Ashley has been a great addition to the New Balance Kansas City  team. While the customer always comes first, Ashley also loves helping and coaching other staff members with her positive attitude and winning smile!

Name:  Ashley

Store Location:  New Balance Kansas City

Position:  Assistant Manager

How long have you worked for New Balance Kansas City?   7 Months

What’s your favorite outdoor activity?   Soccer

Who is your favorite superhero and why?  Wonder Woman, because of the indestructible bracelets.

What is the best shoe fitting advice you can give?  Always treat a customer the same way that you would want to be treated.

What’s your secret food indulgence?   Chicken Santa Fe Salad from Cheesecake Factory

Which were your favorite shoes as a child?    Pink light-up shoes

What’s your favorite New Balance shoe now?   Pink New Balance 993

What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had working at New Balance Kansas City?   When a customer with really bad foot problems calls me to tell me how much they love their new shoes, and how much they and their new insoles have helped them!

Kenny is the Fitting Specialist of the Month for October not only for his shoe-fitting expertise, but also because of his dedication to consistently meeting and exceeding our customers' expectations. A good example happened late one Saturday night recently when he was helping a mother and daughter. The two women kept apologizing for being in the store after hours, and Kenny sincerely assured them he was happy to help them. The mother said she was doing some early Christmas shopping so Kenny even took the time to actually wrap the items she purchased. Kenny truly goes out of his way to ensure every person he meets in the store leaves with a smile. He is talented in his fitting abilities, honest in his sales, and passionate about helping others. 

Name: Kenny

Store Location: New Balance Lake St. Louis.

Position: Full-Time Fitting Specialist.

How long have you worked for New Balance Lake St. Louis? 5 months.

What’s your favorite outdoor activity? Kan Jam & Grilling.

What is your favorite superhero and why? Sebastian the Scarecrow because he is outstanding in his field. (see picture below)

What’s your secret food indulgence? I’m on a never-ending search for the world’s best burger.

Which were your favorite shoes as a child? Let’s just say I was quite the minimalist.

What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had working at New Balance Lake St. Louis? Having a wonderful, elderly woman bring her daughter and 17-year old Chihuahua in to meet me, and getting hugs from all of them.

Do you suffer from bunions? It’s a funny word, but bunions are no laughing matter. If the joint that connects your big toe to your foot has a sore, swollen bump, it’s likely a bunion. Maybe you inherited incorrect foot mechanics from a grandparent, but bunions themselves are not hereditary. Bunions are most likely caused by tight and constricted footwear. But rest assured there are some shoes for bunions available to ease your pain!

Women tend to be bothered with bunions more than men, because of tight, pointy, high-heeled shoes. So, ladies, those cute heels with a sloped foot bed and narrow toe box might be great for a Saturday night out, but try to limit wearing those regularly to avoid potential bunion problems.

Runners can also experience bunion pain. Miles of pounding pavement and poorly fitting shoes can seriously aggravate bunions. Our very own Dr. Shoelutions recommends a few different New Balance shoes for bunions. A great running shoe is the New Balance 1080 with maximum cushioning and forefoot flex grooves that provide extreme flexibility. If walking is more your speed, try the New Balance 812, a cornerstone in the walking shoe category, which has a fuller fit and roomy toe area.  Another great option would be the Pressure Relief Insole with Metatarsal Pad to reduce pressure and friction that can cause discomfort. One more product that can alleviate pressure on the bunion joint would be our Gel Toe Spacer.

New Balance shoes for bunions are recommended not only for those who currently have bunions, but those roomier toe box styles will work well to prevent bunion development too. Remember, you probably don’t need a bigger shoe size, but a deeper, wider shoe. Find out more here or email Dr. Shoelutions with any foot condition questions at DrShoelutions@BrownsCatalog.com.

Tendons are fibrous tissues that characteristically connect a muscle with a bone. The posterior tibial tendon originates in our calf muscle and stretches down the back of the ankle and into the foot where it then attaches to the long inner arch of our foot. This important tendon helps support arch height and a normal or neutral gait. Posterior tibial tendonitis or PTTD develops when the tibial tendon becomes inflamed or torn. Pressures from overuse, over-stretching, injury, and even heredity can contribute to PTTD. An examination by your medical professional is advised to determine a diagnosis and posterior tibial tendonitis treatment.

When the posterial tibial tendon becomes inflamed or torn, its ability to hold up the arch of the foot is impaired, resulting in the lowering of the arch and flattening of the foot. Symptoms can include:

• Lowering of the arch, flattening of the foot, pronation in the ankle.
• Pain and swelling in the inside ankle area.
• Pain in the inside area of the knees.
• Knock-kneed stance.
• Pain on the outside of the lower ankle and foot.

