Shoe Review – Asics Gel Nimbus 11

Reader Ken asks “I read in one of your reviews that you don’t like the Nimbus 1o from Asics. This shoe was recommended to me as a neutral runner with high arches and problems with shin splints and IT band soreness. Can you elaborate on your problems with the Nimbus 10.

The Gel Nimbus is a very popular Asics shoe and I must admit I am much happier with Gel Nimbus 11 than I was with Gel Nimbus 10 or 9. In fact, the 11 is a great shoe for a neutral runner with high arches, shin splints and IT band soreness. As long as you don’t pronate too much you should be just fine.

Here are some of the major differences between the three versions.

• Upper (top) -Differences between the uppers may mean the difference between crowding of the toes, puckering or perfect toe box room. As many of you know, I prefer regular lacing to asymmetrical lacing with the 11’s asymmetrical version (Asics is listening) being preferred to the 10. I am also pleased that the 11 toe box has full mesh like the 9 and not with trim over the big toe which can cause tendon or toe friction if prominent.

• Outsole – Fortunately, the Nimbus 10 and 11 have a much improved outsole with a wider waist. The outsole is overall wider in the forefoot than it was in version 9 also providing more support. The sizing comes in a full range from Women’s narrow (2A) to Men’s extra wide (4E).

• Midsole (medial) – This is the biggest change and most welcome improvement to the Nimbus 11 from both prior versions. Previously the Nimbus had much less EVA in the midsole directly in the center of the arch. This made the shoe flex more in the arch than it should as well as it made the shoe much less durable and more soft. Now however, the midsole is full EVA providing extra stability as well as cushioning, which I really like.
• Trim over the big toe joint – The only downside with the 11 is trim overlying where a bunion would be. If you have a bunion then the 10 would have been a better design for you or you can try skipping the 1st set of eyelets entirely which may help.

All in all, if you have previously avoided wearing Asics Gel Nimbus – now is the time to give the 11 a try. It has a much more biomechanical design and I really like the improvements Asics has made to this light weight shoe cushioned running shoe.

Roller Derby – Outside of the Foot Swelling (bursae)

Lusty Malice (http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com/) came in today with increasing outside of the foot pain. She purchased new boots in January which alleviated her ankle pain but created outside of the foot pain and swelling otherwise known as a bursae. A bursae is a fluid-filled sac which develops in areas of  pressure. In this case, a wide forefoot and a tight new boot, caused pressure and friction resulting in bursae formation.

Fortunately, since this is a new problem, the solution is easy. First the skate needs to be spot stretched. I use a ball and ring stretcher for just such cases. You can also go to your local shoe repair store and have them do this as well. Be sure to tell them that it needs to be spot stretched as opposed to forefoot stretched, otherwise you won’t get the desired result.

Next, I showed LM how to re-lace her skates skipping the eyelets that correspond to the bursae location which will reduce pressure in this area.

Finally, if there is still some residual pain and swelling then a quick trip to the podiatrist for a cortisone injection into the burse should take care of things once and for all.

Breast Cancer 3-Day Shoe Review – New Balance 1123

Having completed the first Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day walk (1998),  I know all too well how grueling the training and walk itself can be. I am therefore always pleased when I can recommend a shoe which withstands the demands and rigors this event requires. New Balance 1123 is a running shoe which provides maximum support, stability and it even has pink trim!

This shoe is a tank and it works for wide and deep feet. It also has mesh on the inside which works if you have a bunion. It has medial and lateral midsole EVA and no hourglass in the waist which especially helps if you pronate.  Bottom line, this is a really terrific shoe but pricey, so make sure you use your 3-Day discount card when purchasing.

Shoe Review – Asics Gel-Stratus 2.1

This is a great shoe for the narrow foot. However, if you wear this shoe, you will want to pay particular attention to forefoot wear. BT came in today with this pair which were only 6 weeks old. When placed on a flat table, the heel counter is no longer upright, tilting to the outside, indicating excessive wear.

