Shoe Trends...Really?!?

From Fashionising.com

Shoes in 2009: Shoe Trends for Spring/Summer 2009

Forget about different toe shapes and heel heights; in Spring/Summer 2009 shoe trends all come down to the details. From fringing to laces to buckles and straps; exotic to fetish to architectural; these are the elements that define the trends. And one thing is for certain: boring just doesn't cut it.

What happened to the comfortable Keds we once used to wear?

Take Care...

If your feet are a pain in your life-- take a look at the shoes that you are wearing. Do you spend your days wearing high heels on your feet? Do your shoes really fit? When was the last time you had your feet measured before you bought a new pair of shoes? High heel shoes and improperly fitted shoes cause health problems such as bunions, heel pain, and deformed toes, as well as nerve damage. A survey completed in 1993 found that most women are tired of wearing shoes that hurt their feet. The women in the survey paid from $50 to $200 for the shoes that are hurting them.



Selecting properly fitting shoes is the first step to eliminating foot pain. Don't pick your shoes because the tag says they are your size--try them on and buy them based on how they fit on your foot. If you haven't had your foot measured in five years or more, you should measure the next time before you buy shoes; feet can change size and shape over the years. And don't measure just one foot--measure both feet. Your feet may be different sizes and you should buy your shoes to fit the larger foot.


Buy your shoes late in the day when your feet may be slightly larger. If your shoes fit properly, there will be 3/8" to 1/2" of space between the end of your longest toe and the tip of your shoe when you are standing up. Don't expect a tight pair of shoes to stretch to fit your foot, if you do--you are asking for foot pain later on. Shoes should have rounded toes that allow your toes room to 'wiggle.' The pointed shoes of the past often left women with toes that overlapped and created extreme pain for women later in life.

Never Dismiss A Problem...

...even if you are wearing a quality shoe!

We see a lot of patients that have bunions and hammer toes, intermetatarsal neuromas, and even what’s called Taylor’s bunion or bunionettes and that’s the bunion on the outside. We treat a lot of patients between conservative care and we also do a lot of surgery. We try the conservative care and when a patient fails that, then we talk to them about surgical intervention. Dr. Vail is well trained and can do a variety of surgical procedures in order to correct the bunion, hammer toes, and Taylor’s bunion or intermetatarsal neuromas.

However, be sure to call for an appointment as soon as you have a problem. The earlier it can be treated, the less difficult it will be to remedy.

Shoe Care

For longer service, keep shoes clean and in good repair.

Avoid excessive wear on heels and soles.

Give your shoes a chance to breathe - don’t wear the same pair two days in a row (you prolong the life of shoes by rotating their use).

Never wear hand-me-down shoes (this is especially important for children).

Shoes for Athletics

Different sports activities call for specific footwear to protect feet and ankles. Sports-specific athletic shoes are a wise investment for serious athletes, though perhaps a less critical consideration for the weekend or occasional athlete; nevertheless, it’s a good idea to use the correct shoe for each sport. Probably a more important consideration is the condition of the shoe - don’t wear any sport or other shoes beyond their useful life. Athletic footwear should be fitted to hold the foot in the position that’s most natural to the movement involved. For example, a running shoe is built to accommodate impact, while a tennis shoe is made to give relatively more support, and permit sudden stops and turns. For sports, “cross trainers” are fine for a general athletic shoe, such as for physical education classes. But if a child is involved more heavily in any single sport, he or she should have shoes specifically designed for that sport.

Shoe Tips for Women

Women inflict more punishment on their feet in part from improper footwear that can bring about unnecessary foot problems. Some of the problems result from high-heeled shoes (generally defined as pumps with heels of more than two inches). Podiatrists believe that such heels are medically unsound, and could attribute to postural problems.

To relieve the abusive effects of high heels, women can limit the time they wear them, alternating with good quality sneakers or flats for part of the day.

They can also vary the heel height. There are comfortable and attractive “walking” pumps (also called “comfort” or “performance” pumps) for work and social activities that blend fashion considerations and comfort, offering pumps with athletic shoe-derived construction, reinforced heels, and wider toe room.Activity has a bearing on the considerations; wearing the right shoe for a particular activity is probably as important a factor in the choice of shoes as any.

Perhaps the best shoe for women is a walking shoe with laces (not a slip-on), a polymerized composition sole and a relatively wider heel with a rigid and padded heel counter, no more than three-quarters of an inch in height.

Shoe Tips for Men

The best shoes for men are good quality oxford styles, shoes ordinarily associated with wing-tip or cap toe designs. Also suitable are slip-ons, dressy loafers and low dress boots.

