Apr 21st, 2008 by keelyh |
Keep your head low and your eyes peeled; we’re about to embark on a sandal safari traveling deep into the wilds of warm weather footwear. Today we’ll take you to the watering holes and grazing grounds of some of the most beautiful sandals in the world. As your guide, I’ll point out some of the identifying features of different sandal species so that you can recognize them when you come across them in your own travels.
Uh oh, lookout behind you, better watch your feet! You see that savage five inch spike heel, sunning itself at the edge of that far clearing? Good thing you’re safe in our HealthyFeetStore.com Blog safari vehicle. That sandal is a clever predator. It’ll damage your metatarsal joints, shorten your Achilles tendon, and devour your foot health if you’re not careful make no mistake about it.
Strap in. It’s time we were underway!
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Popularity: 3% [?]
Mar 26th, 2008 by keelyh |
Reader Question:
Dear HealthyFeetStore.com Blog,
I have been a competitive Irish dancer for 10 years and last August I started to have intense pain in the arch/bottom of my foot ONLY when dancing. Irish dancing requires a lot of pounding with your feet in shoes that do no offer much in the way of support. The shoes that give me the most problems are called “hardshoes.” They are basically a plain lace up shoe with a fiber glass tip of about ¾” thick and a 1.5” wooden heel with a strip of flexible leather in between under the arch. The pain starts about 5-10 minutes into practicing and becomes so intense I have to yank my shoes off and sit down. It feels like a very bad cramp. As soon as I stop dancing though it will go away in 5 minutes only to come back when I start dancing again. It does not bother me at all on a daily basis, only during practice. For this reason, my doctor does not think it is Plantar Fasciitis. I’ve had x-rays which didn’t show anything and I have been to a sports medicine physician. He could not offer much more than orthotics. I don’t know if orthotics in my dance shoes will work because of the flexibility that is necessary to dance. The arch of the shoe has to be able to bend in both directions. I rested for 6 weeks, went to physical therapy, did the stretches, massaged the arch…. all of which did nothing when I went back to dance. No one has been able to give me a clear answer on what this is or what to do. I’m kind of at a loss as to what to do now. Do you have any recommendations?
Thank you!
Podiatrist Jeff Hurless’ Answer:
Although we cannot provide a medical diagnosis to you without seeing you as a patient in our office, we can offer the following product suggestions.
Some dancers who experience foot pain find using Powerstep Arch Boosters in their dancing shoes to be helpful. You might also try a metatarsal gel pad. Usually there is not enough room inside a dancing shoe to support a complete orthotic. These are both inexpensive products that may be worth a try. We do recommend visiting footphysicians.com and finding a board certified foot and ankle doctor near you for an evaluation. Good Luck.
Popularity: 14% [?]
Mar 15th, 2008 by keelyh |
The first day of spring is less than a week away and summer won’t be far behind it. Now is the time to think about sandal shopping.
Shopping for a comfortable sandal can be very different than shopping for a properly fitting shoe because sandals are constructed using entirely distinct principles. In a shoe, the vamp (top part of the shoe) fully covers and constricts the motion of the foot. To ensure comfort and prevent foot injury, special attention must be paid to the size of the toe box and the shoe’s overall depth. In a sandal, particularly an open-toe sandal, the attention shifts to the footbed and outsole because that is where the majority of your foot’s support will come from.
Another thing to remember when shopping for sandals is that sandals tend to come in whole sizes. In most cases that means that you will need to go a half size larger if you usually wear a half size, for example if you wear a size 7 ½ in shoes you would wear a size 8 in sandals.
Here are a few other things to think about when looking for a sandal that will fit comfortably. continue reading » »
Popularity: 13% [?]
Feb 20th, 2008 by keelyh |
Whether you’ll be visiting a salon or scheduling your own do-it-yourself makeover at home, use these 25 pedicure tips to get your feet in tiptop shape for the spring sandal season. Don’t let your tooties swelter in shame inside boots and closed toes shoes when the weather turns warmer.
Tips for Salon Pedicures
1. Schedule a pedicure in the morning when fewer people have used the salon’s footbath or make sure you find a salon that cleans their footbath thoroughly between customers.
2. Bring your own pedicure tools to the salon to ensure you don’t get toenail fungus or bacterial infection.
3. If you have sensitive diabetic feet inform the salon at the time you make your appointment. Ask about sterilization procedures, the temperature of the water during foot soaks, and if any of the salon’s pedicurists have experience working with diabetic feet.
4. If you are diabetic and feel uncertain of the salon’s ability to take proper safety precautions trust your instincts and try a different salon. Remember that pedicures can be an invaluable component of diabetic foot care, but only when performed by a knowledgeable professional.
