Tom Willemann Health Tips

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How to pick a good shoe

Tom Willemann |

How to pick a good a shoe

I just got an email from one of my patients.   Apparently I left a lasting impression after I commented on her very stylish sneakers but rather poor support . After bending her sneakers in every possible direction and tossing it on the floor of my clinic she realized what I thought of her shoes and what to buy next time.

I learned three simple ways to evaluate a shoe in a course I took.

  1. Pinch the heel and if is folds easy in your fingers move on to the next shoe-it shoe feel rigid
  2. Grab the toe of the shoe and the heel and twist it.  As if to “wring” water that is not going to provide side to side support.  If you can easily do this then you have less side to side support in the shoe
  3. When you can bend the shoe bends the shoe easily in the middle of the shoe this does not bend in the right spot for normal walking. It should bend at the point where the ball of your foot.

 
Certain physical conditions or foot types warrant different shoes.  I had a patient go up a size and a half after starting to complain of toe pain.  So don’t assume- measure your feet!

A shoe is the foundation for your body. Improper shoe fit or type can cause plantar fascitis, shin splints, tibial tendinitis, numbness, tingling and general foot pain. 

Besides the foot and ankle, it can contribute to knee, hip or low back pain in some cases. Think prevention and look for a shoe store that will take the time to watch you walk and measure your foot.  If you already have pain or past history of problems it may benefit you to first consult a medical practitioner.

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Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
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