Men should buy shoes for work, leisure, and special activities, matching the shoe to the activity.

Male office workers should earmark three to five pairs of shoes for business hours.

Cushioned-sole shoes that give good support are essential for those who spend most of their working days on their feet.

There is no question about the need for foot protection for those who work in heavy industry. Safety shoes and boots - those that are waterproof or water-resistant, with insulated steel toe caps and soles of non-conducting materials - help prevent injuries to the feet, and reduce the severity of injuries that do occur.

Anatomy of a Shoe

Get a Jump on Heel Pain & Sports

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.

Just a little nudge...

Foot Problems Can Be Prevented

For reasons that are difficult to fathom, many people, including a lot of older people, believe that it is normal for the feet to hurt, and simply resign themselves to enduring foot problems that could be treated.

There are more than 300 different foot ailments. Some can be traced to heredity, but for an aging population, most of these ailments stem from the cumulative effect of years of neglect or abuse. However, even among people in their retirement years, many foot problems can be treated successfully, and the pain of foot ailments relieved.

Whether due to neglect or abuse, the normal wear and tear of the years causes changes in feet. As persons age, their feet tend to spread, and lose the fatty pads that cushion the bottom of the feet. Additional weight can affect the bone and ligament structure. Older people, consequently, should have their feet measured for shoe sizes more frequently, rather than presuming that their shoe sizes remain constant. Dry skin and brittle nails are other conditions older people commonly face. Finally, it's a fact that women, young and old, have four times as many foot problems as men, and high heels are often the culprits.

Observing preventive foot health care has many benefits. Chief among them are that it can increase comfort, limit the possibility of additional medical problems, reduce the chances of hospitalization because of infection, and lessen requirements for other institutional care.

Dr. Vail is here to help you with your foot health - Call 419-423-1888 to schedule an appointment.

How New Balance Shoes Are Made

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpRUyi5CJkQ

TIPS FOR BUYING SHOES

Have your feet measured while you’re standing.

Always try on both shoes, and walk around the store.

Always buy for the larger foot; feet are seldom precisely the same size.

Don’t buy shoes that need a “break-in” period; shoes should be comfortable immediately.

Don’t rely on the size of your last pair of shoes. Your feet do get larger, and lasts (shoemakers’ sizing molds) also vary.

Shop for shoes later in the day; feet tend to swell during the day, and it’s best to be fitted while they are in that state.

Be sure that shoes fit well - front, back, and sides - to distribute weight. It sounds elementary, but be sure the widest part of your foot corresponds to the widest part of the shoe.

Select a shoe with a leather upper, stiff heel counter, appropriate cushioning and flexibility at the ball of the foot.

Buy shoes that don’t pinch your toes, either at the tips, or across the toe box.

Try on shoes while you’re wearing the same type of socks or stockings you expect to wear with the shoes

If you wear prescription orthotics - biomechanical inserts prescribed by a podiatrist - you should take them along when buying shoes.

In Honor of Earth Day - April 22, 2009

How To Recycle Old Tennis Shoes

What do you do with your old tennis shoes? If you're like most of us, you probably give them away or throw them away, depending on their condition. However, for those who are trying to embrace green living and be good to the environment, there are actually many ways to reuse old tennis shoes.

Grow something beautiful. Tennis shoes, especially the ones that come up higher on the ankle, actually make excellent flowerpots. Take an old athletic shoe, fill it with soil, and plant a couple of flowers.

Entertain your dog. Who needs to buy expensive doggie chew toys when you already have an item that's perfect for the job? Not only will using your old sneakers as dog toys save them from going into the landfill, your dog may enjoy the tennis shoes more, because dogs love things that smell like their owners. Remove all the laces and any metal parts that could cause choking or hurt your dog in any way. Then just toss them in the yard and see how much fun your pet has!

Modern sculptures. Many artists today enjoy making sculptures with found objects. What other people consider garbage, modern artists consider art supplies.

Recycle your tennis shoes. By sending worn out athletic shoes to Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program, they can actually have a new life as padding under a basketball court, an athletic track, or a playground surface. Not a bad final resting place for athletic shoes!

Using your shoes for some other purpose. If your shoes are getting worn out, think about keeping them for your painting shoes, gardening shoes, or water shoes. Or cut off the heels to use them as slip-on shoes for getting the mail.

Giving your shoes to those in need. If your tennis shoes are still in good wearable shape, think about donating them to a charity or a shelter; your old shoes could be of great use to someone else. The Salvation Army and Goodwill are good places to donate, or you can check for local thrift stores or shelters.

