Finding The Proper Shoe Fit

Find shoes that allow a natural position for the whole foot, providing adequate room for the toes to spread out. Shoes with flexible soles are a good way to strengthen the tendon of the foot and toes. Toe spring, heel height and narrow toe boxes are the three important components of a shoes that will influence the structure of the foot. Most importantly, give your feet some breathing room. Strip them down and give them some much needed TLC!

CARING FOR YOUR FEET

*Wear the right shoe for the right activity

*Buy comfortable, well made shoes that support your feet and ankles


*Avoid walking barefoot outside

*Pamper you feet after a hard days work

*Make an appointment with a doctor if you have an injury or pain that won't go away

*Sometimes an injection, orthopedic shoes (or insert), or series of stretches can relieve your symptoms without having surgery

Foot pain can take the pleasure out of living. By taking care of your feet you can prolong the enjoyment and delay the pain.

"Tyless" Tie-less Laces

Some of our patients have problems tying their shoes. This can be a complication for elderly patients, and a large concern for them. Other patients prefer to slip on their shoes, but do not benefit from the adjustment in the fit or support they would get if they were to fully tie their laces. If you would benefit from a product that makes tying your laces quick and easy, then come into our office for a pair of "Tyless" laces. These elastic laces have a special button which is placed on the lace at the very top eyelet of the shoe. Simply tighten the elastic and then lock it off in the button. The laces come in both black and white, and are available in four lengths: 25", 32", 37", and 42". These laces make tying your shoes a snap.

Findlay's Day of Dance

The Advanced Footcare Clinic will be at the Day of Dance for Health event sponsored by Blanchard Valley Health Systems! The event is to raise awareness for women's health issues, as well as enjoy a day to enjoy different dance styles, watch dance performance groups, take in music, eat good food, sign up for give-a-ways, receive health screenings and even win door prizes. Our office will have a booth at this event to share valuable health information about your feet. When you are exercising or dancing regularly you can really improve your over-all health. But nothing will hinder your ability to do so quicker than sore feet. So we want to give you tips on how to avoid this type of pain, as well as making you aware that we are available when you do experience foot problems. We will also have special offers and products from our office. Our display will include examples of our new therapeutic shoes. We want our patients to see that our shoes are not what they traditionally think of as therapeutic shoes, but they have been updated to offer great style as well as great footcare. And these shoes are available to all our patients, not just diabetics. We will also have an offer on a free pair of Dr. Comfort brand slippers for anyone who makes an appointment to see the podiatrist. And lastly, we will be offering free giveaways on some of our most recommended moisturizers, creams, scrubs, soaks, and other products.

The event will be held on Saturday, February 27th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. It will be in the University of Findlay's Koehler Center and the admission fee is a toothbrush and/or tube of tooth paste for charity. There is no preregistration required. Any questions can be directed to 419-423-5551. We look forward to seeing you that Saturday to enjoy yourself and learn all about women's health needs.

Diabetes is a disease which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar and starches into energy needed for daily life. The loss of blood flow and nerve damage are two common symptoms of diabetes. Decreased blood flow can make feet less able to fight infection and nerve damage make the feet less able to fight infection. Foot related problems include blisters, calluses, ulcers, infection, deformity and in some cases amputation. People with diabetes are at greater risk for foot problems, studies show that comprehensive foot care can reduce and even prevent foot complications. Proper footwear is essential to good foot health.

Diabetic Shoes

Why buy diabetic shoes? Diabetics shoes are the first step for better foot care. Studies show that a well fitted diabetic shoe help with ulcers and sores. Starting a preventative measure early helps to avoid foot problems later. We carry a wide range of diabetic shoes at our office. Stop in or call for an appointment to find the right shoe fit and style for you.

Top Shoe List

How Do Your Feet Feel At the End of the Day?

Unless you can answer that question with a smile on your face, your feet need help! One in Six people suffer from a foot problem. That could be a foot problem caused by chronic disease like diabetes or arthritis, leg length discrepancy, a sports injury, or a common condition like heel pain, flat feet or Achilles tendonitis. Whatever the cause, you don't have to live with the pain

Several times per year our staff and doctor visit shoe retailers and evaluate the shoes currently available on the market. The shoes we evaluate include walking, running, training, dress, casual, sandals and slippers. We then compile a list of the best shoes for your feet for children and adults. To get the most recent list of what shoes made our 'top list', subscribe today and receive the most updated list by e-mail within 24 hours. Once you register you will subsequently receive by e-mail our updated list throughout the year and our e-newsletter.

