Use A Shoe Horn:
Using a shoe horn to put on your shoes helps save the heel from unnecessary wear and tear.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Shoe Care Tip #3
Protective Soles
Adding a rubber sole protector prolongs the life of your shoes. By placing a thin rubber sole over the existing sole, protects the bottom of the shoe from from wear and tear. Water resistant and skid proof protective soles will greatly increase the life of leather soled shoes.
Adding a rubber sole protector prolongs the life of your shoes. By placing a thin rubber sole over the existing sole, protects the bottom of the shoe from from wear and tear. Water resistant and skid proof protective soles will greatly increase the life of leather soled shoes.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Quality Shoes Are Not Just Happenstance
The Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory (OBL) is a unique research facility uniting the work of clinicians, engineers, and biologists dedicated to applied basic science research of the musculoskeletal system of humans and animals. We invite you to visit our facilities, meet our personnel, and get an inside look at our day-to-day activities in orthopaedic biomechanics.
Check out their website:
http://www.obl.msu.edu/SHOETEST.HTM
Check out their website:
http://www.obl.msu.edu/SHOETEST.HTM
Tip #2 Rotate Your Shoes
Shoes need a day off. If you want your fine leather shoes to last longer, never wear them for two consecutive days.
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Series of Shoe Care Tips - Tip #1
Tip #1 Use Cedar Shoe Trees
Did you know during a normal day your feet produce over a 1/4 cup of moisture and up to a 1/2 cup when active? Cedar shoes trees can extend the life of your leather shoes up to three times their expected life span. They draw moisture out of try our shoes; re-awaken the shoe's natural structural memory; and prevent the leather from wrinkling and cracking.
Aromatic cedar shoe trees have three basic functions:
1. The original shape of the shoe is maintained
2. Unfinished cedar absorbs moisture
3. The aroma of cedar deodorizes shoes naturally
http://www.nushoe.com/ShoeCareTips.pdf
Did you know during a normal day your feet produce over a 1/4 cup of moisture and up to a 1/2 cup when active? Cedar shoes trees can extend the life of your leather shoes up to three times their expected life span. They draw moisture out of try our shoes; re-awaken the shoe's natural structural memory; and prevent the leather from wrinkling and cracking.
Aromatic cedar shoe trees have three basic functions:
1. The original shape of the shoe is maintained
2. Unfinished cedar absorbs moisture
3. The aroma of cedar deodorizes shoes naturally
http://www.nushoe.com/ShoeCareTips.pdf
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Put On Your Shoes and Have Fun With Your Kids!
It’s summertime, school is out, and many families are at their wit’s end about how to fill three months of their children’s free time. Images of summertime are usually cast in a light of hot, lazy, relaxing days by a lake, but the reality for most working families is the struggle to balance the demands of adult work schedules with providing safe activities for children. This dilemma often results in hectic, stress-filled days comparable to those during the school year. While summer camp is an option for some, the cost of day and overnight camps can be too expensive for many families’ budgets. Structured activities are beneficial, but parents and caregivers should also keep in mind the advantages of unstructured time for children.
So what do we do to keep young children busy, yet also allow them to enjoy the summer months? Whether your child is a preschooler or school-age, a wealth of opportunities for fun, educational, and even relaxing activities are possible. Here are some tips that may be useful for families and caregivers:
Visit the library
Until recently, libraries offered little or nothing for children below the age of three, but in the past few years, many have introduced programs for toddlers. Children and adults can participate in activities that may include reading aloud, storytelling, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs. Preschoolers usually enjoy the group activities offered by libraries, where they can participate in puppet shows and arts and crafts activities. For elementary school children, there are variations of the read-alouds and storytelling hours that often include discussions and presentations by the children themselves, as well as summer reading programs. Many public libraries also offer training courses for children in using different software or educational programs.
Discover geography
What makes a place special? What are the physical characteristics of your hometown? Take children for a walk around your neighborhood and look at what makes it unique. Point out how it is similar to other places you have been and how it is different. If you live near a park, a lake, a river, a stream or a creek, take your children there and spend time talking about its uses. Read stories about distant places with children or sing songs to teach geography, for example "Home on the Range" or "California, Here I Come." Make a wish list of places you would like to visit with your child. Look them up on a map and plan a trip there--real or pretend.
View and create collections
Go to a children’s museum to view hands-on exhibits or suggest that your children start a "collection" and build their own museum. They can collect natural materials, such as acorns and leaves from a local park or sea shells from the beach.
Nature’s best
Older children can learn about weather by using a map to look up the temperature of cities around the world and discovering how hot each gets in the summer. Watch cloud formations and imagine. Do the shapes look like horses, ducks or other animals?
At night, children can collect fireflies in jars, or depending on their age, camp out in a tent in the back yard. Create a treasure map for children to find hidden treats in the yard. Read about your state bird and state flower, and if possible, bicycle ride to a nearby park to find them.
