What are the Risks of Wearing Minimalist Barefoot Running Shoes?

If you are a running, you have likely witnessed the trend towards minimalist or barefoot running shoes. You may be wondering what are the risks of these minimalist running shoes.  The bottom line is that Minimalist Barefoot Running Shoes help strengthen your feet, but you MUST carefully monitor your time using them.

Here’s a very good article I cam across in Runner’s World.

My favourite line is “Using them more than 35 percent of the time can raise injury risk, particularly if you have increased body mass,” Fuller wrote in an email to Runner’s World. “Namely, the ankle and metatarsals come under extreme stress when using minimalist shoes on such a consistent basis.”

For years, I have been telling patients that minimalistic shoes are a great way to increase intrinsic muscle strength, but not for full time use or on hard surfaces. Whatever your position on barefoot running/minimalist running shoes, the article is definitely worth a read.

If you are having foot pain in Vancouver and would like some help, please contact our office for a consultation. No referral is necessary.

The biggest debate since Mac vs PC

Few debates stoke as much heated and passionate argument as the “barefoot running” debate. Ever since the book Born to Run which birthed the epic debate, was published in 2011, equally passionate voices are heard everywhere either singing the praises, or harshly criticizing the minimalist shoe movement.  It has even spawned a “Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say” video with a quarter million views. At Vancouver Podiatry, we aren’t ones to shy away from controversy and we like to think of ourselves as practitioners who “tell it like it is”. So here goes…

What we’ve noticed at Vancouver Podiatry

Although, we haven’t done a formal study, we have noticed a definite trend among our patients. Since the advent of the barefoot running or the minimalist shoe trend, we have seen an undeniable increase in the number of patients complaining of heel pain, tendonitis, and other running related injuries. It seems to us that a preponderance of those complaining are converts to the cult of barefoot running. As we all know, correlation and causation and two entirely different things. So what does the research say?

The research  on barefoot running and injuries

Unsurprisingly, the research to date has been sparse and inconclusive (I mean who wants to fund research that puts a pin in a billion dollar health craze balloon?) This well-researched article by Paul Ingraham at painscience.com does a great job of summing up the history and debate, and of assessing the various studies that have been done.

What’s the bottom line on barefoot running?

The scientific case against barefoot running is slowly being made and we suspect that as more and better research is conducted, that case will only grow stronger. While we don’t have the evidence, yet, to prove it conclusively, what we’ve seen is that the minimalist shoe craze is  leading to injuries, especially for those people who are using them for the wrong activities and without proper instruction.  

Our advice to you on Minimalist Shoes

If injury prevention is your goal,  and you are not an experienced runner in good health, then we advise against minimalist shoes. If you are convinced of its benefits and are feeling compelled to give it a try, we strongly suggest that to avoid injury, you take it slowly and move very gradually towards less support, lift and cushioning.

If your feet are giving you trouble, whether because of running barefoot or otherwise,  contact us today for a consultation at our new Vancouver Podiatry clinic in Kerrisdale. No referral is necessary. Your feet will thanks us!

–Dr. Roy Mathews DPM and Dr. Victor Quintoro DPM, Vancouver Podiatrists.

First of all, any runner, jogger, cyclist or other weekend warrior who has a bunion, knows it can it get in the way of their activities. A bony growth sticking out from the the joint of the big toe can cause all sorts of problems. Best case scenario, it will make your athletic shoe shopping a lot harder. Furthermore, if you’re not so lucky, bunions can cause serious pain and damage to your feet.  Here are some important considerations and information to help active folks deal with bunions:

Did your running/cycling/jogging etc cause your bunions?

No they didn’t. Your activity is not to blame for your bunions. However, your activity may be making your bunions symptoms worse.

“It’s not that activity and doing exercise on your feet causes bunions. But the misalignment of the joint, that caused the bunion in the first place, can be made worse by activity,” says Dr. Roy Mathews of Vancouver Podiatry in Kerrisdale.

What caused your bunion?

