place.

For workout/athletic shoes, I like New Balances best, but that may be because they tend to run lower in volume. They do come in multiple widths but you should know that they run small and slightly narrow. I sometimes replace the included insole with a full-length black superfeet for working out, but not always.

Superfeet Women's DELUX 3/4 Dress Insoles Dress Fit

View Info

Top Pick

3

jill58

Veteran

I run daily with fairly high weekly mileage and have had occasional problems in the past with plantar fasciitis. That particular injury was caused when I was doing kick-boxing but in any case, the shoes that I absolutely swear by and wear just about exclusively at home are from Dansko. The Ingrid model. They are not exactly the most beautiful shoe around but for me, they are the most comfortable and seem to keep my feet free from injury. It's been about ten years since I've had any problems at all. On a side not, my running shoes for the past several years have been the Saucony Ride. I am very careful about replacing them every 400 miles as recommended (for me that means about 5 times a year) otherwise my feet start to feel it. Plantar fasciitis is terrible! Maybe some of these ideas will help you find the perfect shoes to avoid it!

View Info

Top Pick

1

Saucony Women's Ride 6 Running Shoe

View Info

Top Pick

1

Style Fan

Veteran

I have had foot problems for about 20 years. I have Planter Faciticis in both feet right now and I have custom made orthotics. I tried Super feet and New Balance shoes (I did a lot of googling to find a good recommendation). I can barely walk at times so I needed serious help.
The podiatrist also gave me a stratsburg sock and compression sock. I do exercises, use ice and sometimes take advil. It all helps.

I wear Birks, El Naturlista and Merrills. I think it depends on your feet which shoes work best for you.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I also have a tigertail massage roller which you might want to try. Its very helpful for rolling out your foot, calf and back thigh muscles!

http://www.tigertailusa.com/

JAileen

Veteran

I had plantar fasciitis and had to get shots (steroids, I think) in my feet to be able to go on a trip to Scotland. That was years ago and I still use my hard plastic insoles in any lace up shoe they fit, especially my hiking shoes. I also have Dansko clogs which are especially nice if I'll be doing a lot of standing. I saw a sports podiatrist to find out what was going on. I've been pain free for ten years now.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sending healing thoughts to those feet and hips.

Beth Ann, I have clients in both these pairs of Danskos and they look fabulous. Here's some inspiration.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

K2

Hi Beth Ann. Been in the same boat and feel for you -it especially unpleasant when you want to wear cute sandals. I have had luck with vionics, but it did take getting used to. I wear them all the time as slippers at home. I don't have experience with Danskos and find Naots hit and miss as sometimes the arch doesn't wsit where it should. I have a pair of Taos sneakers which are great, but again, you need to work up to wearing them longer periods of time, especially if your hurting. I use a variety of insoles, but like the black superfeet best for most shoes (they fit better) and the green ones for sports shoes. I second Laura on the yoga -specifically tho stretching toes, sitting back on toes, resting one arch in other and leaning back. Hurts like heck at first, but through doing it regularly, it has really helped. Had a bout of PF start up in March and it took about 5 painsful weeks, but now I can do the foot stretches without pain and no PF. Important to keep up other stretches too. Good luck.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I've had flareups of both PF and sciatica, so I know how uncomfortable it can be. The hip/knee/ankle pain doesn't sound like the typical presentation of PF, so if that doesn't reduce in a week or two with rest, I'd go to the doctor or PT just to rule out that something structural hasn't been damaged. You may have been trying to compensate for the foot pain and accidentally tweaked something else, like your hip flexors or psoas.

When my PF was really bad, the only shoes I could wear were supportive running shoes; anything else was agonizing. Vionic flip-flops are great for around the house, although the high arches do take some getting used to and you may want to wait until the pain has subsided somewhat.

If you haven't already, check out the blog Barking Dog Shoes. She does a lot of shoe reviews and you can search by condition. I know she has a lot of reviews for clogs and hard/rocker sole shoes.

Self myofascial release is all the rage these days in fitness circles, and I just checked out a book from the library called Trigger Point Massage Therapy. Apparently for the feet you can do a lot of good stuff using tennis and/or lacrosse balls. Books on foam rolling should have some info, too, since it's the same sort of thing.