Looking at the forefoot sole on the bottom, excessive wear is also evident. This causes the shoe to pronate causing metatarsalgia (forefoot pain) and in this case worsening plantar fasciitis.

Surprisingly the rearfoot outsole wear is unaffected and is evenly worn.

In this case, the worn shoe can cause foot pain and problems so carefully evaluate your shoes monthly for excessive wear.

Fleet Feet Sports San Francisco

It’s great when I find a store with knowledgeable staff. Fleet Feet Sports in San Francisco http://www.fleetfeetsanfrancisco.com/ is just such a store.

Owners Brett Lamb and Kim Holt are passionate about running, passionate about shoes and are passionate about making sure their customers have the best fit possible. At Fleet Feet Sports in San Francisco, you’re not just a sale, you’re part of a running community they are active participants in. Their goal is to help you achieve your running or fitness goals, which shows in the care and fitting their staff bring to helping you find just the right shoe.

If you live or are planning a visit to San Francisco and need expert advice when purchasing your next pair of athletic shoes, Fleet Feet Sports San Francisco is the place to go.

Shoe Review – Asics Gel Evolution 4 (Men’s)

Trying to find a shoe for a wide foot can be a problem, especially if your foot is deep and wide. Many podiatrists tend to go with Brooks (Addiction) or New Balance (1123) which isn’t always the best choice. In fact, Asics Gel Evolution in many cases is a much better choice, especially if you wear size 2E.

As this image below shows, the Gel Evolution in Wide (2E) is much wider than the Brooks Addiction in 2E. It is also has a firm heel counter making it much more stable than the New Balance and much better overall for pronation control in addition to being lighter weight.

Bottom line, if you have a wide foot and are wishing for sleeker design, lighter weight, stability and motion control in your running shoe, then Asics Gel Evolution 4 may be just right for you.

Shoe Review – Asics 2140 Trail

It seems many running shoe companies do not put the same effort into trail running shoes as they do non-trail running shoes. In fact, similar to hiking boots, trail shoes are often heavy, wide and a poor anatomic match to most feet. Asics 2130 Trail shoe was in this category, however the new 2140 Trail shoe is much improved and I recommend it whole heartedly for those trail runners wanting support as well as a more form fitting design. 

 It easily accommodates an orthotic which is great. An inflexible, firm EVA midsole makes this a stable shoe as does the firm heel counter. The upper is made of lightweight mesh, which is not too deep in the toe box and the sides are nicely padded for a comfortable fit. It comes in both medium and wide widths, which accommodate  most feet unless your foot is really wide. 

Shoes On the Brain – Team FDFAC

As Bette Midler sings “You gotta have friends”. In my case, this blog would not be possible without the contributions of my two friends and Financial District Foot & Ankle Center (www.fdfac.com) colleagues – Samantha Gibson, BSc (Hons) and Jonathan Leach, C.Ped. In addition to being fine medical providers, they act as my sounding board, assistant problem solvers and Shoes on the Brain experts extraordinaire. They not only make patient care fun, but shoe sleuthing as well. Thanks Sam and Jonathan. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Shoe Review Brooks Adrenaline GTS 8 vs. GTS 9

Brooks Adrenaline has been the exact same shoe version after version since the GTS 6. Now however, they have changed not only the version number (8 vs. 9) but also the shoe.

• The Adrenaline 8 is much narrower in both forefoot width and throatline opening which is identified by arrows below. If  you have a tendency toward heel slippage, than the wider throatline as found in the 9 will be more difficult to secure snugly.
• Width – Overall, GTS 9 is wider than GTS 8. Again this will be a problem if you are counting on the GTS 9 to be a good match for a narrow foot.

• Toebox depth – The GTS 8 was very shallow in the toebox, while the GTS 9 is not. This shoe fails the pinch test http://drshoe.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/pinch-test-shoe-toebox/ for someone having a shallow forefoot.

If you have a narrow foot and found the perfect fitting running shoe in Adrenaline GTS 8 , you will be disappointed with the extra volume found in GTS 9. In fact you may want to try Asics 2140  in narrow width instead. If you hve a wide foot, however you will like the changes GTS 9 provides.

