HSS Foot and Ankle Service

What We Treat

Foot and Ankle Conditions

Preparing for Surgery

At Hospital for Special Surgery, we believe that patient and family education is a critical component of providing excellent patient care. We designed this booklet to help guide you and your family through the journey from the pre- to post-surgical phases of care.

Explore the interactive version above, or download the pdf.

Other Resources

Physical Therapy

Find a Therapy Provider

Orthotics and Shoes

Recommended Shoe Stores

New York City Shoe Stores

ENESLOW
470 Park Ave (at 32nd St.)
New York, NY 10016
212.477.2300

ENESLOW
1504 Second Ave (at 79th St.)
New York, NY 10075
212.249.3800

HARRY'S SHOE
299 Broadway (at 83rd St.)
New York, NY 10024
866.442.7797

TIP TOP SHOES
155 W 72nd St.
(between Columbus Ave. and Amsterdam Ave.)
New York, NY 10023
212.787.4960

Queens and Long Island Shoe Stores

TURNPIKE COMFORT FOOTWEAR
184-20 Union Turnpike
Flushing, NY 11366
718.454.5870

ERIC COMFORT SHOES
426 Hillside Ave.
Williston Park, NY 11596
516.877.2002

RUNNER'S EDGE
242 Main St.
Farmingdale, NY 11735
516.420.7963

THE RUGGED BOOT
2061 Middle Country Rd.
Centereach, NY 11720
631.471.2668

ENESLOW
249-38 Horace Harding Expressway
Little Neck NY 11362
718.357.5800

LONG ISLAND COMFORT SHOES
& PEDORTHIC SERVICES
650 Route 112 (1 block north of Route 347)
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
631.476.9717

NEW BALANCE STORE LI
127 Old Country Rd.
Carle Place, NY 11514
516.873.7020

Tone / Rocker Bottom Shoes

Rocker bottom shoes are used to transfer weight, reduce pressure and limit motion. The sole configuration shifts the body forward reducing energy consumption, propelling the foot to transition from heel strike to toe off in one quick sweep. The configuration of the rocker sole and the position of the apex determine where pressure is reduced.

Tone shoes and sneakers are constructed with rocker soles which are generically configured. There are two types of Tone rocker shoes: stable and unstable. The stable version only affects the sagittal plane (front and back motion) and the unstable affects the sagittal and frontal planes (front and back motion along with side to side).

There are six different types of rocker soles.

Toe off Rocker (forefoot) apex is positioned to inhibit motion at the MP joints, allowing the IP joints push off at most distal point of foot contact.
Indication for use: limited toe motion, heavy toe callous and mild drop foot.

Ankle Joint Rocker

Ankle Joint Rocker apex is positioned to reduce impact at heel strike lessening the demands for ankle motion.
Indications for use: limited front and back ankle motion, ankle arthritis and ankle fusion.

MTP Joint Rocker

MTP Joint Rocker (forefoot) apex is positioned to limit the motion through the MP joints.
Indications for uses: mild forefoot overload, limited forefoot motion and forefoot arthritis.

Metatarsal Head Rocker

Metatarsal Head Rocker (forefoot) apex is positioned to reduce reaction forces to the metatarsal heads.
Indication: mild-moderate forefoot overload including callous and neuromas.

Negative Heel Rocker

Negative Heel Rocker offloads the forefoot encouraging a heel gait. The reduced heel maintains the forefoot in dorsiflexion.
Indications for use: chronic forefoot overloads heavy callous and plantar ulcerations.

Double Rocker

Double Rocker absorbs plantar mid foot forces.
Indications for use: mid foot limited motion arthritis and Charcot plantar prominences.

Footwear Manufacturers

*contains rocker sole

Casual / Walking Shoes

Criteria:
Cushioned sole
Multiple widths
Removable insole
Soft uppers

Manufacturer:
Aetrex*
Alden*
Allen Edmonds
Birkenstock
Bostonian
Chung Shi*
Clarks*
Cogent*
Drew
Dunham
Earth*
Ecco
Finn Comfort*
Hush puppies

Johnson & Murphy
Keen
MBT*
Mephisto*
Naot*
Neil Munro
NewBalance*
Pedors
Propet*
PW Minor and Sons*
Rockport*
SAS
Skechers*
Waldlaufer*
Xsensible*

Dress Comfort Shoes

Criteria:
Cushioned sole
Multiple widths
Soft uppers

Manufacturer:
Aetrex*
Alden
Allen Edmonds
Bostonian
Ecco
Finn Comfort*

Johnson & Murphy
Mephisto*
Neil Munro
PW Minor and Sons*
Rockport*
Waldlaufer*

Sneakers

Criteria:
Multiple widths
Cushioned sole
Removable insole
Rocker sole

Manufacturer:
Aetrex
Asics
Brooks
Chung Shi*
Drew
MBT*

NewBalance*
Newton
Propet*
PW Minor and Sons*
Rockport
Saucony
Skechers*

Sandals

Criteria:
Removable foot bed
Multiple widths
Adjustable uppers

Manufacturer:
Aetrex
Allrounder*
Finn Comfort*
Fit Flop*

MBT*
Propet*
Skechers
Vasyli Orthoheel
Waldlaufer*

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Foot and Ankle Service

Surgeons

Consulting Physicians