LaPed

Veteran

My mother is a huge believer in both Superfeet insoles and Trigger Point Massage!

DonnaF

Veteran

My old primary care physician or maybe it was the podiatrist recommended Brooks Addictions. These have fairly stiff soles, and I have flat feet (unlike you) and over-pronate. I think for normal arches the Adrenaline is the one. They come in a variety of widths, and I found I need to go to an extra wide (D!!!) in order to wear my Thorlo extra thick socks. New Balance and Nike have never given me a proper fit.

Somewhat off topic if your feet can no longer wear Keds: I just saw a pic of white Keds with red stitching that looked just like a baseball. Cutest ever!!! If I remembered where I saw it, I would attach the pic. . .

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh I can totally relate to this Beth Ann - remember when I had that PF flare up last summer? I see Vionic doesn't work for you - you may want to check out the brand Aetrex. I've had very good success with them.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I have a bad hallux rigidus on my left foot and I got a pair very similar to the nude Maisies shown above, called Thea, and I LOVE THEM! The fact that they are nude elongates my leg, they go with everything, even - and especially - skirts and dresses. I was surprised because they seemed bulky... yet they are very streamlined and feminine.
http://www.fashionistaover40.com/dansko-the-thea/

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I have the hallux rigidus toe problem as well -- basically my whole right leg is weird -- I think it is some combination of sciatica, piriformis syndrome, dropped arches and then the toe, all the way down the leg. Fun fun fun. I got a special orthotic from a podiatrist that I wear when I am wearing athletic shoes. I find foam roller fascial release to be very helpful, along with yoga for the leg and hip pain.

Vix

Veteran

Ugh, sorry Beth Ann!

I had very minor PF last year but I do have hip issues thanks to pelvic floor and scar tissue issues. Stretching and strengthening the ankles and feet and [another vote for] Superfeet inserts.

Also: avoid being barefoot at home -- I found that made my pain worse,but then my arches are very very high.

Also -- I tried Earthies and they are great for super-high arches but personally the rigid sole felt really jarring on my joints. #brokendollsyndome
Maybe another brand to explore?

Sending healthy happy feet thoughts your way. And echoing thoughts of perhaps an ortho/PT/chiro visit?

MsMaven

Veteran

Interesting thread because my feet are getting worse as I age. PF at bay as long as I stretch and use Superfeet berries in most of my shoes where I can exchange them for the footbed. I need the support of lace ups for serious walking, but I have arthritis on the bones on top of one foot that are irritated by lace ups. And it goes on and on from there.

I have a post in store on my own search for good walking sandals, but haven't had time yet. After reading the replies here, I think maybe I will go back and try some Dansko again.

Beth Ann

Veteran

You guys are amazing! Thanks for making a discouraging situation a bit brighter!

I've made a list of your recommendations to explore. It's clear that solving these issues requires a bit of experimentation. I have horrid insurance, so I'm keeping a symptom diary and writing down any self-care I try. That way, if things don't settle down in a few weeks, I might be able to same some time and money in the diagnostic process.

I've been using rolling (Jill MIller's method), yoga, PT based stretches/releases for the hip, foot and psoas, and strengthening the abductors/adductors.

Angie: Thanks for the inspiration! I do at least find the Dansko's fun, and your photos (and yours, too, Krishnidoux) make me a bit excited to give them a whirl.

I'm hoping that, which some healing and attention to stretching/strengthening and biomechanics, I can go back to wearing many of my favorite shoes when I'm not on my feet a lot. I've been pretty reasonable with heel heights in my recent purchases, so I'm optimistic. I suspect I'll always have to be vigilant, and, even in the best case scenario, know what shoes to wear when my feet get grouchy.

JAileen

Veteran

My mother had PF also, and her podiatrist recommended rolling her feet over a frozen water bottle.

amiable

Veteran

You may be my foot twin! I don't have time now to read the replies but I'll be back later to read them! And I hope your feet heal quickly!