Shoe Review – Saucony Grid Stabil 6 vs. Progrid Stabil CS

I recommend Saucony Grid Stabil 6 daily for narrow feet needing a lot of support. This year Grid Stabil was replaced with Progrid Stabil as Saucony’s ultimate support shoe. Unfortunately, Progrid Stabil is nothing like  Grid Stabil and if you wear this shoe, you may be headed for injury if these differences matter to your foot type. Here are the major differences.

• As the image shows below, ProGrid Stabil is flexible whereas the Grid Stabil is not. Rigidity is important if you pronate excessively or have forefoot pain.

• Medial Midsole – The Grid Stabil has a firm medial midsole whereas the ProGrid Stabil has a less firm (softer EVA) midsole. If you are a heavy pronator, you need a firm medial midsole.

• Deeper Upper – The ProGrid Stabil has more more mesh, is wider and has a deeper uppr than the Grid Stabil, making the shoe much wider overall. This is not good if you have a narrow foot and will cause your forefoot to move side to side motion more, which may cause pain.

• Flex Grooves – The Progrid Stabil has an additional flex groove which create more forefoot flexiblity. One of the reasons I like the Grid Stabil isthat it doesn’t flex in the forefoot. The same cannot be said of the Progrid Stabil. The Grid Stabil is also narrower overall than the Progrid Stabil.

In summary, the Progrid Stabil is not the same as the Grid Stabil. It’s wider, deeper and less stable. If you have a narrow foot and you need firm medial support and an inflexible forefoot, then the Brooks Addiction is a better choice than the new ProGrid Stabil. If you have a medium foot, then Saucony Guide is a much more stable shoe.

Shin Splints

Reader Jason asks “I was wondering if you had more information about shin pain during running.  what could be the cause, what could be the remedy, etc.? “

Shin splints also known as Anterior Tibial Tendonitis can occur for a variety of reasons.

Here are the most common causes I see in my office.

• Shoes – A soft lateral midsole or simply excessive wear can cause shin splints. If you haven’t had shin splints before  and then you do, you probably need new shoes. If the wear looks like this (especially the left) when you set your shoes on a flat surface, then excessive wear is probably the cause.

• Over-training or changing running surface or terrain. A change to concrete from trails or an increase in downhill running can also cause shin splints.

• Alignment – A condition called tibial varum (bowed legs) can predispose a person to shin splints as this causes the pull of the muscle to be angled versus straight, resulting in the muscle pulling away from the lower leg bone (tibia). If a person’s tibial varum is significant, it can also cause Achilles tendonitis or even a stress fracture of the tibia which becomes a serious problems activity-wise.

Whenever I have a patient with shin splints, I do a thorough treadmill evaluation with shoes on and off and make specific recommendations if the problem is the shoe. I will also do a complete medical examination including xrays, ultrasound and MRI if indicated.

If the problem is biomechanical (alignment)I will make a custom orthotic, especially if the pain has been long standing. If the problem is acute I will try taping, icing and over the counter anti-inflammatory medications (Motrin, Aleve). If this doesn’t work and the pain is really severe, I will probably do a cortisone injection, which typically works very well.

If the problem is over-training I have the person back it up and if it’s a change in terrain, I’ll recommend softer trails and/or fewer hills until the pain lets up. Physical therapy can also help.

Tango, Salsa and Ballroom Shoes – Jorje Nel Dance Design

I don’t usually get a lot of Tango dancers, but today RL came in with these beautiful Jorje Nel Design Dance Shoes https://tangoinmiami.com/. The style is Fernanda Ghi. She found them online and sent in a weight bearing foot tracing along with her order to ensure proper fit. I think these shoes are fabulous for the following reasons:

• Lacing from ankle to toe allows for depth adjustment, which is especially great if you have a wide foot.

• Mesh upper accommodates bunions and hammertoes allowing for a more variable fit.

• Waist width is wide which will provide  more overall support of the foot while dancing.

