About 2 weeks ago I had my first bout of posterior tibial tendonitis in my left foot. I had a soreness around my ankle that traveled into my arch with localized swelling. I knew it was only a matter of time before it developed. I pronate, which means my arches fall. Because of this, a lot of stress is placed on the tendon that connects the muscle in the calf to the navicular bone in the foot. The posterior tibial tendon is one of the most important tendons in the leg. It’s main job is to hold up the arch. When your arch drops, the tendon has to work harder, which leads to inflammation and pain.
Since opening the practice in May, I had been alternating between a few pairs of Vionic dress flats that I purchased a couple of years ago. Vionic is my go to brand for their built-in arch support. I live in their flip flops during the summer, have several pairs of sandals and dress flats, and wear their slippers around the house.
It’s important to keep in mind that shoes lose support over time. If you don’t replace them in a timely manner you may be setting yourself up for conditions like plantar fasciitis and tendonitis. After my foot pain started I knew I had to change my shoes. Because I also have a history of plantar fasciitis and neuroma, I needed a shoe that had sufficient arch support and cushion with a wide toe box. It can be a challenge to find a pair of shoes that meets those criteria and still looks stylish.
I decided to branch out and try some new brands. After some research I purchased two pairs from EarthShoes.com and one pair from abeofootwear.com.
Both brands have a roomy, round toe box. Earth offers medium and wide widths and Abeo offers medium. The upper of both brands is made of soft, supple leather. The foot beds have cushions and support. The Abeo provides more support in the arch which I actually prefer. When wearing shoes with arch support, either built or if you are adding an insert to your existing shoe, it is imperative to complete a gradual break-in period. Start with one hour a day and then add an additional hour with each day that passes (for example 1 hour on day 1, 2 hours on day 2, and so on). Too much support too soon can lead to foot, knee and back pain.
Since I started wearing my new flats my tendonitis has completely resolved. Although both suit my needs, I think I would lean toward purchasing another pair from Abeo in the future. Sometimes the solution to foot pain is as simple as changing your shoes.
Here are some site links to help you get started:
