It’s definitely time to see a podiatrist (aka: foot doctor) if …

1. If you have chronic back pain and it’s not from trauma
2. If you have arthritis
3. If you have yellow or black toenails
4. If your ankle has been swollen for over an hour
5. If your child often complains of foot pain
6. If you have constant knee pain and you’re not sure why
7. If you think you’ve broken a bone in your foot
8. If you have chronic heel pain
9. If you have been stuffing your feet into heels for decades
10. If everyone around you says you walk funny

Have you ever been to a podiatrist? Why?

Do you think you should go now?

The Aligned and Well™ Fix Your Feet DVD is a very informative video that will not only teach you various foot exercises and stretches, but also explain why it’s important for you to do these exercises to achieve optimal foot health.  With the instruction of Katy Bowman, M.S., Developer of the Aligned and Well™ program, this video provides detailed and easy to understand techniques on how to perform various exercises to strengthen muscles inside the feet to combat unhealthy foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammer toes, neuromas, neuropathy and shin splints.  By having strong, regularly used muscles in your feet, such as the muscles that support your arch, you’ll gain proper circulation to the feet to keep tissue healthy, and ultimately disease free.  In this video, Katy Bowman will be with you every step of the way, providing tips and techniques, as well as constant health information so that you’re well educated about foot health.  The DVD also comes with Bonus Materials: Human Physics 101 (Human Body Owner’s Manual), which explains how the human body works and how you can get your human machine to function better.

In this video, Katy Bowman shows you the right way to:

• Calf Stretch
• Toe Stretch
• Double Calf Stretch
• Toe Exercises
• Strap Stretch

All of these prescribed movements are recommended for:

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bunions
• Hammer Toes
• Neuromas
• Neuropathy
• Runner’s Feet Repair
• Shin Splints

Katy Bowman provides and excellent analogy: the alignment of the human body instantly impacts its performance, such as the wheel alignment of a car – if you haven’t been told how to load or use your body properly, you can very much be suffering from a disease that was caused by the misuse of your body.  Fix Your Feet is part of the Aligned and Well™ Program Series.

The Aligned and Well™ Program Will Show You

1. Where your body is right now.
2. Where your body should be.
3. The movements you need to do to get back on track.

You know those celebrities who you envy because they get to wear expensive, high-fashion heels? What you usually don’t see are the weird bumps, busted toe nails and crooked toes that are crammed into those stilettos.

A lot of famous, beautiful women do not have beautiful feet. Taken over by calluses, corns, hammertoes and bunions, their feet become misshapen from heels and every step is painful.

The bunion is a very common and unsightly foot deformity caused by wearing fashionable heels and narrow shoes. Bunions are boney bumps that form at the base of the big toe or little toe. Bunions form when one’s toe is forced at an angle, so the joint becomes swollen and inflamed. If bunions are untreated, they become worse.

Some research shows that bunions may be caused by genetic predisposition. Bunions aren’t inherited but the shape of the foot is, so keep in mind that bunions can be prevented by wearing healthy and comfortable footwear.

Victoria Beckham is infamously known for having bunions. Wearing 7 inch heels with pointy toe boxes will do some nasty stuff to your feet. Surprised?

Iman, Jennifer Gardner, Michelle Yeoh, Oprah, Janice Dickinson, Emmy Rossum, Angela Basset and Paris Hilton all have been spotted with foot deformities.

The equation is simple:

Not only do women put themselves in immense pain to look glamorous, trendy and sexy, but these desired fashion items harm our health. They hurt your feet, which in turn hurts your body, and any shoe will provoke pain, unless it is an orthopedic bunion shoe.

Some women consider getting bunion surgery to fix their misshapen feet and relieve bunion pain, but this surgical fix isn’t cheap or quick. Bunion surgery consists of removing, realigning or fusing the soft tissue and bone near the toe joint and it is the only way to get rid of bunions. Recovery time after bunion surgery can be between 6 weeks to 6 months but there is no guarantee that the surgery will relieve your foot pain.

To prevent your tootsies from looking like the scary feet above, your best bet is to shy away from pointed toe boxes and not buy sky-high heels. Look at your female relatives’ feet. Do they have bunions? If so, do they know when and how they got them? What type of shoes did/do they wear?

