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?

Raise your hand if you enjoy Back To School shopping.

For parents, this means taking the time to find the best Back To School deals, sales and coupons, and then spending the money on new attire, backpacks, notebooks, pencils, lunchboxes – the works.

For kids, this means taking time away from playing with friends or relaxing, and instead, being dragged around the malls with parents. They’re forced to try on clothes mom likes and select school supplies with their favorite colors.

Question: How can this frustrating, inconvenient process be turned into an easier and faster experience that will satisfy both kids and parents?

Answer: Shop online!

The online shopping process you will experience with HealthyFeetStore.com will benefit both you and your child.

Here are the top 5 reasons to shop at HealthyFeetStore.com for Back To School footwear:

1. Our online store makes it easy and convenient for parents to order their children shoes, socks and other foot care products, while at the same time, informing themselves about health
2. We are currently offering free domestic ground shipping on any pair of children’s shoes or sandals (this coupon code excludes sale items, slippers and post-op footwear) through August. Just use the coupon code backtoschool in check out
3. HealthyFeetStore.com always offers free exchanges, so you can rest assure that you will find the right size in the right shoe for your child without spending any on shipping
4. When you buy a product from our online store, you also get the comfort of knowing that our shoes are hand-selected by footwear professionals who look for quality, cushion, durability and support in every shoe
5. The Children’s athletic shoes that we sell are designed to support the arch and heel, include cushion for shock absorption, are stable but offer forefoot flexion and are constructed to be extra durable to survive kids’ rough activities.

We highly recommend your kids wear children’s athletic shoes for daily use. Our new Brooks children’s athletic shoes, New Balance children’s athletic shoes and Keen Kid’s Walking Shoes are just what fit the bill.

Please note: We recommend you have your child’s feet professionally measured before you order shoes online, because a child’s shoe size will continue to change and it is best to know your child’s current shoe size. Our Footer Foot Measure Device is compact, light and convenient to have at home to measure your children’s rapidly-growing feet.

Brooks children’s shoes have removable insoles to accommodate custom orthotics, breathable mesh uppers, HPR Plus durable rubber outsoles and HydroFlow ST for extra cushioning. Brooks Ghost Athletic Shoes for boys and girls is an excellent motion control shoe, featuring a strobel last construction to allow enhanced stability and flexibility and Forefoot Cush Pod Construction for maximum flexibility and motion control. Brooks Adrenaline GTS Athletic Shoes for boys and girls offers maximum stability and is ideal to help control pronation in order to prevent future foot pains or injuries. This stability athletic shoe features Diagonal Rollbars to prevent unwanted promation, Strobel last construction for increased stability and flexibility and Forefoot Stable Pod Construction offers excellent stability and responsiveness. Brooks children’s shoes are available in mismatched sizes, to accommodate children who have two different sized feet or who need to only order one shoe.

New Balance children’s shoes are available in medium and wide widths and have removable insoles to accommodate orthotics. New Balance 687 Athletic Shoe features mesh and leather uppers, C-CAP compression-molded EVA for additional midsole cushion and flexibility, ABZORB foam for cushion and compression and non-marking outsoles. The 687 is available in a lace-up closure for a tight fit or is available in an adjustable z-strap closure for boys and girls. New Balance 572 Athletic shoe for boys has mesh and leather uppers, N-FUSE technology for a layering of soft and firm foam to provide both cushion and support, injection molded EVA and an extra aggressive rubber outsole for traction while walking, running or hiking. New Balance 623 Children’s Athletic shoe sports a leather upper, rubber cup outsole and pull tab. The New Balance 623 is available in a lace-up closure or a dual adjustable strap closure.

Keen’s durable trail walking shoe, Targhee, is a very popular style year-round. The kid’s Targhee shoe is water-resistant and features elastic laces so kids can’t trip over untied laces, a toe guard to protect kids’ vulnerable toes, arch support, cushioning, non-skin and non-marking outsole, moisture-wicking lining and a removable vegan-friendly footbed to accommodate customer orthotics. Keen Kid’s Targhee is now available in three fun color combinations.

Ditch the crowded malls and tedious trips to the stores, and take advantage of our free shipping on all kids shoes and sandals through August!

