Saturday, May 4, 2024
Dr. James Townson, a new podiatrist at Coryell Health, explains what to look for and what to avoid when purchasing shoes. (Jeff Osborne photo)
(Two of Coryell Health's newest doctors recently spoke to the Gatesville Lions Club. This is the second of a two-part series).
As a podiatrist with Coryell Health, Dr. James Townson Jr. is committed to helping people receive the best foot care possible.
"I'm excited to be back in Central Texas," said Townson, who has more than 10 years’ experience as a podiatrist. "I was in New Braunfels for a while but jumped at the chance to come back to this area.
"I specialize in the foot and the ankle and treat whatever may be bothering you."
Townson said the most common question he gets is what shoes he recommends. He said many of the top-selling athletic shoes do not offer the best support, and provided a list of recommended shoes.
These include:
* Asics Gel Kayano 29 and GT 2000
* Brooks Adrenaline, Glycerin, Beast (most supportive) and Ghost
* New Balance: 990, 1012, 1260 and 1540
* Saucony: Grid, Stabil and Hurricane
* Hoka: Bondi (good for arthritis in the big toe) and Clifton
* Topo Athletic: (has a wide toe box for deformities) Phantom 2 and Spector
Good walking shoes with room:
* Aetrex, New Balance, Hoka and Topo Athletic
During a recent visit to the Gatesville Lions Club, Townson brought samples of shoes and showed things to avoid when selecting a shoe. He suggested going to a shoe store and using a Brannock Device (standard foot measuring tool) in the evening when your feet are most swollen from a day's activities.
"One thing you should look for is that the shoes bend at the toes," Townson said. "If you can bend a shoe in half (front to back), that's not good.
"Second, if you can twist the shoe a full 360 degrees, that will not offer your feet the best stable support. Third, squeeze the back of the shoe in the heel area. If it collapses when you push it, that's not good. You need firm heel support."
Townson said wearing the right shoes can prevent a host of foot problems. Inserts are also available to offer additional support for those who need it.
While anyone can suffer foot and ankle pain, those who have diabetes are especially prone to those concerns.
"Diabetes is number one hands down the thing we see when someone is dealing with foot pain," Townson said. "It does so many things to the body. It affects hydration, neuropathy (weakness, numbness and pain due to nerve damage) and causes lots of problems in the feet."
He said when toes lose stability, people can get hammer toes (where the joint is abnormally bent) and bunions.
"We look at arteries, nerves, bones and skin – whatever you might have a problem with, we look at," Townson said.
Asked about widths in shoes, Townson said some shoemakers are better at making proper widths than others.
"Make sure you have a good supportive shoe when you are active or exercising," he said. "I approach treatment for anyone the same way I would with my own family. We do perform surgeries when that is important, but there are often options instead of surgery. There are pluses and minuses in different treatment options."
While other doctors can also treat foot issues, Townson noted that "podiatrists do a residency for three years focusing on the foot. There is a lot more training specific to just the foot and ankle."