If you suffer from bunions and have bunion pain – read through our bunion treatment suggestions, before you consider bunion surgery.

• Wear Foot Alignment socks while sitting around at home to straighten toes
• Wear a bunion cushioning gel sleeve inside a shoe to protect the bunion
• Wear a toe alignment/bunion splint at night to straighten toes
• Take pain reliever cream or pain reliever pills to reduce inflammation and swelling in your feet
• Wear well-fitted, flat shoes with wider toe boxes so your toes have enough wiggle room
• Put arch support insoles in your shoes to give your feet more support

Next time you see a pair of Jimmy Choos or Louboutin – don’t picture what you’d look like wearing them. Picture the damage they could do to your feet.

You’ve been warned.

Check out these photo slideshows of famous celebs’ unhealthy feet:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/milkin-it/2010/07/11-ugly-celebrity-feet.html
http://www.celebritysmackblog.com/2010/04/05/ugly-celebrity-feet/
http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/busted_feet#tab=most_recent&id=17612

Top 10 reasons why you should walk in our shoes:

1. Don’t get unsightly bunions or calluses (yes bunions are mainly hereditary, but these deformities show up when you aggravate your feet with too narrow or pointy of shoes)
2. Set a good, healthy example for your family
3. So you can focus on important things during your day – not how much your feet hurt
4. Prevent sweaty, smelly feet
5. Get the most bang for your buck, since our shoes are very durable and will last longer than cheaply-made shoes
6. You will be able to walk the extra distance with a smile on your face
7. Improve your posture and reduce other bodily pains (back, knees, ankles, etc.)
8. You don’t have to learn how to walk in comfortable shoes, as you do with 5 inch heels
9. Allow you to be pain-free enough to work out as often as you’d like for a healthier, trimmer body
10. People won’t laugh at you when they see you hobble around in pain

Can you think of another reason why people should walk in our shoes? Let us know!

The origins of Dunham shoes and boots can be traced all the way back to 1885 when George and Charles Dunham set up shop and opened the first Dunham Brothers shoe store in Brattleboro, Vermont.  In those days, pioneers and explorers needed durable footwear to withstand the rigors of outdoor environments and it was this need that was the inspiration for the creation of Dunhman Bootmakers brand.  For more than a century, Dunham Bootmakers designed footwear for the active outdoor lifestyle, committing themselves to only using the highest craftsmanship in their designs and manufacturing.  In 1998 the company was acquired by New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.; and since the acquisition, the same ground-breaking technologies that are used in New Balance footwear are used in Dunham shoes and boots, which only improved the footwear.

Even though Dunham is part of the New Balance family, they still produce shoes that are inspired by the outdoors.  There are a variety of styles available for both the business man and the outdoor enthusiast – from handsome looking casual dress shoes with breathable leather uppers to durable made boots with gusseted tongues to keep debris from entering the boots. Not only are Dunham shoes and boots comfortable and lightweight, but also come in a wide range of sizes and widths, from narrow 2A to extra, extra wide 6E.  Dunham is proud to offer footwear that fits properly because they strongly believe that if shoes fit correctly, they’ll perform better.  They believe in this so much that some of their boots come in as many as 87 size/width combinations.  Dunham footwear offers the best of both worlds: durable, orthopedic comfort and stylish designs to fit any casual or outdoor activity.

Notable features that separate Dunham shoes and boots from other footwear:

• Dryworks: a waterproof moisture management membrane system that consists of a waterproof, breathable and seam-sealed leather upper that keeps feet dry and moisture-free
• ROLLBAR: a piece of graphite that is biomechanically placed in the midsole and combined with TPU medial/lateral posts to provide rearfoot stability to minimize pronation and supination
• ABZORB: shock absorbing cushioning at the heel and forefoot to minimize impact in each step
• Stability Web: reduces the weight of the shoe all the while providing exceptional support in the midfoot area
• TRU-TRAK: specially designed rubber outsole that provides maximum traction for better footing
• IMEVA: injection molded EVA foam that is incorporated in the midsole mold to provide durability and flexible cushioning
• Removable Insoles: custom orthotics, arch support inserts and diabetic insoles (only for Dunham A5500 Medicare coded shoes) can replace the removable insoles
• A5500 Medicare Coded: some Dunham shoes are classified as diabetic footwear

If you are a first time online shopper or if you are new to our site, we’ve compiled a list of important information you should know in order to make your HealthyFeetStore.com experience smooth and simple:

• Know your shoe size: We recommend that you make sure your feet have been professionally measured within the past month. Faxing or e-mailing us a tracing of your foot isn’t really helpful: It’s still a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional fit.
• Make a note of the shoe brands and shoe sizes have worked and which ones haven’t worked.
• Know what foot conditions your doctor has diagnosed you with and/or what specific type of shoes your doctor has suggested you buy
• Please don’t refrain from including your e-mail address when ordering: We send you a confirmation e-mail and another e-mail with tracking information, so if you don’t give us your e-mail address, you won’t get that important information (we promise we don’t sell our lists of e-mail addresses)
• Credit card information is not kept on file
• If you’re contacted by us, get back to us asap: We contact you if there is a problem with billing information, shipping information or if the ordered item is on back order. This may cause a delay with the shipment of your order.
• We are a small company so please understand that if we don’t pick up the phone, it’s because all of our customer service representatives are assisting other customers. We don’t outsource our customer service to call centers, therefore you will be helped by highly trained specialists who will take all the time needed to assist you. If you call us and don’t leave a message with your phone number, we have no way to call you back.
• At this time we do not have a catalog – our web site IS our catalog.
• Do not return the shoes to the manufacturer: If you bought the shoes from HealthyFeetStore.com, always return the shoes to HealthyFeetStore.com.
• We do not bill insurance companies.
• PST means Pacific Standard Time and it is three hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
• We do not ship shoes to PO Boxes – we ship shoes via UPS and foot care products via USPS.
• European sizes in general do not come in widths.

If you are comparing prices or browsing at different sites, be sure to check the accuracy and trustworthiness of other sites. Here are a few features to look for to ensure online stores are legitimate:

• Copyright date and company name at bottom of page.
• The date last modified at the bottom of the page – if it says anything other than the month and year that it is, then definitely do not shop there.
• BBB (Better Business Bureau online) image (or look them up on the BBB’s web site) – these are companies that you can trust, and if they do something unprofessional, you can report them to the BBB.
• A phone number and e-mail address – every legit online business will have a customer service phone number and e-mail address that customers or potential customers can contact for assistance.
• The security lock on the ordering page means that the page is secure.

So you’re planning to travel somewhere and you need to compile a list of things you’re going to need for the upcoming trip.  Airplane tickets — check!  Hotel accommodations — check!  Rental car — check!  Suitcases — check!  Appropriate wardrobe — check!  Foot products — what?  Why foot products?  Imagine this scenario; you’re on your way to the airport when you notice that the shoes you’re wearing are too tight.  Then after a few hours at the airport, which involves  standing in line to check in your bags and walking to your terminal, your feet become achy.  Finally your plane takes off but you’re stuck on a six hour flight wearing tight fitting shoes and having sore, tired feet.  All of a sudden your feet start itching and you can’t even take them off for relief because the airplane seating is just too constricting.  Oh, and of course once you’ve reached your destination, you’re stuck with the same problem – wearing the same tight shoes and having uncomfortable feet.  At this point you’re probably wondering why you didn’t think about wearing comfortable footwear or using foot care products to enhance your comfort throughout your trip.  To assist you with this, we at HealthyFeetStore.com have put together a list of foot products that we highly recommend adding to your pre-travel list.

Slip On Shoes
The ideal thing about slip on shoes is the fact that they can easily be slipped on and off.  So if you’re on a six-hour airplane flight you can easily slip out of your shoes for added comfort because you don’t have to worry about untying annoying laces or loosening hook and loop straps.  Slip on shoes come in a variety of styles.  Clogs and closed toe sandals are among the most popular.  We recommend wearing slip on shoes that come with orthopedic features as well, which include breathable uppers, anatomical footbeds, cushioning midsoles with proper arch support and durable outsoles.  Notable brands that carry stylish slip on shoes with orthopedic features include Alegria by PG Lite, Klogs, Naot, Sanita, Dunham, Orthaheel and Softwalk.

