Zimmermann Podiatry: Minimalist shoes may equal maximum pain! Zimmerman...

Zimmermann Podiatry: Minimalist shoes may equal maximum pain! Zimmerman...: The not so long ago trend of minimalist shoes seems to have for the most part puttered out. For pure aesthetic complaints alone, I could not...

Minimalist shoes may equal maximum pain! Zimmermann Podiatry Blog

The not so long ago trend of minimalist shoes seems to have for the most part puttered out. For pure aesthetic complaints alone, I could not be happier. Gloves are made for hands, not feet, if you ask me. Sure, if you are planning on going on a canoe expedition that might require that you get out and pull the canoe over a log or an alligator, I can totally see when you would not want to do that while wearing a sweet pair of running shoes or doing it barefooted. But to wear those horrid looking things when you intend to go running? Bad idea.
Some people and finger-shoe salespeople like to mention that people were intended to walk barefoot. I agree, however, people were also not intended to be walking or running on pavement back then either. People also tend to live longer and weigh more than they used to, all of which causes more stress and causes for foot pain. In many studies, the minimalist shoe craze has proven to show an increase in many foot problems, most notably, stress fractures. Stress fractures are painful and can progress into very painful and debilitating foot problems.
The podiatrist's opinion here?
Keep the minimalist shoes to a minimum.

Zimmermann Podiatry
923 W. Dixie Ave, Suite B
Leesburg, FL 34748
(352) 435-7849
www.drzpodiatry.com

It's all about the shoes / Zimmermann Podiatry

"My feet hurt!"

I hear this all the time. Often times I will look at the shoes the patient is wearing and find that the shoes are very cheap, flimsy, too small, or they are also worn out and warped from years of wear.

"You need new shoes," I say.

When I get greeted with arms crossed across the chest and a stink eye in response, I know what I'm up against. Some people don't get it. Your shoes affect your feet the same way your tires affect your car or your glasses affect your eyes. If your feet hurt in any way, first, look at your shoes. Chances are that the shoes you are spending most of your time in are the culprit. And it doesn't matter if they are expensive or made by a certain brand. There are specific types of shoes for specific types of feet, just like there are certain types of vehicles for certain types of getting around. If you buy a Toyota Prius and you plan to pull a horse trailer, the Prius is not at fault. You bought the wrong car.
And the same goes for shoes.

So, where do you go to find great shoes? I recommend you go to a place that caters to runners, athletes, and medical patients. The best place in the lake county area is www.clermonttristore.com, a place called Gear for Multisport, in Clermont, Florida. They have trained professionals that can point you in the direction of the right shoe. Going to any big shoe retailer is usually (but not always) a  guarantee that you will be pointed in the direction of the newest and most expensive Air Jordan or Nike shoe, which will likely not meet your needs.

As far as price goes for these great shoes, $100-150.00 for a pair being quite the norm. But if your feet hurt it is money well spent. Frequently I have patients tell me that they refuse to spend so much money on shoes. I ask them how much their glasses cost. Sometimes they get it and sometimes they don't. But here is a simple guarantee: if your feet hurt and you are wearing the wrong shoes, and you refuse to get better shoes: your feet are just going to hurt.

Hopefully the money they didn't spend on the shoes that could have helped you went to a good cause.

Go get some great shoes and feel better today!

Zimmermann Podiatry
923 W. Dixie Ave, Suite B
Leesburg, FL 34748
352 435 7849
www.drzpodiatry.com