We all know that most shoes are not made up to par. Unfortunately, our children’s shoes often have the poorest designs. The insole inside your child’s shoes are so important for their health and growing feet – and unfortunately most shoe manufacturers look past children’s insoles.

KidZerts is a new company that has incorporated various health and comfort features to make a high-quality child’s insole. KidZerts arch supports are wear-moldable, have an anti-bacterial top cover to eliminate foot odor, arch support and a deep heel cup for stability. This arch support can reduce foot fatigue, leg cramps, arch pain and pain from flat feet.

If you want more information about the KidZerts insert or if you’d like to compare the four kids arch support insoles that we sell, please read our blog post: Ask A Podiatrist: Kids Arch Support Insoles.

Want to win a free pair of KidZerts?

KidZerts Giveaway Contest Details:
-Contest runs from Friday, May 21 at 7 a.m. PST, until Monday, May 24, 11 p.m. PST.
-We will give away a pair of KidZerts Children’s Arch Supports to 3 randomly selected winners (must have a US shipping address).
-If we get more than 400 comments, we will give away KidZerts to 5 randomly selected winners.
-Winners’ names will be announced as a comment to this blog post (and possibly via other social media sites) on Tuesday, May 25.
(You can have a max total of four entries.)

To Enter Contest:
-You MUST answer at least one of the following questions as a comment to this blog post:
How much do you think it cost to make the insole in your kid’s shoe?
                                           Or
Finish this sentence: My kid’s feet smell like …
(You can answer both questions for two entries.)

-On Facebook? You will get another entry if you like our Facebook page and change your status to: I just entered a contest with HealthyFeetStore.com so I can win a free pair of KidZerts arch support inserts for my kid!

-On Twitter? You will get another entry if you Follow us and then tweet this: I entered a contest from @GetHealthyFeet for a free pair of KidZerts arch supports for my kid! Contest details here: http://ow.ly/1NnCk

Good luck!

Children’s shoes are made with such poor insoles, that it is often necessary to buy children insoles that have arch support, heel cups and other healthy features. The following four kids arch support insoles are sold at HealthyFeetStore.com: KidZerts, Bambini, Arch Angels and Birkenstock. I interviewed Dr. Jeff Hurless, a foot and ankle surgeon, podiatrist, partial owner and medical director of HealthyFeetStore.com to explain the differences between these kids arch support insoles so that you know which one would best suit your child.

KidZerts
Purpose: Use them for collapsing arches, turned in ankles, sore feet, sore leg muscles, help weight distribution
Features that make it unique: A deep heel cup,  lateral post, deeper seated arch support to cup the foot, wear-moldable, anti-bacterial topcover, fun color
Will benefit children with: Flat feet, foot fatigue, leg cramps, tilted heels, abornmal shoe wear, poor balance

Bambini
Purpose: Use them for collapsing arches, turned in ankles, sore feet, sore leg muscles, help weight distribution
Features that make it unique: Durable, soft and conforming leather top cover, super low profile, no heel cup
Will benefit children with: Flat feet, foot fatigue, leg cramps, tilted heels, abornmal shoe wear, poor balance

Arch Angels
Purpose: Use them for collapsing arches, turned in ankles, sore feet, sore leg muscles, help weight distribution
Features that make it unique: Rear foot post to stabilize the arch support, very rigid, will provide the most support
Will benefit children with: Flat feet, foot fatigue, leg cramps, tilted heels, abornmal shoe wear, poor balance

Birkenstock
Purpose: Use them for collapsing arches, turned in ankles, sore feet, sore leg muscles, help weight distribution
Features that make it unique: Firmer material for more support (not cushy), deep heel cup, lateral extended arch
Will benefit children with: Flat feet, foot fatigue, leg cramps, tilted heels, abornmal shoe wear, poor balance

Let’s break it down:
For the most all-over support, buy Arch Angels.
For a soft insole with a very deep heel cup and arch support, buy KidZerts.
For a firmer insole with a deep heel cup and arch support, buy Birkenstock.
For a durable, soft insole with not as much arch support, buy Bambini.

PLEASE NOTE: If your child has tried inserts of this kind and he/she is still experiencing pain or problems, please see a doctor or a foot/ankle specialist.