Use community resources
Watch for special events, such as free outdoor music festivals or concerts. Many communities host evening concerts in local parks--pack a picnic dinner and enjoy time with your family. People are resources too--collectors, painters, and backyard naturalists may live in your neighborhood, eager to share their knowledge with children.
Rainy day activities
Summertime often brings thunder clouds. On days when outdoor activities are not possible, you can share family history and photos with your children. Pull out the old videotapes of past family gatherings and events. Prepare an indoor picnic with your child or cook dinner together.
Whatever the activity, children can enjoy and appreciate the summer months in ways that are both educational and stress-reducing for all involved.
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/summer.activities.html
So what do we do to keep young children busy, yet also allow them to enjoy the summer months? Whether your child is a preschooler or school-age, a wealth of opportunities for fun, educational, and even relaxing activities are possible. Here are some tips that may be useful for families and caregivers:
Visit the library
Until recently, libraries offered little or nothing for children below the age of three, but in the past few years, many have introduced programs for toddlers. Children and adults can participate in activities that may include reading aloud, storytelling, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs. Preschoolers usually enjoy the group activities offered by libraries, where they can participate in puppet shows and arts and crafts activities. For elementary school children, there are variations of the read-alouds and storytelling hours that often include discussions and presentations by the children themselves, as well as summer reading programs. Many public libraries also offer training courses for children in using different software or educational programs.
Discover geography
What makes a place special? What are the physical characteristics of your hometown? Take children for a walk around your neighborhood and look at what makes it unique. Point out how it is similar to other places you have been and how it is different. If you live near a park, a lake, a river, a stream or a creek, take your children there and spend time talking about its uses. Read stories about distant places with children or sing songs to teach geography, for example "Home on the Range" or "California, Here I Come." Make a wish list of places you would like to visit with your child. Look them up on a map and plan a trip there--real or pretend.
View and create collections
Go to a children’s museum to view hands-on exhibits or suggest that your children start a "collection" and build their own museum. They can collect natural materials, such as acorns and leaves from a local park or sea shells from the beach.
Nature’s best
Older children can learn about weather by using a map to look up the temperature of cities around the world and discovering how hot each gets in the summer. Watch cloud formations and imagine. Do the shapes look like horses, ducks or other animals?
At night, children can collect fireflies in jars, or depending on their age, camp out in a tent in the back yard. Create a treasure map for children to find hidden treats in the yard. Read about your state bird and state flower, and if possible, bicycle ride to a nearby park to find them.
Use community resources
Watch for special events, such as free outdoor music festivals or concerts. Many communities host evening concerts in local parks--pack a picnic dinner and enjoy time with your family. People are resources too--collectors, painters, and backyard naturalists may live in your neighborhood, eager to share their knowledge with children.
Rainy day activities
Summertime often brings thunder clouds. On days when outdoor activities are not possible, you can share family history and photos with your children. Pull out the old videotapes of past family gatherings and events. Prepare an indoor picnic with your child or cook dinner together.
Whatever the activity, children can enjoy and appreciate the summer months in ways that are both educational and stress-reducing for all involved.
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/summer.activities.html
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Dr. Vail!
The Advanced Footcare Clinic is the office of Dr. Thomas F. Vail, DPM, located in Findlay, Ohio. Dr. Vail is originally a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He is a cum laude graduate of Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Vail then went on to receive his medical degree (DPM) at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his surgical residency in Youngstown, Ohio, and completed an addition year specializing in minimal incision technologies in South Bend, Indiana.Dr. Vail is currently on staff at the Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center in Findlay and Bluffton, as well as the Findlay Surgery Center. He is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, as well as its Ohio Affiliate. He is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS) as well as being a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Looking for a good pair of shoes?
Check out our listing of recommended shoe manufacturers in the right column of this blog! If you have any questions about a specific shoe, you can contact our office.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Summer Foot Care and Recipes...
Our feet need pampering. Yes, they really do, and summer is an especially important time to take care of them! If you are a diabetic this is crucial to your health routine.
First, cute shoes are not necessarily good shoes. Make sure they fit, and for long walks avoid flip-flops or sandals with anything between your toes. This can rub and cause blisters and calluses. You want comfortable shoes or sandals that don't rub or feel too snug. If you are diabetic you really want to avoid sandals because it's a lot easier to injure your feet, which will easily become infected.
Use a sunscreen of at least 15 SPF on your feet. Protect them from the sun---they can burn too!
Trim your toenails straight across every 3-4 weeks. They will trim easier after a shower or bath. Use a good cream on your feet too. I've been using a mint cream that's been helping. Eucerin makes a thick cream that works well at night when they are extremely dry. Wear a pair of clean cotton socks afterwards to really do the job. Don't put the cream between your toes. This can cause a moisture build up and fungus can develop in those areas.
Don't EVER use anything sharp to scrape rough feet. This is an infection waiting to happen! Use foot soaks, lotions and scrubs, but nothing sharp or metal. Pumice stones can help to prevent calluses from building up are safe to use. Also, don't wear nail polish on your toenails day in and day out. Put it on for special occasions, but remove afterwords. Your toenails need to breathe too!