Nebraskim

Veteran

I've had chronic PF for about 20 years. Sometimes it's bad, most times it's just sort of a bother. I love my Danskos and always revert to them; I wear them almost daily. I just got a pair of Hokas to run in and am liking them. I need a shoe with support but also a stiff bottom. A shoe with too much bend does not work for me. I also swear by occasional acupuncture and also electronic stimulation and hard-core massage.

I don't know if there is one "correct answer" for this problem as things that work for some do not work for others. But an integrated approach like icing, stretching, taping, supportive shoes, etc. will help.

Good luck.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Beth Ann, I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I have also had my first bout of PF this year...it is not quite gone but almost. I had the Strasbourg sock and it helped a great deal; it's not completely gone but I am hopeful it will clear up soon. I've also had sciatica in the past -- that is super painful, yikes. And so frustrating. However, that did resolve in time as well. I think both PF and sciatica do usually go away. So that's the good news.

As you can tell from the above replies, everybody (or every body's body) is a bit different. What works for one may not work for another. In my case, flat shoes are the worst. I felt better in a small heel while in the throes of the worst pain, and I got some drugstore insoles for PF as well, which also seemed to help. Now I seem able to wear a fuller range of footwear without incident and I can run again (well, when I'm not singing the gingival blues, that is) though I am not going any long distances.

Stretching, etc. and rolling will be helpful; another exercise my physio gave me was laying a towel on the floor and trying to pull it toward me by scrunching my toes on it. But ultimately I think the sock is what helped most. Expensive but good to have on hand for future flareups.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Beth Ann, it sounds like Danskos fit you well. I have wanted to love Danskos over the years and have tried a lot of them, and rarely do they fit my foot quite right. (Coincidentally, I just received a pair today that I ordered, and I'm on the fence about keeping them. They are so darned cute, but not the big wow in comfort that I want them to be.) I wore Ariat clogs instead for several years and found them just amazing for arch support and protection from hard surfaces (walking a lot on cobblestones or uneven pavement, and working long shifts on concrete floors). I do like Naots, but only certain footbeds. The Naot website is a great resource for scouting out which ones are likely to fit your foot; go to this page and click on "+about the collection" to see the width of the footbed in each line.
I've had plantar fasciitis twice, and I haven't gone back to running since my last bout cleared up, so I'm not sure I've broken the code on my own issues. I went to a podiatrist and to an acupuncturist, each of whom gave me fairly opposite prescriptions (podiatrist: wear shoes with firm support, always, even in the house; acupuncturist: wear shoes that allow your foot to bend, move, and do its job in keeping you balanced, go barefoot when possible). I found the acupuncture treatments most helpful, when the icing and supportive shoes that had worked on my first bout weren't working the second time. It sounds like you have something more than PF going on, and if you could visit my acupuncturist, I'm sure she would get to the bottom of the problem. I found her through a personal recommendation and doubt I would have gone otherwise.

Beth Ann

Veteran

On the run this morning (figuratively), but I wanted to pop on and say thanks again for taking the time to share your stories. I've got a few more ideas to try.

I will say that I think the Danskos work because I have a lovely peasant foot -- slightly wide and hobbity (not hairy, though), with lowish arches and high volume.

Perhaps this is an opportunity to listen to and care for my body. I'm just determined to get to the bottom of things, hopefully without huge expense!

BrieN

Veteran

I don't know much but I do know what worked for us:

DD was plagued with knee issues so we did insoles, Physical Therapy and exercises and saw little improvement - she was off and on crutches for a long time. Then we went to a knee specialist and his PT created a "temporary" orthotic for DD out of molded plastic that they made while she waited there in the office. It was about $100 and it immediately fixed her issue. Like someone turned a switch --best $100 I ever spent. She wore the temporary one for 2.5 years until it cracked, back to the office and got another temporary one last summer.

JAileen

Veteran

You know, the more I look at your two pairs of Danskos, the more I like them, particularly the Maisie, the closed toe one. They look kind of fun. The only problem is the available colors. Is is crazy to buy new shoes with the thought of dyeing them? I would prefer blue or grey rather than tan or black.

12