How Do Orthopedic Shoes Help Ease Pain

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For people who have special walking needs, orthopedic shoes (learn more about Orthotics at Wikipedia) can be a tremendous asset to have around the house. They are designed specifically to fit all types of feet, with special attention to the feet’s ankles and soles. The design for the ankle area of the orthopedic shoes allow for easy maneuverability and jumping motions, whereas the sole areas of the are designed to have low elevation in order to make walking and running more comfortable.

Basic Design

The general design of orthopedic shoes is based around the goal of making movement easy and comfortable. In contrast to conventional shoes, they are less restrictive on your feet. This means you are less likely to become tired when walking relatively long distances. Their special design qualities are also meant to reduce the amount of strain that exist in your leg muscles as you walk about. Basically, these shoes are designed to work with the natural movement of your feet rather than against it, like many inferior shoes do.

With regards to fashion, many orthopedic shoes are designed to offer vibrancy to their wearer. In the past, these shoes were originally made from ordinary materials, but these days, new colors and designs have also been added to meet certain aesthetic and physical requirements by their wearers. The result is the rise of orthopedic shoes and boots which are multipurpose in their overall design.

Fashion and Function

Also, newer models of orthopedic shoes have thicker soles and increased durability. Their average height has also been reduced in order create a flat base that is conducive to smooth and comfortable walking. With regards to colors, it’s worth mentioning that orthopedic shoes come in a variety of colors and can complement most attire just like conventional shoes. It used to be that orthopedic shoes were functional but not fashionable. To put it bluntly—they were ugly.

The flat heel design of orthopedic shoes also helps your feet make elegant forward movements, while reducing bruises and other conditions that usually result from most kinds of footwear. This is because orthopedic shoes come with removable flexible inner linings. The shoes are designed to conform to the shape of your feet for maximum comfort and functionality, and keep you feet in good health for a lifetime.

Specially Designed Interior

And lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the interior of orthopedic boots is neither prolonged nor pointed, which is the case with other kinds of footwear. Instead, their general design aims for a wider front in order to give the toes sufficient room for movement, thus reducing stress and overheating. Keeping the feet cool and comfortable and free from stress is the key to preventing foot pain and other related conditions.

These shoes are designed to eliminate foot pain, swelling, and bruising of the feet. They also protect against the blisters and abrasions that occur from friction between the shoe and the foot. Since we’re on our feet every day, wearing shoes that protect them from these conditions is crucial to long term foot health.

 

What To Look For In A Podiatrist

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We hardly ever think about how important our feet are to us, even though we’d be in a world of trouble without them. Just think; your feet are there for you without fail- standing, walking, rushing and even driving your car. Your two feet are involved in nearly every facet of your life.

What Podiatrists Do?

When your feet, ankles, and lower legs suffer from a disorder of any kind podiatrists are able to assist you. They are commonly called Doctors of Podiatry, derived from “pod”, meaning foot, due to their specialization in diagnosing and treating problems with one’s feet and lower legs. However, they also tend to assist patients in the areas of sports medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics and any other area which involves the lower limbs.

Podiatrists can be found in many countries- especially Western ones. Countries such as the U.S, South Africa, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand have been recognizing podiatry as a specialty for years, while Singapore has recently begun its recognition. Podiatry is a high paying career—especially in the U.S. This profession doesn’t come without hard work, as podiatrists work every day to restore feet which have walked into their office, often looking as if they have had little to no care.

Problems with the Feet are Very Common

Podiatrists are often shocked to see how patients don’t pay much attention to a part of their body which they depend on so very much. The feet withstand more than a hundred pounds daily for the average adult, yet the attention they receive is often slim to none. Unfortunately this neglect often leads to problems with the feet. Luckily, today’s podiatrists have the technology on hand to handle even the worst of foot problems.

Podiatrists usually work in clinics and hospitals to round out the variety of medical services these institutions offer. However, there are podiatrists that choose to go into private practice, and work out of separate offices, or even their own homes.

Podiatrists can operate, and routinely perform reconstructive surgeries on the bones and muscles surrounding the ankle joint. Bursitis, inflammation of the bursa sacs around the ankle, is among the more common conditions one would see a podiatrist for. Diabetics typically suffer from leg and foot issues as a result of their disease, and many require constant care from a podiatrist. A less well known but still important part of a podiatrist’s job includes forensic work involving foot or shoe prints and DNA samples involving the foot or leg.

Choosing a Podiatrist

When you’re choosing a podiatrist to treat you, you want a doctor that has a reputation for treating the precise issue you have. Do your research and find out about the various podiatrists in your area and what they are best known for. While any podiatrist can treat your issues, one with more specific experience will almost always provide better results. Getting proper care from any health professional relies on accurate communication and compliance on the part of the patient as well.

How To Keep Your Feet Healthy

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We often take our feet for granted – we use them every day but forget that they need caring for, just like any other part of our body. We only really care for our feet when we know they will be seen by others, such as in the summer with open toed shoes. Otherwise, they are neglected until there is a pain or problem that could have easily been prevented. Here are a few tips you can follow to make sure you take good care of your feet and keep them healthy all year round:

– Choose your footwear carefully. Many cases of foot pain are due to ill-fitting shoes. Make sure you get your feet measured to find out your exact shoe size to avoid buying an uncomfortable pair.

– Fashion isn’t always foot friendly. Shoes with high heels and enclosed, pointed toes can be bad news for your feet in future. It is not surprising to discover that people who have spent many years wearing these types of shoes have developed problems, such as bunions, in later life. High heeled shoes are not recommended for every day wear. Opt for a pair of comfortable flat shoes instead and save the heels for special occasions.

– Remember to take time to exfoliate and moisturize your feet. Feet are often forgotten and left out of our showering routine so it is important to remove dead skin cells to keep them soft and clean. Make sure you dry your feet thoroughly afterwards as warm damp areas are prime conditions for the growth of bacteria and fungus.

– After you clean and scrub your feet, moisturize them with a product such as CSS cream. Products like this contain the ingredient urea which is commonly used to treat skin ailments. This will help dry skin on the feet as well as soothe corn problems.

-As tempting as it is to break your blisters, this is not recommended. Instead, cover them with a dressing after cleaning them thoroughly (and carefully). You can also add a little antiseptic ointment to prevent infection in the event that it does break. To avoid these painful blisters use gel filled band-aids on the pressure points where the shoe rubs the foot.

-Rotate your footwear regularly to allow your shoes to dry and air out, as this will prevent fungal problems like athlete’s foot. If you have athletes foot it’s best to boil your socks and use an anti-fungal spray in your shoes each day.

-If you’ve had the same foot towel in the bathroom for a month you might want to switch it out. Bacteria love a moist towel, and you can easily spread fungus from the towel to your feet and other parts of your body.

-Protect your feet with sandals in public bathing areas, as it is all too easy to get athlete’s foot fungus from wet cement where other have walked barefoot.

-Soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salt to prevent or cure fungal infections. This also helps exfoliate calluses and soften the skin on the feet.

Taking good care of your feet is important for long term health and mobility. Spending a few minutes each day using these remedies will go a long way toward keeping your feet happy and healthy.

Here’s a great video to help you make the most of your feet!