The 'Top Shoes' List has many of the best shoes that we have found on the market. Proper footwear is an integral part of any comprehensive foot care plan. In fact, the success of any treatment plan your doctor may prescribe can be enhanced or undermined by your choice of shoes. The Step Alive Shoes staff, trained in foot pathology and properly fitting shoes, created this list to help you make choices that will support your foot care plan. We know that your time is valuable so our hope is that this list will guide you as you shop for shoes and make the experience enjoyable. Our 'Top Shoes' List is only a tool and individual needs may vary. For expert fitting, make an appointment at our Step Alive Shoes store within the Advanced Footcare Clinic and we will make sure you get the best shoe for your particular foot needs.

The Importance of Properly Fitted Shoes
A properly fitted, supportive shoe offers increased stability and can put your feet in balance which in turn improves the alignment of the rest of your body. A stable shoe should allow the foot to function in a more normal manner and help the foot perform its natural job of absorbing shock. 90% of all people are wearing improperly fitted shoes! Most foot problems are caused or aggravated by improperly fitted shoes. Shoes are an integral part of treating nearly all foot complaints and we believe everyone should be evaluated to determine the proper shoe for their foot. The Step Alive Shoes staff is trained and certified to determine the proper shoes for each patient by evaluating the patient's foot shape, size, biomechanics, symptoms, activities, weight and other factors. We recommend the best shoes for the individual and guarantee our fit!

Our 'Top Shoes' List can help:
-People interested in preventative health.
-Baby boomers and up as their feet tend to expand and broaden with age.
-Athletes who put extra demands on their feet.
-Pregnant women whose feet are affected by weight gain.
-People with both high and low arches.
-Anyone experiencing foot pain.
-People who stand or are active on their feet for a significant portion of the day

Stable Shoe features:
To meet our high standards at the Advanced Footcare Clinic and our Step Alive Shoes staff, a shoe must meet the following criteria:
-Torsional Stability (Forefoot does not twist easily on the rearfoot)
-Firm Heel Counter
-Firm Medial (inside) Midsole
-Removable Insole

As a subscriber to our 'Top Shoes' List, you will be notified by e-mail when the list is updated. We update the list 4 times throughout the year.

Visit our website at http://www.vailfoot.com/ to learn more about all your footcare needs. If you would like more information about our Top Shoes List or to register for this free service, visit: http://www.vailfoot.com/top-shoes-list.html

Step Alive Shoes

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Stop by our office or our website for all your winter shoes needs.

Shoe Care

Shoes can be fun. They reflect your style and help you vary your outfits. And shoes have so many purposes. Some are for dancing, some for running, and some are attractive. No matter what the use your shoe may have, you want them to last so you can wear them over and over. Although you should replace shoes when they are worn out, you can get a little extra mileage out of them. Keep in mind that shoes which do not offer the appropriate support may be harmful to your foot health. But here are some tips for keeping your shoes in good shape just a little bit longer.

1. Always unlace your shoes. When you leave your shoes tied and slip them on and off, you most likely are bending the support around the ankle. The rigidity in this part of the shoe is important to support your ankle and heel. Bending it outwards when taking the shoe off, or smashing it down when sliding into shoes makes the shoes lose this support faster. This is especially important in athletic shoes which are supporting your feet during activity.

2. Add new insoles. Insoles sometimes wear out before the outside of a shoe does. When this happens, you can extend the life of your shoe by adding new ones. For some people, this is a matter of comfort as they want more padding in an already supportive shoe which has lost its original padding. For others, adding an insole is a matter of support, as they need orthotics to correct misalignments in their feet.

3. Clean your shoes. There are many products for cleaning all kinds of shoes, from leather dress shoes, to mesh athletic shoes, or even hiking or snow boots. If your shoes still have good support but are looking a little dingy, cleaning them restores that new look to your shoes. You can unlace the shoes and wash dirty shoelaces, or just replace them with new ones. If a shoestring breaks, replace it promptly. Don't just clean the outside of your shoes, but the inside as well. Spraying your shoes weekly with a disinfectant spray (like Lysol) helps kill bacteria, viruses and fungi in your shoes which cause infections (like toenail fungus and athlete's foot). You can dry your shoes with a hair dryer after spraying them.

4. Polish your shoes. Dress shoes make an impression. When your shoes are getting scuffed and worn, you can restore them to their original look with a little shoe polish. Match the polish and your shoe color and take your time to follow the instructions for the polish. Your shoes will not only have the support you require, but will start looking good again. You can even get your shoes polished by someone else as a way to relax in the middle of your day, you just need to know where to look. Machine shoe polishers are also available in certain locations.

