If you need an excuse to stay in shape, try running in the ‘Marathon Bahamas’ each year! It looks so beautiful, I may have just convinced myself to sign up (side note-I’m a very casual 5k jogger…. on a good day)

One lucky lady actually lives there- Bernadette Gibson, Board Certified Pedorthist and owner of Foot Solutions in Nassau looks forward to the race each year, but has great concerns for the feet of all those racers.

“My greatest concern is how ready are the feet of the participants? Choosing the right shoe and support, regardless of whether you are running or walking in a marathon, depends on a lot of factors.”

Bernadette sees a lot of feet, but put together this checklist that runners or walkers should consider before hitting the pavement…or sand

The Best Shoes:
The best shoes depend on whether you are running or walking the marathon. For example, if you are walking the marathon, you should purchase a ‘walker-sneaker’ because the pressures on the foot would be very different than if your were running. Similarly, if you are running the marathon, you would select a running shoe. Marathon shoes are built extra strong, durable, sturdy and highly responsive to the terrain you are running on.  All of these attributes help with speed.

Finding the right shoe for your biomechanical needs:
There are many shoes built for marathon running nowadays. However, when addressing your biomechanical needs it is important that you know your feet type. There are three types of feet, namely flat feet, high-arched, and normal or medium-arched. All three types require different biomechanical support and control. The flat feet usually pronate, while the high-arched feet tend to supinate and the normal feet call for a neutral support. If you can’t answer this question about your feet type, seek the help of a specialty footwear store where the expertise is available to properly assess your feet.

Protection against blisters and other skin related problem of the feet:
The use of a well made socks that are padded in the forefoot and the heel area is also very important to the health and function of the foot. Such socks add protection to the feet against blisters and numbness. Another added benefit that these socks provide is wicking away of moisture, so there is absolutely no need to wear two pairs of socks. They also have cool max to control temperature.

Many sports-related injuries occur as a result of extrinsic factors such as footwear and surfaces.  Sprains, heel pain, interdigital neuroma, runners’ knee and stress fractures of the foot are common results that runners and walkers suffer in relation to these factors.

What protection can be considered to avoid injuries?
Custom orthortics/inserts are specially made supportive devices that fit into your shoe and support your feet. When properly fitted in your shoes, the insert acts as an interface between the foot, the shoe and the ground. A custom made orthortic/insert is the ultimate solution to proper accommodation to support your feet.  Not only do they help protect your feet from pain and deformity, they give you the edge in power and endurance!

The combination of the right shoes, inserts to protect your arches against stress, strain and excess pressures with the correct socks to provide protection against blister and numbness will give you the edge for the challenge ahead!

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Are rocker sole shoes the greatest footwear ever invented or are consumers getting set up for the 2010 version of the popular 1970’s Earth shoe?

Joe Dyament, Certified Pedorthist and Owner of Foot Solutions in St. Clair Shores, Michigan gives a rundown on the history, benefits and other must-know tips before purchasing your rocker sole shoes.

Background
Rocker shoes have been around for a long, long time.  As pedorthists, we use a variety of rocker soles to help people with foot problems.  Rocker soles can be:
* a negative heel to help unload the forefoot (like an Earth shoe)
* a double rocker to help relieve mid-foot arthritis
* a heel-to-toe rocker to help replace lost motion at the ankle (MBT) or hybrid like a negative heel/forefoot (Chung Shi) that uniquely accomplishes results for a variety of foot pathologies.

Below are three brands of rocker sole shoes (L to R): MBT, Chung Shi, and the newly introduced Skechers Shape up- but Joe warns consumers that despite what advertisers may tell you, rocker sole shoes cannot be worn by everyone.

Since the shoes mimic the experience of walking on soft, natural terrain, pressure is reduced on your back, knees and hips- but before investing in a pair of rocker sole shoes, Joe advises consumers to do their research and follow a few guidelines:

* Stability: If you have balance issues, a leg length discrepancy of ½” or more or experience vertigo, it’s best to consider other options.

* Excessive Pronation: If your ankles and feet roll in a lot and you’re not wearing good orthotics you’re asking for BIG trouble.  This will cause more stress on your feet, knees and hips and could complicate physiological issues.

* Heavy Lifting: If you lift heavy objects on a regular basis you need more stability not instability.  The natural instability of rocker sole shoes will make work more difficult and increase your chance of injury.

* Workout shoes: These are NOT workout shoes!  Rocker shoes are made to help you walk in a straight line.  Any side-to-side movement should be avoided.  Do not wear them for aerobics, running or weight training, for example.

Learn more about rocker sole shoes (and more) by reading Joe Dyament’s Blog.

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Socks…We’ve all worn them, and we’ve all got our favorite pair.  But few of us think twice before pulling on our socks in the morning- heck, its an accomplishment if we can get them to match.  So why are companies heavily investing in the research of a product we don’t really think about? Does it matter what kind of socks we wear on our feet? Absolutely.