What I don’t like, is that even though a weight bearing tracing was sent in, the overall length was easily 2 sizes too short because RL has a longer heel-to-ball measurement than heel-to-toe.  For why this is important, see my related post http://drshoe.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/size-matters-heel-to-ball-vs-heel-to-toe/

If you are a tango dancer and you purchase shoes from Jorje Nel Design, you will want to know whether your heel-to ball or heel-to-toe measurement is longer and not only have them use your foot tracing but your proper length (heel to-ball or heel-to-toe, whichever is longer) measurement as well.

All in all though, if the length is correct then I am a big fan of this particular shoe.

Shoe Review – Gel Kayano 15 vs 14

The new Gel-Kayano 15 recently debuted and at first glance I was very excited. The Gel Kayano is at the top of my list for narrow, shallow feet and is narrower than any other of the current Asics available now.

1. Toebox Depth and Length - The 15 has a deeper toebox than the 14 which helps for those whose 5th (baby) toes were getting crowded or develop a corn when wearing the 14 which was the biggest problem I found when people switched from the 13 to the 14.

It also is slightly longer which helps if your heel to toe measurement is bigger than your heel to ball measurement. http://drshoe.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/size-matters-heel-to-ball-vs-heel-to-toe/

2. Midsole Construction -This is a significant change from the 14 and may create problems for many runners who were otherwise running pain free in the Gel-Kayano 14. The design is more like the Gel-Nimbus 10 which is one of my least favorite shoes.

The 14 has much more EVA in the lateral (outside) midsole than the 15. This means longer wear and greater support at heel strike with the 14 than the 15.

This difference is HUGE, so make sure if you decide to upgrade, you have a professional evaluate you in both pair as the 15 may make your heel strike more wobbly causing things like ankle sprains or tendonitis. Everyone doesn’t necessarily need firm lateral EVA but if you do, you would be better off with the new 2140 than the Gel Kayano.

3. Asymmetrical Lacing – According to Asics this system of lacing “conforms to the bony structure of the foot for an enhanced fit” - My findings and common sense both say, No. In fact this lacing tends to pucker the toebox area for a worse fit, creating an elf-shoe-like appearance with no benefit whatsoever, except maybe irritation at the base of the toes. In fact, I wound up re-lacing as below to simulate a normal (and better) straight lacing design. If you wear this shoe, I would recommend that you do this too.

All in all, I’m very disappointed in the Gel-Kayano 15 and will probably not be recommending this shoe for as many of the runners that come in as I did with the 14.

Shoe Review – Asics 2140 Has Arrived!

When Zappos.com puts  a particular running shoe on sale, it’s usually because they are clearing the way for an upgraded model. This is the case with the new Asics GT-2140 which are replacing the GT-2130.

Unfortunately, these two shoes are not the same.

1. Width - The 2130 is much wider overall than the 2140. Great if you have a narrower foot, not so great if you have a neuroma, metatarsalgia (ball of the foot pain) or a bunion. If you have these conditions, you will want to try both the medium and wide widths on to determine which fits the best.

2. Toebox Length – 2140 has a longer toebox with a more acute pitch than the 2130. This will benefit those having a longer heel to toe than heel to ball.

Overall, I like the new look and slightly more cushioned design of the new 2140. My only concern is how narrow it is. In fact it reminds me more of the older 2120’s. All in all though, this is a great stable shoe which will also accommodate an orthotic perfectly.

Buyer Beware – Midsole Construction

Here is another example of Buyer Beware. CF came in today with a new pair of Asics Gel Evolution 4. She had worn them for an initial 2 mile run and started to experience left forefoot pain. This was discouraging especially since her last shoes caused arch pain, which I’ve also blogged about http://drshoe.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/shoe-review-mizuno-wave-rider-11/

Upon close inspection, I discovered that the grey EVA midsole were of different lengths in the right versus the left shoe.

In this case the amount of EVA in the left shoe extends less forward than the EVA in the right shoe. This results in vastly different flex points in the forefoot as the grey EVA is much firmer than the white EVA as this image shows.

