Choosing the right footwear helps to maintain foot health and prevent injuries. To make an informed choice, it's essential to understand the differences between walking and running shoes. For walkers, experts recommend lightweight shoes with extra shock absorption in the heel and under the ball of the foot. These features help reduce heel pain and discomfort in the ball of the foot. Some walkers prefer shoes with a rounded or rocker bottom, allowing for a smooth weight shift from heel to toe. Runners, however,  should prioritize overall shock absorption and torsional strength in their shoes to guard against injuries like tendonitis, heel pain, and stress fractures. Ill-fitting or unsupportive shoes can cause or worsen issues such as toe pain, corns, bunions, ingrown toenails, and postural problems. Inappropriate shoes can also contribute to joint pain and stress caused by arthritis. If you have particular foot or ankle issues, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist for help in finding the right shoes for your walking or running experience.

For more information about walking shoes versus running shoes, consult with Dr. Yeon A. Shim from Roselle Podiatry Group. Our doctor can measure your feet to determine what your needs are and help you find an appropriate pair of footwear.

Foot Health: The Differences between Walking & Running Shoes

There are great ways to stay in shape: running and walking are two great exercises to a healthy lifestyle. It is important to know that running shoes and walking shoes are not interchangeable. There is a key difference on how the feet hit the ground when someone is running or walking. This is why one should be aware that a shoe is designed differently for each activity.

You may be asking yourself what the real differences are between walking and running shoes and the answers may shock you.

Differences

Walking doesn’t involve as much stress or impact on the feet as running does. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be any less prepared. When you’re walking, you land on your heels and have your foot roll forward. This rolling motion requires additional support to the feet.

Flexibility – Walking shoes are designed to have soft, flexible soles. This allows the walker to push off easily with each step.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Roselle, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a cluster of inherited genetic disorders that impact the peripheral nervous system. These neuropathies disrupt the intricate network responsible for movement and sensation within the extremities, including the feet. The peripheral nervous system serves as a communication bridge between the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease results in a range of symptoms that interfere with this process and dramatically influence foot health. Gradual muscle wasting in the feet and legs is a hallmark of this disease, causing increasing weakness and reduced control over time. This frequently leads to difficulties in mobility and balance. It also can result in high foot arches, known as pes cavus, and clawed toes. These structural changes can further impede proper foot function and comfort. An altered gait, often high-stepping, and a slapping sound when walking are only some of the common symptoms. Poor balance and a risk of falling are others, caused by weakened muscles and loss of sensation. Although there is no cure, it is possible to manage foot-related challenges and potentially slow down the progression of the disease. For guidance, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist.

When dealing with systemic disease of the feet, it is extremely important to check the affected areas routinely so that any additional problems are caught quickly.  If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact Dr. Yeon A. Shim from Roselle Podiatry Group. Our doctor will assist you with all of your podiatric needs.

Systemic Diseases of the Feet

Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable.  Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.

Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body.

Diabetes mellitus – is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin. Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes.

Diabetes of the Feet

Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.

Peripheral Vascular Disease – can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Roselle, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Plantar warts are stubborn growths caused by human papillomavirus, abbreviated HPV, and can be a source of discomfort and frustration. If you are attempting to manage these types of warts, there are effective ways to address them. Over-the-counter treatments containing salicylic acid can help dissolve the warts over time. Alternatively, your podiatrist can use cryotherapy to freeze the warts off. It is important to avoid picking or scratching the warts, as this can spread the virus. To help prevent plantar warts, keep your feet dry and clean, especially in damp environments, such as locker rooms or public showers. Wearing appropriate shoes, such as flip-flops, in communal areas can help to reduce the risk of exposure. If you have developed a plantar wart, it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist who can guide you toward the treatment method that is right for you. 

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Yeon A. Shim from Roselle Podiatry Group. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

About Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are the result of HPV, or human papillomavirus, getting into open wounds on the feet. They are mostly found on the heels or balls of the feet.

While plantar warts are generally harmless, those experiencing excessive pain or those suffering from diabetes or a compromised immune system require immediate medical care. Plantar warts are easily diagnosed, usually through scraping off a bit of rough skin or by getting a biopsy.

Symptoms

• Lesions on the bottom of your feet, usually rough and grainy
• Hard or thick callused spots
• Wart seeds, which are small clotted blood vessels that look like little black spots
• Pain, discomfort, or tenderness of your feet when walking or standing

Treatment

• Freezing
• Electric tool removal
• Laser Treatment
• Topical Creams (prescription only)
• Over-the-counter medications

To help prevent developing plantar warts, avoid walking barefoot over abrasive surfaces that can cause cuts or wounds for HPV to get into. Avoiding direct contact with other warts, as well as not picking or rubbing existing warts, can help prevent the further spread of plantar warts. However, if you think you have developed plantar warts, speak to your podiatrist. He or she can diagnose the warts on your feet and recommend the appropriate treatment options.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Roselle, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.