Children’s sandals are not too different from adult sandals because they’re typically designed with the same features.  Sadly, this also means that like adult sandals, they also get a bum rap from foot health professionals because most consumers tend to buy cheaply made sandals at local drugstores hoping to save a buck or two.  What parents don’t know is that cheaply made sandals for kids are extremely bad for feet because they usually lack the health benefits of well made sandals.  But this doesn’t mean that parents need to exclude sandals from their children’s shoe collection.  Parents just need to do a little bit of research to learn what type of features they should take into consideration when it comes time to shop for children’s sandals.

Features of children’s sandals that parents should consider:

• Durability: Kid’s are constantly on the go so having sandals with long lasting features is important.  Most well made sandals have rubber outsoles – and some are non-marking so that floors will not get scuffed.
• Ventilation: Sandals with breathable, well ventilated upper designs are ideal.  As long as air can travel in and moisture travel out, kid’s feet can stay dry during non water activities.  Uppers with good ventilation can also reduce smelly feet.
• Easy On/Off: Having the ability to easily put on or take off children’s sandals is a definite must.  Look for sandals with adjustable hook and loop straps.  Not only will this strap design keep a secure fit, but also allow kid’s to put on their own sandals.
• Lightweight: Kids run around a lot and tend to trip themselves when they wear heavy footwear,  so wearing sandals made from lightweight materials is preferable.  Children’s sandals with synthetic mesh or polyester uppers are a great choice.
• Feet Size: Before each season, parents should make sure to have their kid’s feet measured so that they wear the correct size footwear.

There are numerous brands that manufacture top quality children’s sandals that are specially made to offer comfort and protection; plus they’re produce with durable features to withstand all of the daily wear that kids tend to put on shoes.  At HealthyFeetStore.com, parents can shop for quality made sandals for kids from excellent brand names such as Keen and New Balance.  These brands offer children’s sandals with fantastic features that will keep their children’s feet healthy, comfortable and protected.

Keen Newport H2 Kids Sandal

• Upper dries quickly because it’s made with polyester webbing
• Toe guard design protects little toes from bumps
• Completely waterproof – can be washed in the washing machine then air dried
• Adjustable hook and loop strap with Secure-Fit Lace capture system
• Pull tab for easy on/off
• Non marking rubber outsole

New Balance 553 Kids Sandal

• Synthetic/mesh lightweight upper
• Designed for outdoor use and light water activities (puddle splashing)
• Please note: This sandal is not waterproof and not intended to be used for submerging in water
• Hook and loop straps and pull tab for easy on/off
• Non marking rubber outsole

Parents shouldn’t settle for the cheaply made sandals offered at their local drugstores.  Kid’s feet are constantly growing so investing in quality made children’s sandals will not only help avoid kids from experiencing future foot problems, but most importantly keep their healthy feet healthy.

The latest shoe trend proves that the Romans had something right. Gladiator sandals are taking over shoe stores by storm. No matter where you go, you see at least one person wearing this long-lived sandal. But who can blame the gladiator sandal fans? The strappy, open design will keep your feet secure yet cool in these upcoming Spring and Summer months.

Gladiator sandals are characterized with a T-strap design that consists of a primary vertical strap with multiple straps adjoining it at a perpendicular angle. Ankle straps are also a key component that completes the gladiator sandal design. (A sandal could pass off as having a gladiator-inspired design if it has a backstrap, but the traditional and fashionable gladiator sandals have ankle straps.) Sometimes the sandal will have a covered heel for additional comfort. Decorations on the women’s gladiator sandals uppers include studs, buckles or metal ornaments for a more rustic, Roman look.

Most gladiator sandals you’ll find in department stores aren’t made with comfort and support in mind. The gladiator sandals on healthyfeetstore.com have arch support, heel cups, soft uppers and cushioned footbeds to ensure serenity when wearing them. You shouldn’t jeopardize your comfort for a fashion statement. What’s the point of spending money on a pair of sandals that do more harm than good for your feet? Below are the stylish gladiator sandals healthyfeetstore.com carries that will keep your feet healthy and ache-free:

Naot Cymbal: These gladiator sandals have soft leather uppers that keep your feet gently in place. An ankle strap is adjustable to secure the sandal in place. Decorated beads are feminine accents on the T-strap. A 1 1/2″ wedged heel gives these gladiator sandals a versatile function, allowing them to be worn with casual or dress outfits. The soft cork and latex footbed in all Naot sandals provides arch support and pure comfort for the wearer of these Naot Cymbal gladiator sandals.