Take special precautions in locker rooms, beach houses, camp or gym shower areas. Wear shoes or sandals at all times. Take a pair of cheap flip-flops to wear in the shower. This is where you will pick up fungus and bacteria. Wash feet daily and examine for signs of injury or infection. Use an anti-fungal or anti-bacterial spray afterwards.
If your feet are stiff in the morning (like mine are!) try putting on a hot water bottle or warm compress on the bottom of your feet while you are eating your bowl of cereal. This stimulates the blood flow and may help, plus you'll have nice warm feet.
Have at least two pairs of shoes that you can wear daily, and switch each day. They need time to air out and get rid of the moisture from being worn. Spray with a disinfectant such as Lysol too. A frugal and natural thing you can do for your feet is sprinkle baking soda in your shoes and on your feet. Your feet and toes need to breathe! Again, avoid tight shoes and socks.
In the evenings, prop your feet up while watching television or reading. Give your feet a break!
Try this recipe made with essential oils for a special treat: Before Bed Herbal Foot Soak
Ingredients:
5 drops each juniper berry, grapefruit and bitter orange essential oils
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup dead sea mineral salts
hot water
Stir the salts and oils into a tub or basin of hot water and soak your feet for 10-15 minutes. Dry feet and apply lotion.
NOTES: You can also skip the salts if you don't have them and add 5 drops of juniper, 3 rosemary and 2 drops lavender essential oil to give your feet a treat!
Lastly, one more caution for diabetics. Call your doctor at the first sign of redness, soreness or anything that could possibly be an infection. Things can progress VERY quickly and you don't want to take a chance. Be gentle with your feet and take care of them!
About the Author:
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer, editor, herb gardener and mother to three children. For more herb recipes and tips visit The Garden Path
First, cute shoes are not necessarily good shoes. Make sure they fit, and for long walks avoid flip-flops or sandals with anything between your toes. This can rub and cause blisters and calluses. You want comfortable shoes or sandals that don't rub or feel too snug. If you are diabetic you really want to avoid sandals because it's a lot easier to injure your feet, which will easily become infected.
Use a sunscreen of at least 15 SPF on your feet. Protect them from the sun---they can burn too!
Trim your toenails straight across every 3-4 weeks. They will trim easier after a shower or bath. Use a good cream on your feet too. I've been using a mint cream that's been helping. Eucerin makes a thick cream that works well at night when they are extremely dry. Wear a pair of clean cotton socks afterwards to really do the job. Don't put the cream between your toes. This can cause a moisture build up and fungus can develop in those areas.
Don't EVER use anything sharp to scrape rough feet. This is an infection waiting to happen! Use foot soaks, lotions and scrubs, but nothing sharp or metal. Pumice stones can help to prevent calluses from building up are safe to use. Also, don't wear nail polish on your toenails day in and day out. Put it on for special occasions, but remove afterwords. Your toenails need to breathe too!
Take special precautions in locker rooms, beach houses, camp or gym shower areas. Wear shoes or sandals at all times. Take a pair of cheap flip-flops to wear in the shower. This is where you will pick up fungus and bacteria. Wash feet daily and examine for signs of injury or infection. Use an anti-fungal or anti-bacterial spray afterwards.
If your feet are stiff in the morning (like mine are!) try putting on a hot water bottle or warm compress on the bottom of your feet while you are eating your bowl of cereal. This stimulates the blood flow and may help, plus you'll have nice warm feet.
Have at least two pairs of shoes that you can wear daily, and switch each day. They need time to air out and get rid of the moisture from being worn. Spray with a disinfectant such as Lysol too. A frugal and natural thing you can do for your feet is sprinkle baking soda in your shoes and on your feet. Your feet and toes need to breathe! Again, avoid tight shoes and socks.
In the evenings, prop your feet up while watching television or reading. Give your feet a break!
Try this recipe made with essential oils for a special treat: Before Bed Herbal Foot Soak
Ingredients:
5 drops each juniper berry, grapefruit and bitter orange essential oils
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup dead sea mineral salts
hot water
Stir the salts and oils into a tub or basin of hot water and soak your feet for 10-15 minutes. Dry feet and apply lotion.
NOTES: You can also skip the salts if you don't have them and add 5 drops of juniper, 3 rosemary and 2 drops lavender essential oil to give your feet a treat!
Lastly, one more caution for diabetics. Call your doctor at the first sign of redness, soreness or anything that could possibly be an infection. Things can progress VERY quickly and you don't want to take a chance. Be gentle with your feet and take care of them!
About the Author:
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer, editor, herb gardener and mother to three children. For more herb recipes and tips visit The Garden Path
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Summer Foot Care
May 27, 2009 - CBS Morning News
Dr. Jennifer Ashton spoke with Maggie Rodriguez about how to take care of your feet during summer's sandal season.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5037770n
Dr. Jennifer Ashton spoke with Maggie Rodriguez about how to take care of your feet during summer's sandal season.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5037770n
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