Your feet suffer from an overwhelmingly amount of wear and tear throughout the day- and by age 40, many people with healthy feet lose up to 50% of their fat pads.  Improperly fitted shoes, hard surfaces and poor support only quicken that process…unfortunately, once those fat pads are gone, they’re gone.

What causes the fat pads in our feet to become thin?

-Situations where the soft tissue and/or skeletal structure may be compromised due to systemic disorders (diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)

-Situations where tissue degradation may already have taken place (fat pad displacement)

-Performance situations where the feet are subjected to stresses by a sport or activity.

-The inherent issue of a dynamic foot inside a static shoe.  When you walk or run, your foot moves and changes in significant ways.  It flattens, changes plane, lengthens, and changes from weight bearing receptor to a lever that pushes us forward, and repeats that process thousands of times each day.  Because shoes have firm boundaries that limit the movement of the feet, the natural range of motion of the foot is limited.  Even the best shoes in the world have this limitation.

Couple that with the fact that most people wear shoes that are too small, and you have an ideal recipe for foot pain and problems.

The right engineered padded sock helps cushion your foot to give you that extra padding needed to protect your feet…..  Properly fitted with a well-made pair of shoes and inserts or orthotics as necessary, the sock allows the feet to be fitted with shoes that are large enough to allow a fuller, healthier range of motion of the feet, at the same time preventing skin damage from the movement of the feet inside the shoe.  This leads to fewer foot problems, stronger foot muscles, and an overall better state of foot health!

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For all of us businesswomen suffering through the pain of high heels- there’s a must read article in PINK Magazine’s Lifestyle section on how one woman deals with the pain of her ‘killer stilettos’.  Lisa Earle McLeod is a self-named 5-foot-4 slightly frumpy mother that sacrifices pain for beauty with her 3-inch purple python power pumps.

Unfortunately for us, looking good comes at the price of pain.

“Vanity, vanity. We may have come a long way, baby, but for many of us fashionistas, high heels are the new corsets. What our grandmothers’ generation did to their innards, we’re doing to our feet – pushing and squeezing them into a shape nature never intended so we can look more feminine and sexy….read Lisa’s entire article on PINK Magazine’s website

Too good not to share! Lisa’s 5 Tips for Avoiding The Stiletto Syndrome

1. DON’T OVERINDULGE. If you insist on going over 3 inches, don’t wear them for more than a few hours at a time or more than a few days in a row.

2. CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. Podiatrist Jaquelina Sutera recommends a stable heel that holds your own heel firmly in place and, if possible, an ankle strap.

3. SOFTEN THE SLAM. Padded shoe inserts like Dr. Scholl’s Sole Expressions reduce the pressure on the ball of your foot and your heel, thereby reducing strain.

4. PREVENT HANGOVERS. After a day in heels, you should stretch out your Achilles tendon. Five quick minutes of stretching will keep it from tightening over time.

5. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP. Most women don’t see a podiatrist until they’re already in pain. If you’re a frequent heel user, have a professional monitor your condition.

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Meet Caitlyn, a 4th grade student with a big heart.  When she heard about the devastating earthquake in Haiti, she wanted to do something to help.   Since organizations like Red Cross were collecting monetary donations, Caitlyn began her search for other ways to help. She typed in a Google search and found soles4souls- they were collecting shoes for Haiti, giving Caitlyn the idea to host her own shoe drive.

“First I wrote down a list of everyone in my neighborhood and asked my friends and family if they would have something to give.  The last weekend in January is when I started collecting shoes… Neighbors began dropping off their shoes off at my house, and I also offered to pick shoes up at my neighbors….

…..After I collected the shoes,  I would tie them together and put them in boxes.  I talked to my principal about hosting a shoe drive, and he made it a 4th grade project for the school!   A lot of my teachers brought shoes in too, and my little brother and sister’s teachers brought shoes in.  My school collected shoes just for 10 days-February 1-10th.   Everyday after school since I started, I picked up shoes.  My goal was 500 pairs of shoes, but I didn’t think I would collect more pairs than my goal!”

Caitlyn and her mom delivered all 550 pairs of shoes to Foot Solutions, and they have been shipped off to Soles4Souls to be distributed in Haiti.  Thank you Caitlyn for your amazing efforts-its very touching to see you devote your time to truly help make a difference!

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If you avoid buying thick running socks because they make your feet too hot, this post is for you! Thorlos dispels the myth of the ‘thick sock’ once and for all.

Did You Know? The thickness of the product is typically not what causes the sensation of hot feet. Most frequently, feet that are too hot are the result of improper fitting!