What you should do:

1. Begin with good shoes for posterior tibial tendonitis. Good STABILITY or MOTION CONTROL shoes with medial posting can offer relief for mild cases of posterior tibial tendonitis. The denser posting material shores up and strengthens the medial side of the shoe, resists breakdown on the inside, and holds up the foot and ankle to take strain off the inflamed tendon. New Balance ROLLBAR® and STABILICORE™ technology biomechanically controls heel motion and supports a natural stride.
2. Proper insoles like the Motion Control Insole counteract the early stages of posterior tibial tendonitis by fortifying both feet with healthy foot alignment. The New Balance Performance Orthotic Insole features a unique arch design with medial posting for a slightly more aggressive approach. For the most aggressive over-the-counter posterior tibial tendonitis treatment, the Flat Foot Insole provides support for severe over-pronation and collapsed arches. Don’t be surprised if this insole feels a bit different at first. The Flat Foot Insole actually changes the alignment of the feet and ankles for healthier biomechanical movement.
3. Custom orthoses are recommended when over-the-counter solutions don’t provide relief. Our ABC certified pedorthists can fill your medical professional’s prescription for custom orthoses and support your recovery plan for posterior tibial tendonitis treatment
4. Orthaheel sandals, endorsed by the American Podiatric Medical Association, are clinically proven to reduce pronation and offer easy-to-wear comfort. A built-in orthotic reduces pronation and helps with heel pain, knee pain, back pain, and aching legs.
5. Our Step Stretch system can be used daily to improve muscle strength and endurance. Exercise your feet to strengthen and condition these flexible muscles and tendons.

Men's Shoe Recommendations>>

Women's Shoe Recommendations>>

Insole Recommendations>>

Accessories Recommendations>>

Wool socks. Brings back childhood memories of the thick, itchy socks tucked way back in my sock drawer, and on the first snow-day every winter mom would say, “Wear those warm socks Aunt Betty knitted for you. They are made for cold weather, you know!” Sure they kept you warm enough…if you like thick, scratchy sandpaper on your feet that made your boots so tight you couldn’t feel your toes. And following an afternoon of snow angels and sledding, ready for hot chocolate to warm up your frozen fingers, those socks were not coming off without the help of mom. How could something so hand-crafted with love make a sweet little child’s feet sweat so much on a cold winter’s day?? If this sounds familiar or interesting, read on friends, because lucky for us, the times have changed.

Smartwool resides in the heart of the Colorado Rockies in Ski Town USA – a town that proudly produces more Olympic athletes than any other place on the planet. So with mountain athletes and gold medal Olympians living and training in your own backyard, what better inspiration to produce performance, comfortable Smartwool socks?

After searching the world for the best wool, Smartwool found it in New Zealand. Unique climate and centuries of farming heritage produces the strongest, cleanest and brightest Merino wool, which is the best fiber for an unpredictable environment to control moisture management, regulate temperature, provide breathability and deliver an odor-free sock.

What’s really unique about Merino wool is that it keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter by working with your body’s heating and cooling system. It keeps you dry and comfortable by moving moisture vapors away BEFORE turning to sweat. So those days of the itchy, thick knitted wool socks – and hiding them way back in your sock drawer are over. Smartwool socks are made to wear year-round.

Skepitcal? Join hundreds of our loyal customers who took the plunge and bought a pair. These aren’t the kind of socks you find in the clearance bin in your favorite discount store. These are performance socks designed to last with exceptional comfort. Oh yeah, and they have some really cute styles. See what a Margarita feels like on your foot.

Have your own gold medal performance – in a race, hiking or just dashing through the grocery store. Smartwool socks. A smart investment.

What’s it all a GOUT? I’ve personally never had gout, but my grandmother gets it occasionally, and in the words of an 85 year-old, I can safely say it is NOT a pleasant experience. One of my best friend’s husband gets it too, (let’s just say he’s a lot younger than 85) and can barely walk when he gets a flare-up. No matter what your age, or if you are male or female, there’s no doubt gout can be a very painful condition.

Gout is caused by a build-up of uric acid in the joints that eventually forms sharp crystals. Those crystals often times collect around the big toe and even the ball of the foot; causing inflammation and pain. Gout pain is frequently felt at night while resting; some claim even a sheet touching your foot can feel like it’s on fire.

If you think you have gout, you should seek medical attention. Lowering your uric acid is a key priority, as will be a lower fat diet to include more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, drinking more water, and a regular exercise regimen. Meanwhile, correctly fitting shoes with a wider forefoot will help provide extra room and comfort.

Dr. Shoelutions recommends four New Balance Shoes for Gout including the 927 for walking; and the 840, 1123 or 587 for running.

Gout pain may be hard to ignore, but there are some shoes for gout and suggestions for relief. Click here for more information.