Bunions are primarily caused by a genetic predisposition to them. If you never stray far from your couch, you may not notice any pain or discomfort from your bunions. The force exerted on your feet by running, jumping, hiking and dancing  can bring about discomfort more quickly. The wrong shoes and poor form can also make matters worse.

Treatment Options For Active Folks With Bunions

“The most common complaint we hear is of pain at the side of the bunion from it rubbing on the side of the shoe” says Dr. Quintoro, who works alongside Dr. Mathews at the Vancouver Podiatry Clinic.

Conservative treatment options include making room for the bunion by cutting a hole in the side of the shoe, getting custom fit orthotics from a foot specialists, and limiting your activity.

The Risks of Doing Nothing About Your Bunion

In conclusion, continuing to be active without addressing the root cause of your problem can be making your problems worse and can permanently damage your feet. If  you suspect you are dealing with a bunion, act quickly. Try the conservative options above as soon as you suspect you have a bunion. If the bunion becomes very painful and doesn’t respond to the solutions above, it may be time to consider surgery.

Surgical options for fixing bunions have improved considerably and a minimally invasive procedure is available to correct the vast majority of bunions safely and permanently. The technique employed in all but the most severe cases at Vancouver Podiatry, is the Tricorrectional Bunionectomy (TCB) procedure. TCB is unique in the way it permanently corrects the misaligned bunion joint and provides a stable shifting of the bone with screw fixation. Therefore, it prevents a recurrence of the bunion.  

Please contact us today for a consultation at our new Vancouver Podiatry clinic in Kerrisdale. Also, no referral is necessary. Your feet will thanks us!

–Dr. Roy Mathews DPM and Dr. Victor Quintoro DPM, Vancouver Podiatrists.

As an avid cyclist and someone who is passionate about reducing the  foot pain of active British Columbians, I have a keen interest in Foot Health Tips for Cyclists.

British Cycling Offers their Foot Health Tips for Cyclists

Here is a great article by British Cycling.  In the article, the author explores important foot issues that pertain to cycling such as blisters and rubbing, hot-foot, the importance of cycling shoes and their proper fit, bike and cleat set-up, foot care and hygiene.

Furthermore, this article is recommended reading for all cyclists whether short distance commuters or long distance road racers. I hope it helps to keep your feet pain-free in the pedals. Happy riding! Read the article here.

• Dr. Roy Mathews DPM

When the joint at the base of the big toe is misaligned and causes a bulge to form on the side of the foot, you are dealing with a bunion. Often painful, unsightly and uncomfortable, bunions are a very common problem affecting 10-25% of the population. Although anyone can get a  bunion, women are at far greater risk than men. Now on to the key question: Do high heels cause bunions?

Despite their prevalence, their cause is not well understood. Contrary to popular opinion, they are not caused by high heeled, tight fitting or pointy shoes.  Most often bunions are caused by a genetic defective mechanical structure of the foot.  Most people who suffer from bunions will experience a bony bump at the base of the big toe. This bump can become swollen and painful and make walking difficult. The pain and mobility problems can be made much worse by badly fitting shoes. Tight shoes that put pressure on the toes and forefoot (like high heeled shoes) can increase inflammation, swelling and pain. In the worst situations, the mal aligned joint will cause degenerative joint disease – osteoarthritis

To properly diagnose the problem and determine a course of treatment, a full examination should be carried out by a podiatrist. Surgical procedures have evolved and improved quickly and we are now at a point where, in most cases where surgery is required, patients are immediately able to stand and bear weight after the procedure. They are back into shoes in three weeks and, in most cases, are resuming their regular physical activity by five weeks.

The technique we employ in all but the most severe cases, is the Tricorrectional Bunionectomy (TCB) procedure. TCB is unique in the way it permanently corrects the misaligned bunion joint and provides a stable shifting of the bone with screw fixation thereby preventing a recurrence of the bunion.

In conclusion, wearing high heeled shoes will not cause you to get a bunion. If you already have a bunion (which is an inherited genetic condition), or the beginnings of one, high heeled shoes may well increase the swelling, pain and difficulty walking. If you suspect you are dealing with a bunion, please contact us today for a consultation at our new Vancouver Podiatry clinic in Kerrisdale. No referral is necessary.