5. Treat your shoes. There are many products available to seal shoes against weather. This will not only benefit outdoor shoes like hiking boots, but athletic, casual, and dress shoes as well. You will inevitably get caught in the rain in Italian leather dress oxfords or your favorite pair of designer pumps. Being prepared for this with a pretreatment can save your shoes from damage (and you some money if they are expensive shoes).

6. Rotate shoes. Wearing one pair of shoes every day has a lot of disadvantages. First of all, your shoes need time to air out and dry between wears. alternate shoes at least every other day. This alternation will also spread wear amongst many pairs of shoes, making them all last longer. You should also match your shoes to their activity. Your dress shoes aren't built to withstand muddy hikes or shoveling snow. Keep in mind that picking the appropriate shoe is not only good for you, but your shoes as well.

7. Store your shoes correctly. Keep them on a rack or other storage system. If your shoes get covered in heavy objects, they can lose their structure and become weakened. You should store off-season shoes in a plastic bin with a lid to avoid moisture getting to your shoes while they are in store and ruining them.

Keep Mindful of Your Feet...even while exercising indoors...

Sports activities are an exciting and healthy part of life. However, sports that include jarring starts and stops, or sports that are performed on uneven surfaces, often lead to heel pain. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) in cooperation with the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine (AAPSM) offer five sports most likely to contribute to heel pain and steps you can take to prevent it from occurring.

Running
Pain in the arch and bottom of the heel can be caused by both short and long distance running. Choose the correct shoe for running, short or long distances, this can prevent most pain. Over-the-counter insoles can sometimes help to relieve pain by providing cushion and shock absorption. Custom orthotics can also help many runners. Replace worn shoes every 350-500 miles.

Walking & Hiking
Walking and hiking may irritate a Haglund’s deformity, which is a bump on the back of the heel bone where the Achilles tendon attaches. It can become larger or inflamed over time. Wearing shoes or boots with stiff heel counters can irritate the heel bone, especially on steep climbs. Selecting a shoe with a lower or softer heel counter may relieve pain.Using heel lifts and custom orthotics can reposition the heel and reduce irritation.

Kickboxing & Aerobics
Acute or traumatic pain in the arch of the foot and bottom of the heel can develop due to the high impact of these activities. Stretch the Achilles tendon both before and after activity. Consult a podiatrist immediately if sudden heel, arch or ankle pain is experienced.

Tennis
Tennis may cause pain on the outer sides of the heel due to body positioning during play. Increase stretching at the first signs of heel pain, making sure to include the hamstrings. Insoles and custom-molded orthotic devices available from a podiatrist can often help heel pain.

Basketball
Basketball, as well as other jarring sports, can cause stress fractures and pain on the bottom, back and sides of the heel. High-top shoes can help to keep the foot stable. Stretch the entire leg and foot before playing. Heel lifts and custom foot orthotics can prevent pain and provide relief.

Contact Dr. Vail if you experience any of these problems this winter! 419-423-1888

Keep Shopping!!!

Lots of holiday shopping usually means lots of walking, sometimes running and it can all add up to painful feet! A survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) shows the number one way women (Hey! Men Shop Too!) soothe their soles during the holiday madness is by moisturizing their feet. Stretching and massaging the feet are also on the list of favorite foot fixes. APMA offers a few more ways to keep your feet merry this holiday season:

Point Your Toes – Avoid toe cramping by raising, pointing and curling your toes for five seconds each and repeat 10 times. You won’t even break a sweat!

Massage Your Feet – Women (and men) like it because it works! Release tension, increase circulation and rejuvenate the skin after a long day on your feet. Get out the lotion and rub those toes!

Elevate Your Legs – Reduce swelling by lying down and lifting legs above your heart.Rotate Your Ankles – Relax your feet by rotating your ankles, cupping your heel and turning each ankle slowly five times. This loosens the ankle joints.

Wear Smart Shoes – No high heels! (Or flip-flops, or sandals...) If you know you will be onyour feet all day, wear comfortable shoes with arch support and a padded sole.

If you would like to be fitted for a custom pair, our Shoe Specialist will be more than happy to set up an appointment with you to assist you in ordering your specialized! You can call the office at 419-423-1888 to set up an appointment. Please be sure to explore both our clinic website and on-line store. We strive to provide you with the most up-to-date information and footcare products so that you can have the healthiest feet possible!