The bottom line is that old tennis shoes take up room in landfills and there's really no reason for this! With the sneaker recyling program, donation possibilities, and other ways to creatively reuse your sneakers, you can help your sneakers live on...out of a landfill.

Ode to My Shoes - A Poem by Johnathan Falk

Falling stars give birth
To never ending light like
Dying grains bearing bountiful fruit
In the giving process
I'm making miracles just for me
Stained and greasy
Carrying the magic with me
Its residual caked on my shoes
Dirt from different continents
Sand from both oceans breast
Mud and rain at varying altitudes
Collecting dew in the soles
Permanent falling away
Ditches and gravel
Pebbles and dust
So much
Concrete
City grime cement marathons
Climbing on top of the sky
To tombs beneath the earth
My shoes
Have holes
They're ripped and torn
Gathering character in crippled age
Broken but serving the purpose
Stinking but I'm used to it
By now
Clay ranging from
Gold red brown gray black and
Rich unnamable hues
The very world stuck in my shoes
Flinting tiny specks sparkle in sunlight
Worn and creased they carry the memory
Of numerous countries, climates
All the pick up trucks, highways and
Mountain trails
I take them off to swim in water falls, sleep
And air out my swollen feet
Smudged on the planets surface my shoes
Are like my intangible soul
A personality containing this body within it
Touched and changed by all these places
Collecting memories incarnated by
The diverse arrangement of impressions.
Walking lessons
The school Iím studying
Pacing the globes curve
Hoping to learn
Any-all-every-some thing
Sometimes toes cramp and
My ducts tear
Leaking salt from a faucet
I donít know where
Old and young I have wrinkles
By my eyes from
Smiling and squinting
The joy of road glare.

More Use For Those New Custom Shoes!

Additional Activity Guidelines

Children and Adolescents - Include muscle and bone strengthening three days per week.

Adults - Include muscle strengthening two days per week, but spread the activity out over the week.

Older Adults - Include exercise to improve balance if at risk of falling.

Adults with Diabetes - As able, include muscle strengthening two days per week.

Pregnant Women - If already habitually engaged in vigorous physical activity, can continue as advised by health care provider.

People with Chronic Conditions - Follow provider recommendations to obtain important health benefits.

Recommendations from Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

As you continue to use your new custom shoes, take note of the following:

Children and Adolescents - 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous activity.

Adults - 150 minutes per week of moderate activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity.

Older Adults - 150 minutes per week or as physically active as abilities and conditions allow.

Adults with Diabetes - As able, 150 minutes per week of moderate activity or 75 minutes per week minutes of vigorous activity.

Pregnant Women - 150 minutes per week of moderate activity if not already active, preferably spread activity over week.

People with Chronic Conditions - Consult health care provider for appropriate types and amounts.

Keep In Shape With Your Custom Shoes...and Be Safe, Too!

Walking Safety Tips

• Monitor your level of fatigue, heart rate, and physical
discomfort.

• Beware of warning signs and signals of a heart attack,
such as chest and arm pain, dizziness, and lightheadedness.

• Use the appropriate equipment and clothes for the activity.

• Take 3-5 minutes before the activity to stretch and
warm up your muscles. As you near the end of the activity,
decrease the activity in order to properly cool
down.

• Begin your activity at an easy pace while increasing
time and distance gradually.

• Drink plenty of water, at least eight to ten 8oz. cups of
water per day to replace lost fluids.

Get Out and Use Those New Shoes!

Walking is one of the least expensive and easiest ways to stay fit. Walking is very versatile, allowing you to complete this activity indoors or outdoors as well as regulate the intensity. Here are a few tips to help you be safe and get the most out of your workout.

1. Before beginning your walking program, check with your doctor. If you have a medical condition or have had a recent injury it is best to check with your doctor
first to prevent problems. Preexisting conditions will not necessarily prevent you from walking, as routine walking can help prevent disease progression and other
disease symptoms.

2. Invest in good shoes. Shoes are the only expense that you will incur, so invest in a good quality walking shoe or running shoe. Shoes should fit when tried on without any pinching or pressure and your APMA member podiatrist can help you with proper fit. Shoes recommended by your podiatrist and that have the APMA Seal of Acceptance are highly suggested.

3. Warm up. Stretching before your exercise is always a great idea because it warms up your muscles. Begin your exercise slowly, gradually increasing time and intensity, which gives your body time to adjust.

4. Monitor your heart rate and breathing. Walk at a pace that is comfortable yet challenging to you. Do not overexert yourself. Stop and rest if you do not fell well.

