Monthly Archives: March 2012

Sizing Soccer Cleats

Posted on March 26, 2012 | 4 comments

Soccer cleats do not come in widths, which can make it difficult to obtain a good fit. Since many medium width cleats will run either wide or narrow, you can use a side-by-side comparison to identify volume differences between different pairs of shoes.

The two pairs of cleats below illustrate a narrow lasted cleat on the left, Adidas Predator Absolion TRX , and a wide lasted cleat, Nike Mecurial Victory II, on the right. The differences in width are highlighted.

Comparing the uppers, notice how the throatline (opening) of the Nike is so much wider than the Adidas. Also notice the difference in toebox shape and width. The Adidas is more tapered around the toes and the Nike is more rounded, accommodating a wider forefoot.

In evaluating the lower, you can see how much wider the forefoot and waist are in the Nike than the Adidas as well. If you have been having difficulty finding the perfect fit, using this method should help. These principles also apply to other shoes (tennis, basketball, football, etc.) that only come in medium widths.

4 Comments

Posted in Shoe Fit, Sport Specific Shoes

Shoe Review – Nike Zoom Kobe VII Basketball

Posted on March 17, 2012 | 3 comments

I was recently at Foot Locker and found an extensive selection of basketball shoes. Not surprisingly, I discovered that Nike has the best basketball shoes available this season. I was underwhelmed by the other brands I evaluated at the store, including Adidas, Reebok, Converse and Under Armour.

I previously blogged about the Nike Zoom Kobe VI basketball shoe, which is one of my favorite basketball shoes. Version VII is equally good. If you have a narrow foot, then you know how difficult finding a basketball shoe that fits can be, since most only come in medium widths.

Even though sized medium, Kobe VII runs narrow (rectangular upper), which will benefit a lot of players out there.

In profile, you can see how shallow the upper is, especially in the midfoot and toebox areas.

New to Kobe VII is the Attack Fast insole, shown below, which has a thick, cushioned insole that aids shock absorption. Attached to the insole is an instep cuff that provides additional support and enhanced fit. If you have a history of ankle instability, the Kobe VII with the Attack Strong insole may be a better option. The Attack Strong insole has an ankle cuff for added ankle support.

The best part of this shoe — Kobe VII is torsionally stable, with a non-collapsible heel counter. This means that even though it’s technically a low-top style, the Kobe VII is going to be more supportive than many other mid-tops out there.

All in all, if you have a narrow foot, you will want to consider this shoe.

3 Comments

Posted in Narrow Feet, Shoe Fit

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How to Find A Sports Medicine Podiatrist

Posted on March 14, 2012 | 3 comments

Readers often ask me how to help them find a good sports medicine podiatrist. Because all podiatrists are not created equal, I created this video as a guide to help you. It’s also important to remember that you do have choices  when deciding your healthcare and you should not settle for less than total satisfaction.

3 Comments

Posted in Foot Pain

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Shoe Review – Nike® Zoom Structure Triax+ 15

Posted on March 11, 2012 | 3 comments

Nike® Zoom Structure Triax has been a favorite of mine for several years, and version 15 is my favorite yet. Cushioned, yet stable, this shoe works for the runner who is looking for pronation control in a lightweight shoe.

3 Comments

Posted in Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review, Sport Specific Shoes

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Shoe Review – Mizuno® Wave Nirvana 8

Posted on March 8, 2012 | 2 comments

Mizuno® has debuted some great shoes this season and Wave Nirvana 8 is no exception.

Supportive, yet lightweight, Wave Nirvana 8 has lower volume (narrow, shallow) than most shoes in this category (Brooks® Beast) which fits an important need for many runners out there. Although this shoe won’t work for everyone, if this shoe is a match to your foot type, you won’t be disappointed.

2 Comments

Posted in Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review

Shoe Review – Brooks® Trance 11 vs. 10

Posted on March 6, 2012 | 2 comments

I’m a fan of Brooks® Trance, and version 11 is no exception. Although lightweight, Trance 11 still provides plenty of pronation control and support. Runners will also appreciate the more fitted instep and shallower toe box, compared to version 10. This is one of my favorite shoes this season.

Here’s a link to my previous Trance 10 shoe review https://drshoe.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/shoe-review-brooks-trance-9-vs-10/

2 Comments

Posted in Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review

Roller Derby – Ball Of The Foot Pain

Posted on March 4, 2012 | 3 comments

Emily of Boston Derby Dames asks:

Can you recommend any resources for how to tape this injury (sesamoiditis) to minimize discomfort while skating? I’m waiting on orthotics but would really hate to put my roller derby career on hold until I have them.

Although taping helps for many derby-related aches and pain, it’s better to use off-weighting padding for painful sesamoids. The following video shows you how to do this yourself using 1/8″ adhesive felt (pink, black or white). If you’re unable to locate a source for this, contact me through the blog to order.

As an alternative, you can visit a sports medicine podiatrist, who should be able to make a custom pad or orthotic for your skates as well.

Here are my other derby posts with more to follow in the future:

https://drshoe.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/roller-derby-custom-shoe-laces/

https://drshoe.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/roller-derby-outside-of-the-foot-swelling-bursae/

https://drshoe.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/skating-boots-modifications-part-2/

https://drshoe.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/skating-pain-bay-area-roller-derby-girls/

3 Comments

Posted in Foot Pain, Roller Derby