• By Dr. Victor Quintoro DPM

Let’s say your family doctor or podiatrist prescribes you an orthotic for your foot problem. You go to your chiropractor, orthotic store, or physiotherapist to get one made, spend a few hundred dollars, and submit the expense to your Extended Medical Insurance Plan. Imagine your surprise when you get a letter back from the insurer saying that your orthotic is not covered and that they won’t be reimbursing you. What gives? Extended medical insurance providers, like ClaimSecure, Blue Cross an others are getting stricter about their coverage for orthotics. For example, ClaimSecure is now insisting that the following requirements must be met:

In order for your claim to be considered eligible, your claim must meet the following three
conditions:

1. Referral by an Approved Service Provider
2. Orthotics or Custom made shoes must be manufactured or modified in an off-site facility.
3. Dispenser must have one of the approved credentials.

A referral can only be written by one of the following Approved Service Providers:
• Physician (MD)
• Podiatrist (DPM)
• Chiropodist (D CH or D Pod M)

In order to be covered, the orthotic can only be dispensed (or made) by one of the following:

• Orthotist CO or CPO(c)
• Pedorthist C Ped (c) or C Ped (MC)
• Podiatrist (DPM)
• Chiropodist (D CH or D Pd M)
• Orthésistes du Pieds (member of CCCOP)

Finally, a paid in full invoice is required. Please note that while these requirements are industry standard your plan may differ slightly. If unsure, contact your Benefits Provider for confirmation of your specific plan details. Don’t get stuck with orthotics that you can’t get reimbursed for!

You can see all of ClaimSecure’s orthotic coverage requirements on page 8 of this guide.

Your foot health is an important part of overall wellness. While the lyrics “The heel bone connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone connected to the shin bone …”  may not be anatomically correct, the concept is absolutely right. The components of our body are all connected to each other. When one part of the body goes out of alignment, the body compensates for the imbalance, and that can cause pain over time. The pain we feel in one area is often a symptom of a problem that actually originates somewhere else.

Our body’s foundation begins with our feet, all the way down to where our big toe connects to the ground. If your foot’s bio-mechanics are off, you may not experience foot pain, but you might feel it elsewhere. If you’ve ever experienced foot pain ( and most of us have), you probably noticed that your walk changed while the problem healed. You may not even be aware of the imbalance, but it can cause shifts in your body’s alignment, starting with the feet, which can work its way up to through the knees, hips and spine. Over time, your adjusted gait can cause repetitive motion injuries that can affect you in places you might not expect, like your hip or your lower back.

The relationship between foot problems and back pain was demonstrated in a 2013 study that examined lower back pain and women with pronated (aka “flat”) feet. To determine if you either overpronate or pronate too late during the gait cycle, a proper gait analysis should be performed.  You cannot tell this properly by standing on a flat mat, like you do in the drug store. The same study also suggests that orthotics can improve foot function and relieve back pain symptoms.

A visit to a podiatrist in Vancouver could help you with your lower back pain and prevent the need for medication, or even surgery down the road. Custom orthotics from a qualified Vancouver podiatrist create the specific support your feet to regain proper function and balance and correct the mechanics of your gait. To assess and correct these types of foot and back problems, Vancouver podiatrist, Dr. Roy Matthews DPM and Dr. Victor Quintoro DPM use 3D laser imaging to create the orthotics. The Vancouver podiatrists at Vancouver Podiatry have undergraduate degrees in Kineseology and access to F-scan technology for an in depth gait analysis for challenging cases.

Looking for a qualified and experienced podiatrist in Vancouver to address your foot and back pain? Make sure they understand the connection between the two.  Contact us at our new Kerrisdale location of Vancouver Podiatry.