Naot Flirt:  Don’t be fooled by the 2 3/4″ heel on these gladiator sandals. The Flirt sandal is different from other wedge sandals – its special construction won’t leave your feet aching. An ankle strap is adjustable and has elastic gore for a customized, secure fit. These gladiator heel sandals have a soft leather footbed with a unique suede center to prevent your feet from slipping. Metal studs add the chic finishing touches on these fashionable yet ultra comfortable gladiator sandals.

Naot Edge: A youthful gladiator sandal without a lot of glam, the Naot Edge is very kind to your feet. The backstrap keeps your foot in place and there is an adjustable strap closure for a secure fit. Perfect for casual wear, these gladiator sandals have a 1 1/4″ heel and have a removable footbed.

PG Lite 7197: With soft full grain leather uppers, these gladiator sandals sport an adjustable ankle strap with elastic gore for a perfect fit. The built-in heel pad air pillow absorbs shock from the heel strike and a removable insole accommodates custom orthotics. A TPR shank adds extra support to these gladiator sandals and it’s made from lightweight materials to prevent fatigue. These PG Lite sandals are more of conservative gladiator sandals but are completely orthopedic.

Softwalk Torino: A more conservative gladiator sandal style, the Torino has multiple leather straps with metal studs on them for decoration. The ankle strap has a buckle to enhance security. Softwalk’s shoes and sandals have a unique egg-crate footbed that is very soft and comfortable. This top grain leather wrapped polyurethane foam footbed is designed to support and cushion the feet. Torino is a gladiator sandal that promises all-day comfort and it’s also available in Narrow and Wide widths.

We invite you to dress up like a Roman, but be more comfortable!

Today is the first day of Foot Health Awareness Month. This health-rallying cause is a cry for people to love their feet, examine their feet, get educated about what is good for their feet and learn the consequences of bad foot health. At HealthyFeetStore.com, promoting foot health and education is our sole mission that we work toward every day of the year.

Many serious conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve disorders and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet. Do a close inspection of your feet and your loved ones’ feet (young and old) or make an appointment with a doctor. About 75% of people experience foot issues in their lifetime but don’t talk to a doctor about it until it worsens.

Coupons:
-In honor of Foot Health Awareness Month, we are offering $10 off your purchase of $150 or more. Use the coupon code: foothealth2010
-This month we’re offering free ground shipping on any pair of Kids Sandals. Use the coupon code: kidssandals

Blog Posts:
-We always dedicate our blog posts to providing the public with additional foot health information, but be sure to read our blog post next week which will look into some of the most common foot problems.
-Read our blog post about shoe shopping tips that you probably didn’t know, but should
-Read our blog post about healthy flip flop brands that you should wear

Some time ago we did a post called Famous Shoe Songs – Footwear Songs to Make You Tap Your Toes. Readers loved it and we thought we’d do another installment. Without further adieu here are five more famous shoe songs:

1. New Shoes by Paolo Nutini

Hey, I put some new shoes on,
and suddenly everything is right

Here at HealthyFeetStore.com the moment we heard this song it was love at first listen. We couldn’t stop singing it to ourselves, partly because the song was so fun and catchy and partly because we felt that Paolo Nutini really understood something fundamental about shoes. Shoes don’t last forever! Athletic shoes in particular need to be replaced every three to six month to ensure your feet are receiving enough support from the outsole to prevent repetitive stress injuries such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. Paulo Nutini is absolutely right. If you’re experiencing foot pain and can’t remember the last time you replaced your shoes, putting a pair of new shoes on may very well make everything right.

2. Mile In These Shoes by Jennifer Lopez

Even if they try they still can’t walk a mile in these shoes.
They couldn’t even lace ‘em up right.

Before trying to walk a mile in Jennifer Lopez’s shoes let’s make sure it would be healthy for your feet. According to CelebrityShoeSize.com, Jennifer Lopez’s shoe size is an 8.5. The average women’s shoe size is an 8 wide, so based on size alone many women’s feet would be too wide to walk a mile in Jennifer Lopez’s shoes. To determine your ideal shoe width, visit HealthyFeetStore.com’s width sizing chart page. As for tying shoes properly, the next song on our list should help you out.