As most of you know if you’ve read my blog, I am a huge fan of many Asics shoes, so I’m not being dispariging to their brand. This is simply a manufacturing error and one more instance where buyer needs to beware.

Arch or Heel Pain – Plantar Fasciitis

Many patient’s I see have arch or heel pain, otherwise known as plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a structure on the bottom of the foot which extends from the heel to the ball of the foot. When it is tight (bow-strung) it can cause inflammation and pain.

Not surprisingly, shoes can cause plantar fasciitis, especially shoes that are excessively worn, too short in the arch or too flexible. If you have plantar fasciitis you will definitely want to evaluate your shoes. You should also try not going barefoot in the house.

If the pain persists, you will want to visit your podiatrist who may recommend calf stretches, anti-inflammatory medications (Motrin, Aleve) or give you a cortisone injection. Custom orthotics may also help. If you have morning pain, your podiatrist may want to fit you for a night splint which will keep your plantar fascia stretched out all night or show you how to tape if the pain persists.

Although plantar fasciitis is a common condition, the longer you wait to seek treatment, the harder it will be to resolve.

Buyer Beware – Heel Positioning

JH came in today with this brand spankin’ new pair of handsome Allen Edmonds dress shoes. When I turned the shoes over however, I was shocked and dismayed to discover the heel of the right shoe was cadywompus and twisted to the left at a funny angle. This was obviously missed by quality control and easily overlooked in the store.

The purpose of this post is not to slam Allen Edmonds, but rather to show you how all shoes need to be thoroughly checked before taking them out of the store for a spin. With millions of shoes being inspected each day, there are bound to be a few which should not have passed quality control and do.

Shoe Review – Ecco Performance Savage Lo and Mid Styles

Finding a hiking boot for a narrow foot can be a challenge. MB came in today with the Ecco Lo, which fit her  narrow foot to a T.

This is a very supportive shoe and comes in a low top version (Lo style) and a high top version (Mid style). It comes in men’s and women’s sizes and is made with Gore-Tex so is waterproof.

My only hesitation with this boot is it does not have a firm heel counter, so if you pronate excessively, this shoe may not work for you, especially if you plan on hiking over rugged terrain.

Otherwise, it’s a terrific shoe for an otherwise challenging narrow foot to fit.

Shoe Review – Saucony Progrid Guide

If you have a shallow foot than the ProGrid Guide may be the shoe for you. This is one of my favorite shoes because of it’s stability and fit, available in both medium and wide widths.

The Saucony Guide is similar to Asics 2130 but is around $10 less, which helps.

It has a removable insole which can accommodate an orthotic and has mesh in the inside and outside of the forefoot which helps if you have bunions and need a little extra room here.

It is torsionally stable (doesn’t twist) and has an inflexible forefoot sole which not only prolongs wear but also prevents excessive pronation or rearfoot collapse.

Shoe Review – Brooks Ariel Old vs. New

I have always been a fan of Brooks Ariel for the wide, deep foot. The shoe is torsionally stable with a stiff heel counter and an inflexible forefoot sole. Recently Brooks changed the model which may or may not be a good thing depending on your foot volume.

The first change is toebox depth. The old Ariel (left) is shallower than the new Ariel (right). If you have a deep foot than this will be great. It’ won’t be great however, if you’re wearing the old Ariel and it was already too deep in the toebox.

The next change is overall length. The old Ariel is shorter, given the same size, than the new Ariel. This only applies to the toebox length, as the heel to ball measurements remain the same in both shoes. This will matter if your heel to ball is a 9 and your heel to toe measurement is a 7, because the extra toe box length may make the shoe uncomfortably long for you.

The back of the shoe in the old Ariel is lower than the back of the shoe in the new Ariel. This change is generally a good thing, as the new Ariel will accommodate an orthotic as well as reduce heel slippage.

In summary, the new Ariel is deeper, wider and longer than the old Ariel. For many people who wear this shoe, the changes won’t matter. However, if you try them on and it seems you’re swimming in them, you might want to try the Brooks Addiction which is also deep but a bit narrower.