If you have a large boney bump on the outside of your foot by your big toe joint, you likely have a bunion. This bump is actually a misalignment of the big toe joint, causing inflammation in the tissue surrounding it. Bunions are primarily a hereditary condition, though they may be made worse by constrictive foot wear. Smaller bunions may cause some discomfort, and may also limit the types of shoes you are able to comfortably wear, as well as how long you spend on your feet, running, working out, our out on the dance floor. As the bunion progresses in severity, it can become associated with arthritis in the big toe, deformities in the second toe and more severe pain. Many people hope that they may find a bunion pain home remedy, but if this foot pain is keeping you from the activities you enjoy, bunion surgery may be the right solution to get you back to your active lifestyle, and bunion surgery recovery may be a lot quicker than you think.

Some people see bunion surgery as a last resort option, because they have heard discouraging stories about traditional foot surgery. If you are looking for minimally invasive bunion surgery, the Tricorrectional Bunionectomy (TCB) offered by the Vancouver podiatrists at Vancouver Podiatry may be the foot surgery you’ve been waiting for. Traditional surgery often required general anesthesia, overnight stays in the hospital, and extended recovery time for the patient. In contrast, the TCB bunion surgery uses a local anesthetic and allows the patient to return home the day of the surgery. Most patients who have a TCB can stand without crutches immediately after surgery, wear shoes within Two weeks, and are back to their regular activities after five weeks. The TCB procedure is designed to restore proper alignment and function while greatly reducing recovery time, promoting a healthier foot in the long term. Most importantly is that the surgery is a permanent fix, the deformity will not reoccur as the joint is permanently realigned.

The TCB bunion surgery procedure is available at Vancouver Podiatry. Vancouver podiatrists, Dr. Roy Matthews DPM and Dr. Victor Quintoro DPM report that 90% of patients undergoing bunion surgery at his clinics opt for a TCB. If you fall within the 90% you will probably be able to return to your regular activities within five weeks. This type of recovery time is a large improvement over previous surgical options.

Of course, every patient and every surgery is different. Approximately 10% of bunions treated at Vancouver Podiatry require a ‘Lapidus type fusion bunionectomy’ as they are too severe to benefit from TCB bunion surgery. Recovery for this procedure is longer and includes up to two weeks in a cast and an additional four weeks in a walking boot.

Schedule a consultation today to find out whether a TCB is right for you. Why not get a head start on a pain free 2015, instead of living with bunion pain that could get more severe with time?

To listen to what Vancouver bunion surgery patients have to say about Vancouver Podiatry’s TCB foot surgery and the reduced bunion surgery recovery time, see the videos below:

With colder weather approaching, you may have packed away your swimsuits and sandals and pulled out the cozy sweaters. You may even have given some thought to winter tires. But have you paid any attention to your winter footwear and foot health? Thinking about function and fit will keep your feet healthy through the winter months. The shoes you need for running the Seawall are very different than the ones you need when running in from the cold to make you Zumba, cross-fit, or spin class.  Thinking about function and fit will keep your feet healthy through the winter months. Consider how your shoes need to perform during the winter. Are they waterproof? Do they have enough support and warmth? Are the grips on your shoes appropriate for the activity you are using them for?

Look at the pattern of wear on the shoes. If your shoes are wearing out faster on one side, consider giving your feet the support they need with custom Vancouver orthotics . The rain makes for slippery footing. Footwear with support and stability can help prevent slips and falls. To test for the right fit, try your winter shoes on later in the day and try them on with the socks you will wear them with. Wool socks are a great choice because the natural fibres let your feet breathe, wick away moisture, and will still keep your feet warm if they get wet.

Many types of foot pain are caused by cramped toes so make sure your toes fit comfortably in your winter shoes. Shoes should not need to be broken in to feel comfortable. Don’t count on your boots fitting you better over time. In fact, overtime cramped shoes can exacerbate conditions that need more serious treatment, like bunion surgery. If you are already experiencing foot pain or need a consultation about any foot problems you may have including heel pain, nail fungus, bunions, and toe pain, please contact Vancouver podiatrists Dr. Roy Mathews DPM or Dr. Victor Quintoro DPM  for a consultation. No referral is necessary.  You can contact us here.