Foot Odor Products
Now that you’ve decided to wear a pair of slip on shoes, wouldn’t it be nice to take them off without causing other travelers to look in your direction wondering where the smell is coming from.  Since our feet perspire a lot, it’s inevitable that we’re going to have foot odor – but that doesn’t give us the excuse to just let it happen.  There are various foot odor products that can reduce or eliminate the smell, such as On Your Toes Foot Powder and Tineacide Antifungal Shoe Spray.  I can personally vouch for both of these items – they absolutely eliminate odor.  Both products kill bacteria and fungus before the infection takes place and you don’t necessarily have to add them to your shoes everyday.  On Your Toes Foot Powder can be used once every six months and the Tineacide Antifungal Shoe Spray can be used about two to three times a week.

Compression Stockings
Sitting or standing for long periods of time can cause legs and feet to swell.  This can be a very bad thing since travelers that fall into this category are more likely to suffer from varicosities or venous disorders if they don’t take the proper precautions. If you’re such a traveler, we highly recommend wearing compression stockings.  Proven by medical research, compression therapy can reduce venous disorders from occurring by improving valve functioning.  There are various compression ranges available.  Light compression ranges can be worn by anyone, but if you do suffer from edema or have symptoms of venous disorders, we recommend you speak to a health professional to determine which compression stockings are best suited for you to wear.  Compression stockings also come in fashionable styles so that your legs can look good and feel great at the same time.

Foot Creams
Traveling with dry cracked heels can be an uncomfortable experience, especially for those who plan to wear sandals.  Unfortunately, dry cracked heels can be a bit unattractive, and if not treated correctly could cause pain, irritation and in some case, bleeding. But there is something you can do about it.  You can rub foot cream on your feet.  Kerasul ultra20 Extra Strength Foot Cream and Tripod Labs Hydrostat Foot Cream can do the trick.  Both creams will rejuvenate your skin and leave your feet feeling smooth and refreshed.  They will also help soften calluses and restore your skin’s healthy appearance.

Support Shoes/Insoles
Once you reach your destination, make sure you wear footwear that offers support and stability so that you don’t experience foot pain or foot fatigue.  Tired achy feet can really put a damper on your trip so we highly recommend wearing orthopedic shoes or insoles that provide proper arch support and heel stabilization.  By having proper support along the arches and stability at the heel, lower limbs will be aligned correctly.  This reduces stress on muscles and joints and can help prevent pronation.  Athletic walking shoes and arch support insoles are perfect for travelers that will be on their feet a lot, especially for those who are vacationing and plan to do a lot of walking and sightseeing.  If you’re on a business trip, there are also orthopedic dress shoes for women and men that can offer the same arch support and stability as athletic shoes.

Feel like you may be missing a must-have Summer product? Below are HealthyFeetStore.com‘s 5 best selling items this Summer – and they are definitely best-sellers for a reason.
 

Dr.’s Remedy Non-Toxic Nail Polishes: They aren’t just nail polish – they are little bottles of nail strengthener and nail fungus treatment that just so happen to be in a variety of cute colors. These nail polishes are non-toxic and enriched with vitamins to help improve the health of your nails while simultaneously keep you looking stylish.

Pedag Gel Forefoot Toe Post Cushion: These gel post cushions are hidden gems. Don’t let your thong sandals hurt your feet again. Slip these gel post cushions on your flip flop’s toe post and feel nothing but comfort and relief. Truly a Summer-must-have!

Orthaheel Women’s Arch Support Flip Flop Tide: This has been the most popular women’s sandal for 3 months! This flip flop is water-resistant, podiatrist-designed, has a footbed with arch support that will provide biomechanical correction for pronation, will decrease back, heel and ball of foot pains and is available in 6 fun colors. What isn’t there to love about the Orthaheel Tide?