3. The Shoe Tying Song from Sponge Bob Square Pants

You wanna learn how to tie your shoe?
It’s a very easy thing to do.
Just sit on down and I’ll give you the scoop…
What’s that? It’s called the loop-de-loop.
You put your laces in each hand,
go under and over again, take your loop-de-loop and pull,
and your shoes are looking cool.
You go over and back, left to right, loop-de-loop and hold ‘em tight.
Like the bunny ears or a Christmas bow, lace ‘em up and you’re ready to go!
Take your loop-de-loop and pull, and your shoes are lookin’ cool.

Featured in the Sponge Bob Square Pants episode in which Sponge Bob’s shoes mysteriously come untied and our poriferous hero must learn how to lace them up again; The Shoe Tying Song is quickly becoming a children’s classic. When it comes time to buy your children their first pair of lace-up sneakers, listening to this song together will make learning to shoe tie fun and easy. They’ll be walking in Jennifer Lopez’s shoes in no time!

4. Mary Jane Shoes by Fergi

When I wear my Mary Jane shoes
I can escape from a blues
The whole world seems a little bit brighter, brighter
My heavy steps get a little bit lighter, lighter

Mary Janes are stylish, feminine, and typically have much more solid heel support than women’s pumps. A full day of work or play without heel pain? That’ll chase the blues away! For a truly lighter, brighter step, try on a pair of PG Lite Alegria Mary Janes, lightweight and available in a dozen fun colors and patterns.

5. Sensible Shoes by David Lee Roth

I walk around with the blues.
I need some sensible shoes

When your feet have the blues they don’t pick up a saxophone; they express their unhappiness with arch pain, ankle pain, and back pain. Many foot pain sufferers don’t realize that Sensible shoes can actually be quite fashionable. Even rock stars like David Lee Roth recognize that wearing shoes that fit properly and feature adequate amounts of heel support and arch support can take away the blues and put a swing in your step.

This holiday season, surprise your kids or young relatives with soft, healthy, therapeutic slippers. This season, Health Feet Store is introducing Acorn and Giesswein’s slippers collection for kids.

Acorn kids’ slippers are plush, cozy and have an arch support to maintain foot health. Just like adult Acorn slippers, Acorn’s kids slippers have a soft, memory foam midsole and waterproof outsole, so little feet will stay comfortable and the slipper is durable if worn outside. These slippers come in three cute styles to appeal to all children. And for the little ones who like to dress up like mommy or daddy, the Tex Moc (available in Pink Ocelot or Black Berber) slipper coincides with the Acorn’s adult Tex Moc slipper for men and women.

Teddie Pair: Boys love these soft booties, which are easy to put on, yet fit securely on a little tyke’s feet. The upper is made of fleece for easy cleaning. With two styles to choose from (blue stars and black lizard prints), these will become young boys’ shoe of choice.

Boa Bootie: Your little fashionista will adore these pink, fuzzy slippers. Their tall bootie shape and microfleece lining will keep girls’ feet warm, comfortable and stylish.

Tex Moc: For the kids who can’t wait to grow up, there is the Tex Moc. These cute moccasins have a super soft upper and lining for extra comfort. They are available in black or pink, for boys and girls. We also sell Acorn’s matching Tex Moc slipper for moms and dads.

Giesswein Kids’ wool slippers have boiled wool uppers and come in various fun and colorful styles. The soft and flexible lining will ensure that your kids’ feet stay warm, comfortable and healthy – not sweaty or stinky. The latex outsoles provide improved traction and will not mark floors. Giesswein’s slippers are made in Europe, using recycled ingredients to better the world we live in.

Turnberg: These are more than your average moccasin slippers. They are styled with a flexible gore vamp strap that stretches with the foot’s movement but also secures the feet in place. They’re offered in denim, charcoal and red.

Freiburg: This cozy house shoe is made to warm your child’s feet in this year’s winter wonderland. The bootie’s ankle cuff is soft and gently hugs the ankle.

Emden: This bootie is similar to the Freiburg except that it is transformed into a cute dog face. In brown or blue, this slipper adds comfort and character to your kid’s look.

Eisenstadt: This slipper is made for a princess. With the creative castle shape and soft, pink upper material – it’s an enchanting house shoe that little girls won’t want to walk without.

These slippers come with personality, so give them with love this holiday season.