Best shoes

[Jamielee1]

Hi. I was diagnosed a little over a year ago. My left foot tends to turn inward and drag. Now I'm afraid I'm starting to limp a little. I live I Houston and right now because of Hurricane Harvey it is very high stress here. And I haven't excersized in over a month. I'm hoping once I get over the stress and start my workout routine again, maybe my limp will go away. It's a new thing. What do y'all think? Also I'd like advice on a great brand of sneakers with great arch suppor to hopefully help my foot from turning so much. I'm 37.

[Smokeypurple]

Thank you for your post - I find the shoes I wear can change how I walk enormously. In fact in retrospect I realised that one of the first noticeable physical signs of my PD was that my trusty Birkenstocks wouldn't stay on my left foot any more! Now with some shoes I have a slight limp but with others I am fine.

I particularly love Fitflop and live in their boots in the Winter. They also do shoes, loafers, sneakers etc. I'm in London UK but I'm sure they are a US company originally.

I think getting back to exercise will help. I was diagnosed just over a year ago (age 46) and the resulting increase in my workout regime means my walking has improved rather than deteriorated. Long may it last!

[Jamielee1 in reply to Smokeypurple]

Thank you! I will look this up

[jrg54321]

I had a lot of success with the Saucony guide 7's plus Dr Scholl's athletic inserts. The 8 and 9 weren't as good. I really like my Asics gel pulse 8 without inserts that I got. I've been running in them recently. I'm 43, diagnosed a year and a half ago.

[Jamielee1 in reply to jrg54321]

Thank you!

[jrg54321 in reply to Jamielee1]

I just took a closer look and my current shoes are Asics gel pulse 7, not 8.

[Motal]

HI. The right fitting shoe makes such a difference, esp if PD affects your gait. as it does for me. My work and life did not require wearing shoes with heels so i pretty much have lived in Keen-style walking or light-hiking shoes since I was dx 3 yrs ago at 55.

The features i have to have are: at the front, a tilt up (to reduce the chance of tripping); a toe box that gives the toes ample room; a bed that keeps the foot from moving forward (to keep pressure off of the toes); and arch support.

For the past month I’ve been wearing Oboz Sawtooth Clover. Feet very happy. The arch support is so good that i haven’t had to insert the Vaysli orthotics i use in a similar pair of Merrills. Both of those give me more comfort and support than running shoes - but then, I don't jog.

You are right to be paying attn now to the turn of your foot. It will affect your fit. Getting a shoe in a wide can help - but not always. Height - inside the shoe - matters too. As I learned a couple of pairs ago, the bridge of my left foot has become higher and needs more room. (To get a sense of this, bring the soles of yr feet together. and compare the profiles to see if yr PD-affected foot is “taller”) And baby that big toe.

I do have other shoes, a Target/Champion thinner- soled cloth number that’s more responsive when chasing the rabbit in boxing and fits better in the bike’s toe restraint. And some flats woven of black elastic for more formal wear when I couldn't quite rock the perpetually-on-hiking-trail Oboz look. I had to give away anything with a heel. (Am open to suggsestions of dressier comfort shoes..)

Good luck in these post flood days.. Hope you can get back to exercise - at least a dry sidewalk to walk on.

[etterus]

Are you tremor dominate or PIGD with dystonia?

[Jamielee1 in reply to etterus]

Well I've been diagnosed tremor dominate, but I've read about PIGD and I feel like I could be that. My original symptom was tremor in my left hand and loss of fine motor skills. Not I have the tremor still along with my left foot drags and now the new limp. Oh and my left arm doesn't swing

[M_rosew]

Excercise your foot/ankle to strengthen the muscles which turn your foot outward. Concentrate as you walk and make sure the heels go down first. Practice with music!

I find it helps to walk barefoot indoors.

[JohnPepper]

Your foot is not working properly because the Parkinson's has damaged the brain cells that are involved in all movement that is controlled by your subconscious brain. You don't have to think what your feet are doing when you walk, that is done subconsciously. U=You can learn to use your conscious brain in a very few minutes and immediately overcome your waling problem, if it is Parkinson's related. Look att my profile and see how I have reversed my Pd symptoms. Read Dr Norman Doidge's book. "The Brain's Way of Healing". Chapter 2 tells the story of how I have overcome most of my Pd movement symptoms.

[M_rosew]

Jamielee - if just noticed in your later message that your arm does not swing. You need to make a consious effort to swing the arm as you walk. The swing can be relearned and will help with balance and walking speed.

(Avoid carrying your handbag/shoulder bag on that side. I think cross-body bag is safest as both hands are free.)

[tid1]

Besides arch support, it is important to get shoes where the rubber sole is wider than the shoe. This will help with stability when walking. I like Sketchers D'Lites with Memory Foam insoles that are lighter weight than some other shoes. The lighter weight might help your dragging foot. The Sketchers D'Lites come in several styles and colors for both men and women. I have also found them at Famous Footwear and Sketchers outlet stores.

smile.amazon.com/Skechers-S...

[Alwarid]

I was diagnosed about two years ago.

The neuro at the Pacific ParkinsonReseach institute suggested a shot of Botox to my left leg to have the left foot straightened and to stop limping.it has worked and now I can walk with outa y help

[ethanyoung]

Asics are good. Especially gel-light series. They weight almost nothing and reliable af. And here's a good shop to buy brickandportal.com/

[Discomushroom]

Hi Jamielee!

I had the same problem and still having sometimes. But I figured out the type of shoes which helps to hold my leg tightly and prevent limp. It's an OTK type of boots. Just check it out here lilylulufashion.com/over-th.... And in addition I'd recommend visiting the doctor to make a custom orthopedic boot sole for other boats. Hope it helps.