5. Get a pedometer. Using a pedometer is a great way to track your steps and monitor your progress.

Take Advantage of Those Beautiful Weekends!

It is recommended that adults participate in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Walking has the lowest impact on bones and joints. Benefits of walking include:

• Reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Improved blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and blood lipid profile
Women in the Nurses Health Study (72,488 female nurses) who walked at least three hours per week reduced their risk of heart attack and other coronary illnesses by 35% compared to those who did not walk.

• Maintain body weight and lower risk of obesity
Walking at a moderate pace for 30-60 minutes burns stored fat and can build muscle to speed up your metabolism.

• Reduced risk of osteoporosis
Walking is effective in decreasing the rate of bone loss in the legs.

• Reduced risk of breast and colon cancer
Women who walked briskly at least two hours weekly decreased their breast cancer risk by 18%. Routine walking can also help to prevent colon cancer and improve the quality of life of colon cancer survivors.

• Reduced risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes (Type 2)
The Diabetes Prevention Program showed that walking 150 minutes per week and losing 7% of your body weight can reduce your risk of diabetes by 58%.

• Enhanced mental well-being
Research has shown, by measurement of a standard depression questionnaire, that depression is lowered 47% in those moderately physically active for 30 minutes, three to five times a week, after 12 weeks.

As we age we need more exercise. Physical activity helps to prevent bone loss, increase muscle strength, and reduce the risk of several other diseases associated with aging. Being physically active is key in maintaining quality of life and independence. Walking improves fitness, physical function, and prevents physical disability for aging adults. For older adults moderate activity can come from longer sessions of walking or swimming, shorter sessions of vigorous walking or stair climbing.

The Benefits of Orthopedic Shoes on Your Health

In an active world people often make the mistake of forgetting to take proper care of their feet. It does not take long, however, to see how damaging this can be if you are in a position to have to stand or walk for hours on end in your job. Even the surfaces you stand on can cause serious foot pain and long periods walking on concrete flooring can even damage the bones in your feet and ankles.

Fortunately modern medical science has developed a number of ways to aid this problem. Orthopedic shoes have become an essential part of the equipment we use for both work and play. With the long hours many workers must spend on their feet to perform the job, many workplaces require some form of orthopedic shoes as part of the uniform.

Orthopedic shoes tend to focus their special features on standard trouble areas of the foot. Fallen arches are a common source of pain as the weight of the day bears down on the middle of the foot. Short of surgery, an orthopedic shoe with a built up inner arch can give needed support and alleviate much of the pain associated with this often-hereditary condition. Heel supports are often built into orthopedic shoes as a means of softening the blow that runs up the lower leg bones with each step. These supports are often made of foam or gel and can add a degree of rigidity to the ankle area that will help prevent twists.

Some orthopedic shoes are designed to hold pads in place against such troublesome spots as corns, bunions, calluses and abrasions. The innersole of an orthopedic shoe is generally a separate feature which has many customizable forms to more accurately treat what ails your foot. Some are foam or gel so that a softer actual surface can come in contact with the foot. Others, especially for those with diabetes or long term standing still jobs, have a textured surface of small raised nubs to stimulate blood flow through the foot.

Orthopedic shoes will often have extra braces or sleeves built-in or easily attached to the shoe. These range from small clips that separate in-drawn toes to full lower leg braces that will provide support for the entire leg structure. The structure of some orthopedic shoes is built to support and cushion the foot from damage. Walking and hiking shoes especially are designed to hold the foot comfortably and safely through the rigors of extended periods of activity.

While there are a great many orthopedic shoes made to specific standards, there is also a large demand for custom-made orthopedic shoes. It is a fact that you can be written a doctor's prescription for a specially designed orthopedic shoe to aid in the treatment of specific problems of the foot and ankle. Some of the most common foot problems that can be treated with specially made shoes are arch pains and bunions. Corns and calluses can be contained within specially carved and padded areas within the inner wall of a shoe so as to relieve the pressure of contact on the afflicted part.

Drop foot and hammertoes are conditions created by poorly constructed footwear that has deformed the growing tissue in a young person's foot. Specially designed orthopedic shoes can to a degree counterbalance these problems to give the sufferer a more natural step action. Diabetics tend to have problems with blood circulation in their feet so orthopedic shoes are designed that can stimulate the nerves of the foot to provide a better flow through the limb, thus decreasing the chance of swelling or hemorrhaging.

http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-benefits-of-orthopedic-shoes-on-your-health-419368.html

Call Dr. Vail's office and schedule and appointment to order your own personalized orthopedic shoes! www.vailfoot.com