QuestionQUESTION: Are shoes in the Finn Comfort finnamic line with the double rocker sole ok post flat foot reconstruction surgery consisting of repair of ptt and spring ligament, calcaneal and cotton osteotomy, tendon transfer and lengthening of Achilles tendon?
I am almost 8 months post op and feeling really good. The shoes are NOT like the MBTs which create instability in all directions. The Finnamc shoes are considered stable rockers. They only rock back and forth, not side to side. I definitely do not want to damage my "new" foot in any way
ANSWER: This Chicago, South Loop & Elmhurst Orthopedic Podiatrist of AnklenfootCenters.com says.......
Dear Amy,
Congrats on your successful flatfoot surgery!
I'm sorry-but I cannot recommend the Finn Comfort Shoe. You are paying big bucks for a fad. The American College of Sports Medicine has determined that rocker bottom shoes are fads and that any muscle activity used to balance yourself is so minimal, that it can't be declared as "calorie burning."
There is no such thing as a stable rocker---remember the shoe is made to rock.
Different rockers feel different due to the fact that the rocking part of the sole can be placed forward or back to achieve different results.
Rocker bottom shoes were originally designed to help patients with certain arthritic disorders that made bending their foot very painful. The trade-off was some stability.
The Finn shoe may overstretch your Achilles tendon-due to the fact that the rear of the heel is further from the ground than the rest of the shoe.
Skip the rocker fad-I have had more patients with problems that patients without.
That is not to say that the shoe may be loved by some people who wear it. Just zero scientific evidence of claimed benefits.
As a matter of fact-there is lawsuit out there against one of the major sport shoe brands about the false claims of exercise benefit.
If your surgery was successful then just about any shoe with good arch support, stiff heel counter, and a non-flimsy sole that flexes at the ball of the foot(as opposed to flexing in the arch area)will do!
Save your hard earned money, go to a shoe store that has lots of brands and decide for yourself. Try on a few pair and walk for at least 3-4 minutes each. Go in the afternoon-when your feet might be more swollen than the AM. Do not be swayed by the sales person!
Hope This Helps
Good Luck !!!
Favorable Ratings are always appreciated-Thank-you
The podiatrists of AnkleNFootCenters.com are specialists in foot& ankle second opinions.
We are located within 30 minutes of both Chicago airports
We are Podiatrists in Chicago & Elmhurst
Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661
AnkleNFoot.com
Runnersdoc.com
BabyFootDoc.com
DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem. It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice. Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site. The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site. The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your response. The reason I was looking at the shoes was not for the weight loss claims which I did not feel was credible. I have grade 3-4 arthritic changes in the patellafemoral area of both knees. My L-5 had completely ruptured years ago. I was looking for a shoe that would be easy on my knees. I want to put off knee replacement surgery as long as possible. Do the rocker shoes help reduce the stress on the knees, lower back?
Answer This Chicago, South Loop & Elmhurst Orthopedic Podiatrist of AnklenfootCenters.com says.......
Dear Amy,
Again-congrats on your successful flatfoot surgery-success rate can be as low as 40%.
You can try some pool exercises that are for people with arthritis-to try to build some strength around your weak areas. Go to a program recommended by doctors and stay away from personal trainers with minimal knowledge.
Try a shoe with about 1 to 1.5 inch heel elevation from the sole of the shoe. This can be determined by looking at the inside of the shoe, rather than the outside.
Rocker bottom shoes may aggravate the back & knee condition due to the fact that if you may use the muscles around those areas to balance.
Again-just go to a store and try different shoes and determine which feels best.
Take the shoes home and wear them on carpet for about another hour to be sure-that way you can return them and try a different.
I wish I had a better answer-but the shoe industry is a fad.
Almost 40 years ago they had the Bob Cousy Pro-Converse(which was not the best gym shoe) with the lazy S design to allow you to run faster and jump higher-especially in basketball. I am still waiting for the NBA to contact me.
Hope This Helps
Good Luck !!!
Favorable Ratings are always appreciated-Thank-you
The podiatrists of AnkleNFootCenters.com are specialists in foot& ankle second opinions.
We are located within 30 minutes of both Chicago airports
We are Podiatrists in Chicago & Elmhurst
Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661
AnkleNFoot.com
Runnersdoc.com
BabyFootDoc.com
DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem. It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice. Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site. The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site. The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.