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Popularity: 21% [?]
Feb 12th, 2008 by keelyh |
On Valentine’s Day lavish gifts only go so far. On the road to true romance actions speak louder than words. Make your sweetheart swoon by performing the most complete, bliss-inducing, foot pampering massage ever using our 27 tips. A romantic foot massage makes the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a man or a woman. A rejuvenating foot soak and an intimate foot massage works well as a prelude to the evening’s festivities, and is perfect for getting your honey in the mood for love after a long day at the office. You can also perform a foot massage as a soothing surprise after an evening on the town.
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Popularity: 11% [?]
Feb 5th, 2008 by keelyh |
Last week I was filled with confidence that the New England Patriots would be straight with the press about Tom Brady’s ankle injury in the team health stats that were released the Wednesday before the Super Bowl. (In retrospect I realize this was somewhat naïve.) I promised HealthyFeetStore.com Blog readers an update on Tom Brady’s health and mobility and how that might affect the outcome of the Super Bowl.
The health report on Wednesday said nothing out of the ordinary. It mentioned that Brady had a shoulder injury. Brady’s ‘shoulder injury’ (nearly as mysterious as the ankle injury that pulled a Houdini on the health report) has been listed on the New England Patriot’s regular health reports for several years to no effect. continue reading » »
Popularity: 13% [?]
Jan 30th, 2008 by keelyh |
You don’t have to be a New England Patriots fan to have heard about Tom Brady’s recent mysterious ankle injury. Safe money says if you have even a passing interest in football you’ve probably caught a bit of the hype.
The scoop: although no official reports are due to come out until Wednesday, Jan. 29 (don’t worry, we’ll keep you posted), many reporters are speculating that Tom Brady had a pretty rough game against the San Diego Chargers last Sunday at the AFC Championships. Several of his passes were wildly off course with receivers having to dive or reach to keep from fumbling the ball. For a player who holds the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a single season such spotty performance is hardly characteristic. There were also reports of Brady limping slightly at one point during the game. On Monday, when Brady paid a visit to his girlfriend, supermodel Gisele Bundchen’s apartment wearing a partially concealed walking cast speculation about a possible high ankle sprain rose to a crescendo. With Super Bowl XLII looming less than a week away, Tom Brady claims he’d “have to be on a stretcher” not to play in Sunday’s game, but Patriots fans are understandably apprehensive. Check out the Boston Herald’s excellent coverage of the story for more details and for a photo of Tom Brady wearing the walking cast in question. continue reading » »
Popularity: 14% [?]
Jan 23rd, 2008 by keelyh |
Reader Question:
Dear HealthyFeetStore.com Blog,
I am the mother of a 3 1/2 year old boy. His left leg pronates more than his right and his right foot seems to be flatter than the other one. When I ask him to put his ankles together for me his left knee sticks inward. I’ve heard that children’s feet often pronate and that this tends to correct itself as children get older, but I’m worried that he may have flat feet because his father and grandfather have them.
What I wanted to ask was do I need to get my son orthotics or special shoes?
Can he wear sandals? I do not want to get anything that is flat and it seems all of the sandals made for kids have absolutely no arch support in them.
Any advice you could give me would be helpful. Thank you.
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Popularity: 8% [?]
Jan 14th, 2008 by keelyh |
We seem to be hearing a lot these days from medical professionals and health experts about the importance of preventing foot pain and injury through the use of orthotics. What we haven’t been hearing about is how to make sense of the various types of insoles, inserts, pads, arch supports, and other orthotic devices.
Sometimes it seems as if there are as many different kinds of shoe orthotics as there are feet. There is a reason for this. Shoe orthotics are never one size fits all. An orthotic that feels like foot salvation for one person may actually cause foot pain in another. A podiatrist’s visit is the best source of orthotic advice specific to your feet and foot conditions. Here are some general tips to get you started. continue reading » »
Popularity: 18% [?]
Jan 8th, 2008 by keelyh |
While everyone agrees that a comfortable pair of shoes is absolutely essential for the success of any walking routine; there is much less consensus as to which type of athletic shoe best fits that description. As is often the case, in foot care and in other aspects of life, the answer to this question can vary because of the specific needs of individual people and their feet. It is only natural that your arch type, whether or not you suffer from a foot condition such as bunions or hammertoes, and the health of your muscles and joints will be deciding factors in selecting the best shoe for you to walk in comfort.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages to different types of athletic shoes as well as some general guidelines for ensuring that your feet stay healthy and pain free during your walking routine. continue reading » »
Popularity: 11% [?]