A shoe that is too tight can inhibit circulation. This can manifest in the sensation of hot feet in warmer climates, and cold feet in colder climates.  In fact, with proper fitting, a Thorlos cushioned sock fitted with a shoe that is large enough to accommodate the cushioning is MUCH better for the feet than a thinner sock product.  Here’s Why:

• A thicker sock in a larger shoe allows a more complete range of motion of the feet while protecting against friction and chafing from the inside of the shoe. With this full range of motion, your gait is more efficient and the feet do not have to work quite as hard while walking and running.

• The Thorlos anatomically-designed terry cushioning establishes a yielding surface within the shoe that help stimulate circulation in the feet (better circulation=more comfort).

• The Thorlos cushioned sock design helps provide insulation and air flow and wicks moisture, which helps moderate temperature and keeps the feet from getting TOO hot or TOO cold (warm, but not hot, and slightly moist, but not wet).

There you have it! Now you know the real reason behind your sweaty feet!

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Many athletic injuries including foot, ankle, knee and low back often stem from improper treatment of your feet. Who knew? With 90% of us wearing improperly fitted shoes, its no wonder we experience so much pain. I’ve outlined three very common athletic injuries, their causes, symptoms and of course, solutions. The more educated you become on proper foot care, the more injuries you may be able to prevent.  What nagging injuries have you experienced? Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comment box!

Achilles Tendonitis
Causes: Constant hill running, shoes with soft heel counters, shifting from dress shoes to running shoes.
Symptoms: Pain and tightness felt in the lower calf muscles, which may be more prevalent in the morning.
Solutions: Ice massage, calf stretches, proper rest, and a softer running surface. Also try to update your shoes often.

Plantar Fasciitis
Causes: Common causes include standing for long periods of time, over-pronation (flat feet), high arches, improperly fitting footwear
Symptoms: Pain felt along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the arch. Pain is often worse in the morning and at the end of the day.
Solutions: Arch supports, night splints and a program of stretching combined with early diagnosis to provide relief.

Shin Splints
Causes: Calf and achilles tightness due to the lack proper stretching before and after exercise. Unsupportive or worn out shoes may also cause shin splints.
Symptoms: Sharp pain felt around the shin bone. It is very common in people who exercise too much, too soon, and too fast. Untreated shin splints can become painful stress fractures.
Solutions: Ice massage, supportive shoes and a softer running surface can help shin splints. To prevent them, thoroughly stretch before exercising. Never run or exercise cold muscles.

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10  pairs here, 5 pairs there… the number of donated shoes we’ve received for Haiti earthquake victims have added up quickly…very quickly.  Over 100,000 pairs of shoes have been donated since the earthquake struck in Haiti, and hundreds more are flowing through the doors each day. Enjoy these heartwarming pictures, along with a note we received at Foot Solutions Corporate from a franchisee in Georgia:

“Whew! I’m tired. We finally finished our shoe drive for Haiti.
It sort of took on a life of its own. I originally was going to ship a few boxes of shoes via FEDEX.  It quickly grew beyond my ability to pay for the shipping. It outgrew my station wagon. It outgrew my dad’s pickup truck.
It outgrew our facility! The last couple of days we kept having more and more people walking in with contractor bags full of shoes! There was no place for the customers to sit. I couldn’t get to my workbench. AND, (Oh lord help me), I had not even gone to the [local] school system to pick up their shoes yet.  They had collected approximately 40 contractor bags – around 1500 pair!

We ended up renting a 14 foot U-Haul truck, and we filled it up wall to wall about head high.  We received approximately 4,000 pairs of shoes. We had to drive them to the S4S warehouse in Alabama ourselves.”

Best Regards,
Michael and Marie Muncy
Owners, Foot Solutions Douglasville, GA

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Corns, calluses, bunions and hammertoes, as unpleasant as they are, are among the most common foot problems many of us face. What else tops the list of common foot problems?

Take a look at this slideshow from WebMD explaining the most common foot problems seen today, along with some helpful solutions. While I’ll spare you pictures of these top foot problems, WebMD shows some up close photos of each of the 10 foot problems. Nothing overly graphic, but just be prepared to see the pictures.  Still have questions or aren’t sure why you foot is in pain? Contact us anytime.

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Foot Solutions Stores Worldwide are collecting shoes on behalf of Soles4Souls for the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. We’re asking that you clean out your closets and donate  lightly worn shoes to a participating Foot Solutions near you.

“We are working aggressively with Soles4Souls to help our Haitian neighbors in this terrible disaster. I have been to this country and am well aware of the level of poverty that exists and the shortage of supplies that are difficult on a normal level and this is especially hard on this struggling country.  We want to do everything we can to help.” -Foot Solutions Founder and CEO Ray Margiano

All shoes collected will be shipped to Soles4Souls warehouse in Alabama for distribution to Haiti. These needs are urgent- please spread the word in efforts to put shoes on the feet of those impacted by the earthquake.  Thank you for your endless generosity and compassion.

Find a Foot Solutions location near you

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