New Shoe

Natural Step has come out with a new style, tie or Velcro with nubuck leather. A fashionable, casual style that looks good with jeans or khakis and is available now to order. It's even billable through our Medicare Diabetic Shoe Program. Click this link to view all our shoe vendors: http://www.vailfoot.com/step-alive-shoes.html.

A Great Stocking Stuffer!

At The Advanced Footcare Clinic, we offer the highest quality products for all our patients. One such item that we offer is Dr. Comfort Diabetic Socks. These socks would be a perfect match for your diabetic shoes! Available to you are several styles to meet your footcare needs:Nano Bamboo Charcoal Fibers Seamless Diabetic Socks - A superior sock designed to keep feet dry; smooth seam construction; non-binding; ball and heel padding; anti-microbial odor control; superior breathability. These socks are available for both men and women in various sizes and styles - Merry Jane, Ankle Length, and Crew Length.Extra Roomy Seamless Edema Socks - A superior comfort sock designed to be extra roomy for enlarged feet and legs. These socks are available for both men and women in various sizes.

Please call for an appointment or stop by the office to check out our large selection of socks, shoes, and other footcare products.

www.vailfoot.com
419-423-1888

Mall Walking, Anyone?

Walking Footwear: Comfort and Fit

Choose a good quality, lightweight walking shoe with breathable upper materials, such as leather or nylon mesh. The heel counter should be very firm; the heel should have reduced cushioning to position the heel closer to the ground for walking stability. The front or forefoot area of the shoe should have adequate support and flexibility.Fit is very important. Have both shoes fitted for length and width with the socks you'll be using. (Do this late in the afternoon, since your feet do swell enough during the day to affect your shoe size.) Make sure the shoe is snug but not too tight over the sock. The shoe should have plenty of room for the toes to move around.Your choice of athletic socks is also important. Sports podiatrists frequently recommend appropriately padded socks of acrylic fiber. Acrylic fibers tend to "wick" away excessive perspiration, which active feet can produce from 250,000 sweat glands at a rate of four to six ounces a day, or even more.

Please contact Dr. Vail's office for further assistance with your footcare needs!

http://www.vailfoot.com/

All the More Reason to Get the Right Shoe!

Ingrown Toenails



Ingrown toenails often are the result of trimming your toenails too short, particularly on the sides of your big toes. While they are common, ingrown toenails can be painful. When trimming your nails, avoid tapering the corners so that the nail curves with the shape of your toe. The sides of the nail will curl down and dig into your skin. Shoes that are too tight or short also may cause ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenail start out hard, swollen and tender, and later, may become sore, red and infected. Your skin may start to grow over the ingrown toenail. Soaking your foot in warm, soapy water several times each day is usually a good way to treat an ingrown nail. Also, you can try inserting some cotton or waxed dental floss between the nail and your skin. Please contact our office to determine the best course of treatment for your condition. Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed if an infection is present. Part of your ingrown toenail (partial nail plate avulsion) may need to be surgically removed if an acute infection occurs. The procedure involves injecting the toe with an anesthetic and cutting out the ingrown part of the toenail.

You can prevent ingrown toenails by:
Trimming your toenails straight across with no rounded corners.
Ensuring that your shoes and socks are not too tight.
Keeping your feet clean at all times.

Check out our On-Line Store for a multitude of products for your foot care needs!

The Importance of Therapeutic Shoes

Poorly fitting shoes can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, and other disabling foot problems. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), one in six persons or 43.1 million people in the U.S. have foot problems. Thirty-six percent regard their foot problems as serious enough to warrant medical attention. The cost of foot surgery to correct foot problems from tight-fitting shoes is $2 billion a year, according to ACFAS. If time off from work for the surgery and recovery is included, the cost is $3.5 billion.

Why Are Natural Step Shoes Better?
Here are some features of the Natural Step Therapeutic Shoe line:
Vegetable tanned leather lining
Padded collar for ankle and heel comfort and control
Speed laces
One-quarter inch leather lined removable EVA foot bed
Extra depth tow box
Heal and ball area gel inserts for extra cushioning
Additional 4mm layer of EVA cushioning
Multi-density polyurethane rocker outsole
True out-flare sole design for optimum stability and control

Men, you can find the style of shoe that fits your style! Natural Step offers eight different models in a variety of colors including bone, black, pecan, white and mocha.

Women, you also can find a great-looking and comfortable shoe that is designed to match your personal fashion tastes! Ten styles in a variety of colors are available to fit your needs.