Orthaheel Unisex Flip Flop Wave: The Wave is the most popular men’s sandal this Summer. (It can also be worn by women.) It’s very similar to the Orthaheel Tide – it has arch support, heel cup and will prevent unwanted pronation. It’s lightweight, fully waterproof and has an extra-grip durable rubber outsole, so you can wear in at the beach, water park or wherever your Summer fun takes you.

On Your Toes Foot Powder: Don’t suffer from smelly feet this Summer. Every customer who buys On Your Toes tells us that this is the best foot odor product they’ve ever tried. Sprinkle this non-toxic powder on your feet and/or your footwear to kill the bacteria that causes smelly feet. One small bottle of this powerful powder is enough to treat three pairs of shoes for six months.

What do Top Thrill Dragster, The Riddler’s Revenge, ice cream stands, corn dogs, Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter and endless walkways through exciting themed attractions have in common?  They’re all things that make amusement parks fun!  Each year millions of visitors trek through various amusement parks seeking unimaginable thrill rides and once in a lifetime experiences.  As modern theme parks have grown in size, so has the amount of walking visitors have to do just to get from one end of the park to the other.  For many, spending an entire day at an amusement park is the equivalent to exercising and if visitors don’t pay attention to the type of shoes they wear during these fun-filled outings, they could be in a world of pain when the day’s over.

I recently went to Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, and noticed that many visitors were wearing unhealthy footwear.  I COULDN’T BELIEVE MY EYES!  I saw kids walking around barefoot, mothers walking in high heels and fathers wearing dress shoes that would look good on them if they were wearing business suites.

We’ll explain.

Orthopedic Sandals and Flip Flops
Most sandals that people wear are cheaply made and only bought based on style, and not necessarily on support or quality. When it comes to sandals you do get what you pay for; so if you bought a $5 pair of sandals that have a poor design and are made with cheap materials your feet are most likely going to suffer at the end of the day.

But we understand that people are creatures of habit and that wearing comfortable sandals at amusement parks is inevitable, so we recommend wearing quality made orthopedic arch support sandals.  Wearing healthy arch support sandals or flip flops will keep your feet from experiencing foot fatigue or stress caused by misaligned joints.  Orthopedic sandals at HealthyFeetStore.com provide support along the arches for pronation control, come with a heel cup designs for added stability, have anatomical shapes for optimal comfort and come with durable footbeds to withstand longer wear.  There are also various types of sandals to wear.  Slingback sandals or sandals with ankle straps are great choices because there will be fewer chances of loosing them when riding roller coasters.  One of the first memories I have of my first amusement park outing is waiting in line to go on a roller coaster ride and seeing flip flops falling from the sky – since then, I only wear sandals with ankle straps at amusement parks and I’m happy to say that I haven’t lost a pair yet.  If you insist on wearing flip flops, you might want to make sure you take them off before riding certain coasters.  Also, another choice worth thinking about is wearing water resistant sandals, especially if you enjoy water rides.  Nobody wants to walk around wearing water-soaked sandals.

Noted brands that offer excellent orthopedic sandals include Dunham, Softwalk, Birkenstock, Naot, Keens, Moszkito and Chaco.

Orthopedic Running and Walking Shoes
If you’re like me before I started writing for HealthyFeetStore.com, you probably think that all athletic shoes are healthy to wear.  WRONG!  Yeah I was way wrong about that – I used to buy really cheap athletic shoes thinking that I was the smartest man in the world because I was saving a few dollars – boy was I misinformed.  My feet suffered the consequences because the cheap athletic shoes that I wore offered no support or healthy benefits.  So when going to any amusement park, we highly recommend wearing a pair of well made orthopedic running and walking shoes.  Features of well made orthopedic athletic shoes include breathable uppers made with synthetic/leather or mesh materials, cushioning midsoles to help absorb shock, removable anatomical footbeds to accommodate custom orthotics, padded collars to help cushion the ankle and long-lasting firm supportive outsoles.  These features are intended for wearers who are active walkers or exercise, so it only makes sense that orthopedic athletic shoes make excellent amusement park footwear.

Noted brands that offer well made comfortable orthopedic running and walking shoes include Brooks, New Balance, Aetrex, Earth and Cogent.

