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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