Our Shoe Specialist is here for you to help you find the PERFECT pair of shoes. We have not only comfortable shoes, but also stylish shoes that don't look like the "typical therapeutic shoes!"

Contact our office today for an appointment!
419-423-1888
www.vailfoot.com

Stock your Stockings with Holiday Socks!

Looking for a fun and joyful way to brighten up a family member's feet for the holiday season? Maybe even you would like to get into the spirit along with them! Click here for a site that still provide you with a wide variety of holiday socks. Not only are there holiday socks to select from, but really just about every event imaginable can be "socked"!

Don't forget that The Advanced Foot Care Clinic specializes in offering therapeutic and diabetic socks. It is especially important during the cold winter season to keep your feet warm and protected. Call the office today or stop in to check out our large assortment!

Socks, Socks, and More Socks!

Did you know that you can purchase high-quality, durable, and doctor-recommended therapeutic socks right from the comfort of your own home? Our On-Line Store is available to you 24/7/365 to meet not only your therapeutic sock needs, but also many of your other over-the-counter footcare product needs. Simply click here to begin shopping!

Click here for just a sampling of the many therapeutic socks that are available to you! Feel free to visit the office to see a selection of diabetic socks - in person! You can also set up an appointment with our in-house Shoe Specialist. She will fit you for the perfect pair of diabetic shoes that will bring you comfort and relief!

www.vailfoot.com
419-423-1888

How do I know when it is time to replace my athletic shoes?

When athletic shoes should be replaced depends upon amount of usage, signs of wear and age of the shoe. The four main components of an athletic that can break down or wear out: outer sole, midsole, heel counter and shank or cut out area of the shoe...

To continue with this article from The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, click here.

Why Poor Fitting Shoes Can Cause Much More Than Foot Pain

Article by Greg Hall
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Nobody appreciates a pair of aching feet at the end of a long, hard day. A good pair of shoes can make all of the difference. Well, that is, if they fit properly. You can spend all of the money in the world on a pair of high-quality shoes, but if they do not fit your feet properly, your feet will feel worthless by the end of the day.

Did you know that ill fitted shoes can cause foot problems? Beyond the pain and discomfort, shoes that do not fit properly can cause real trouble over time. Corns and calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, and other conditions can result.

Corns, for instance, typically form on the outside of the foot or on the toes. They are a build up of dead skin cells. Corns can be identified by a thick spot on the foot with a cone-shaped center. The hardened area is aggravated by tight shoes that do not fit properly. This painful condition can be prevented by choosing shoes that allow room for your feet to move freely.
Calluses are much like corns, but lack the cone center. Excessive rubbing, pressure, or friction from shoes will cause this problem.

Another serious health issue due to improper fit of shoes is called Morton's Neuroma Metatarsalgia. This mouthful of medical lingo can be a real problem. This condition causes inflammation in the area of the foot just behind the toes. The bones in your foot squeeze a nerve to create acute, recurrent pain in the ball of the foot. To prevent this situation from occurring, it is crucial that you select shoes that have a high, wide box for your toes. Pointy high heels are definitely out of the question. Shoes with arch support disperse the weight properly over the entire foot.

Ingrown toenails are another common problem. Among other factors, Tight-fitting shoes can encourage the painful condition of ingrown toenails. If you are frequently digging out the corner of your toenail from under the skin, you can help to eliminate this problem by wearing looser, less confining shoes.

Shoes that are not restrictive are healthy for your feet. When a shoe fits properly, your foot is able to maintain its natural shape. Squeezing your foot into pointy, narrow shoes may be stylish and fashionable, but dangerous. A properly fitted pair of shoes will allow your feet to move freely.

Parents must encourage their children to wear properly fitted shoes to prevent serious health conditions in the future. Due to children's rapid growth, a child's shoe should provide even more room to move inside the shoe. Children who wear shoes that are too small are asking for trouble with foot problems in the future.

If your feet are hurting by the end of the day, listen to what they are trying to tell you. Correctly fitted footwear will leave your feet feeling happy over time. Shoes that are too tight will only cause health trouble in time. Take the time now to invest in shoes that are comfortable and have a proper fit to ensure excellent health for your feet in the years to come.

Our Shoe Specialist is here for you to help you find the PERFECT pair of shoes. We have not only comfortable shoes, but also stylish shoes that don't look like the "typical therapeutic shoes!"

Call our office today for an appointment!
419-423-1888
www.vailfoot.com