Why Choose Therapeutic Shoes?

Many patients inquire why their Podiatrist or Primary Care Doctor recommends therapeutic shoes also known as diabetic shoes. Diabetic patients are taught the importance of overall health which of course includes the feet. What is not realized is not every shoe is made to properly protect and prevent foot problems. If you or someone you know has diabetes, neuropathy or other foot ailments, the following information will help offer a better understanding of why therapeutic shoes are crucial in your foot care:

One of the main goals is to relieve areas of excessive pressure. This is particularly important on the bottom of the foot. When you have repetitive pressure in one area, this can lead to ulceration. In particular, the metatarsal heads (forefoot)  are sensitive to pressure. A properly fitting shoe and insert combination can reduce pressure and help redistribute the pressure more evenly across the foot.

Shock - Reducing shock is really important especially for those who have feet that are bony or even abnormal bone structure such as Charcot foot. In addition to reducing specific high pressure, reducing the amount of vertical pressure is also desired.

Reduce Shear - Reducing the horizontal movement of the foot within the shoe, better known as shear also helps in minimizing the occurrence of ulceration.

Deformities - Conditions such as fatty tissue loss or amputations need to be accommodated. Pressure from shoe uppers on hammer toes or claw toes are also of concern and should be minimized. It is important to stabilize and support the deformities. This is most commonly assisted by an insert specific to the foot ailment. Generally, ridged deformities must be accommodated while flexible deformities require support and/or stabilization.

Limit Joint Motion – limiting motion of the joints can decrease inflammation, help in reducing pain and offer a more stable functional foot.

When visiting with your Podiatrist request a referral to visit with a Certified Pedorthist (C.Ped.). The C.Ped. can assist you in the proper shoe type and additional accommodations as needed. Keep in mind, proper fitting shoes not only make your feet feel good and protect them, thanks to today's educated shoe designers, the shoes look great too!

Vrrrooomm!

Spring is in full force, warmer temps and sunny days bring outdoor activities to life. For many, motorcycle riding is an exciting and fun way to spend the day. Riders know protective gear is a necessity for safer rides but are the feet taken into consideration?

Motorcycle boots are designed with one focus - to protect your feet during a crash. A good pair of motorcycle boots will have Velcro closures at the top of the boot. While this might take a bit longer to put on or take off, the object is to keep the boots on in the event you are thrown from the bike.  

More boot tips....

-No laces! Laces can catch things on your bike and even become trapped under the peg.

-Stiff soles – boots with steel shanks in the sole add additional protection.

-Weather specific boots – Water resistant riding motorcycle boots work well in wet weather where as a warm weather styles made of gore-tex fabrics make for comfortable riding. 

-Moisture wicking socks – socks should be at least the height of the boot and assist in thermo regulating your feet. Look for socks that are specifically designed to wick moisture from the skin. Cotton socks should be avoided.

-Replace your boots when signs of wear and tear are present. Is the leather cracked, are their holes that have formed? Think of your boots for your feet as your helmet for your head......you would not wear a cracked helmet or even worse – none at all.

Visit with your local motorcyle dealer or bike center for a review of appropiate boots. Take inventory and think about your gear choices. Happy Riding!

National Foot Health Awareness Month

 April is National Foot Health Awareness Month so take some time and think about your feet!

When is the last time your feet were measured? How old are your athletic shoes and have you “gotten your use” out of them? What’s in your sock drawer? How long has your nail polish been on your toes? When was your last pedicure? 

Time to get you thinking about your feet! Let’s face it, most of the colder season months, your feet are wrapped up in socks with shoes or boots. They may see the light of day on occasion, but now it’s time to spring clean your feet!

So take of those socks and have a look. What do you see? Is the skin moist or dry with cracks the size of the Grand Canyon? Cracks in the skin, also known as fissures form when skin is dehydrated. Nails that are brittle also can be a sign of dehydration. Start with a pedicure to get your feet back in to shape and consider going without polish for two weeks to allow the nails to breathe.  

Moisturize your feet and legs daily. Creams with urea help hydrate the dry areas however do not use this level for overall moisturizing. Daily moisturizing replenishes the skin from the outside and increased water intake will hydrate from the inside. Drinking 7-8oz of water a day is a great start in hydrating the skin.

Next, lets take a look at socks and shoes. Socks do wear out over time and dryers can shrink socks. Inspect your socks for areas of wear or even worse – holes! When you place socks on your feet, there should be room in the toes and not compressing the toes. Workout socks should be made of moisture wicking material and not cotton.

Shoes – they are expensive however do still break down over time. Workout shoes are of particular focus and should be replaced at least every six months or if you are tracking mileage, every 300-500 miles. Keeping your workout shoes fresh allows you to protect your feet and provide proper support while allowing you to enjoy your favorite exercises.

So take a few minutes and spring clean your feet, shoes and socks, it will lead you on the way to a happy spring and summer season!