Whatever you do, don’t wear dress shoes – that’s a big NO-NO!  High heels and narrow tight fitting dress shoes are probably the worst shoes you can wear at an amusement park.  This isn’t rocket science; just remember you’ll be on your feet all day walking here and there, and standing in line for long periods of time.  Just think of it as this way: would you go for a jog in high heel shoes or dress shoes?  We really hope you answer NO to this question.

Please note:  since walking in amusement parks can be a workout, we included Earth and Cogent shoes for those who are fitness shoe lovers.  Wearing these types of fitness shoes can enhance you physical activity wherever you walk.

The labyrinth of various walkways and passages at amusement parks may offer the fastest way to get from one attraction to the next; but as the day wears on, your feet will definitely feel the mileage.  Don’t let uncomfortable footwear ruin your amusement park experience.  If you follow our advice, your feet could feel just as comfortable at the end of the day as they did at the beginning.  There’s no point in going to an amusement park if you’re going to suffer the next day from foot pain caused by wearing unhealthy shoes.

At HealthyFeetStore.com, we promote healthy foot care and comfortable footwear. So of course we practice what we preach! We each have our own set of foot care routines and rituals that we practice to make sure our feet stay healthy and pain-free.

About 19% of the US population has an average of 1.4 foot problems every year and 62% of people consider it “normal” for their feet to hurt. Wow! Your body is a temple, and your feet are the foundation. Find a daily – or even weekly – routine to pamper and love your feet to ensure optimum foot health.

Below are our routines and rituals for how we take care of our feet. Feel free to steal our tips or improve your own foot health routines based on what we do day-to-day.

Rich, CEO – The best things I do for my feet include walking at least 2 to 3 miles every day and wearing orthotics in all my walking shoes, being sure to replace the orthotics every 6 months. I also wash my feet daily.

Marty, CFO -   Every morning I support my feet and arches by wearing the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 Walking Shoe and Powerstep Arch Supports. While showering, I give the callus on my heels an extra boost by using a shower foot file or Personal Pumi Bar. After showering, I use a good lotion to protect them during the day. As I prepare for the day, I support my feet by wearing a supportive Sandal or Flip Flop, such as a Naot or Softwalk Sandal so the bunions I have are not irritated and the slight pronation does not affect my knees or arches. Upon retiring at night, I use a good foot cream such as Dead Sea Foot Cream or Foot Miracle Cream. I get a professional pedicure every month with Dr.’s Remedy Nail polish.

Melissa, VP and Web Manager – I use a foot cream almost every night but often try different brands for R & D. I also have recently been trying out the Happy Feet Foot Alignment Socks while I read or watch tv before bed. In the morning, I use a soft nail brush and wash my feet and toes with the Funga Soap Foot Soap. If my heels feel rough, I exfoliate them with the Personal Pumi Bar. I will get a professional pedicure about once a month or every other month during the winter months. After running and working out, I always stretch my calves, hamstrings and feet for at least 10 minutes to help prevent tightness or injury.

Barbara, Pedorthist and Customer Service – I use a callus pad if necessary, brush the fascia to stimulate the nerve endings and put lotion my feet. I massage each toe and down the center of the foot toward the heel (in the direction of blood flow)  each morning. I will re-apply lotion at night if I’ve worn open heeled shoes or sandals.

John, Content Writer and SEO Specialist – I shower twice a day and make sure to clean my feet thoroughly.  I wear Aetrex socks because they wick moisture away and remove 99% of bacteria, fungi and odor.  When I’m home, I make sure to moisturize my feet with Foot Miracle Cream and I wear my comfortable New Balance 3001 N-Pact slide sandals to allow my feet to breath.

Tara, Accounting - I wash my feet with Fungasoap Foot Soap twice a week and get a I pedicure with a 10 minute massage once a month to keep my feet healthy and happy.

Amanda, Content Writer and Social Media – I lather my feet in foot cream about once a week and cover them with socks so that my feet are soft when I wake up. I get a pedicure at a trusted spa every month, I work out in my supportive Brooks Glycerin 8 Women’s Athletic Shoes and I stretch my toes before and after wearing heels.

Cale, Purchasing Agent and Customer Service -  I cut my toe nails when they get long and shave away any calluses.