The 900 series... keeping turkeys safe since 1981.

It's that time of year again. The time of year when we eat.. and eat.. and eat.. and go back for seconds.. and a piece of Grandma's pumpkin pie.. and maybe another roll.. and you gotta have a piece of Aunt Bee's coconut creme with whipped topping.. and then we sit. Or sink into the couch rather and think about where those recently ingested inches are going to make camp. Will it be the thighs this year or will it make the gluteus even more maximus?

Or are you making a pre-emptive strike this year as a Turkey trotter? What did you call me? A Turkey trotter? That's right! There will be no tryptophanic-coma for these turkey eaters! Runners and walkers in over 250 cities will be taking a stand, or a Trot against those extra holiday inches! Thanksgiving actually rivals Fourth of July as the biggest race day of the year and no worries about making it to dinner on time as most of the races are early morning and relatively short in distance. I'll be wearing my 993's for speed so I can beat my brother to the wishbone. And not to overlook the sentiment of the holiday most races raise money for very worthy causes, such as Feed the Children, Salvation Army or local shelters and food pantries. Check here for a race near your Thanksgiving destination. Not gonna have time to put your running/walking shoes to use? Be thankful for some relaxation and enjoy your snoring contest with Grandpa!
Happy Thanksgiving from the Brown's family to yours!

We are thankful for you! Enjoy $5 off a regular priced pair of New Balance. Use BLOG5 as your promotional code.

Let's face it. Your feet are the body part farthest from your brain, both physically and more than likely, mentally as well. Most people, with the exception of foot models, probably don't think about their feet until there's a problem. However the age old saying, "Don't fix it if it ain't broken!" does not apply when it comes to caring for your feet. There are 26 bones in the human foot. Third grade math will tell you that's 52 bones in a pair of feet, which is 25% of the 206 bones of the body, not to mention the numerous muscles and tendons affected by all those bones. Wouldn't it make sense to keep them happy? I spoke with Certified Pedorthist Randy Brown to find out how to do just that. I've elaborated below on 5 important foot care steps he's highlighted for us to follow.

1. WASH YOUR FEET!

Keep your feet clean and reduce bacteria with daily washing. Be sure to dry between the toes. Do your feet sweat? You bet! Each human foot has approximately 250,000 sweat glands that produce about 1.2 pints of moisture per day, or almost 2 quarts per week, equaling 25 gallons a year! Some feet give off even more! All this moisture is a great place for bacteria to feed and we all know what that can lead to... stinky feet!
Choosing the right sock with breathability will help combat foot odor and perspiration. Contrary to popular belief, cotton is not the best choice. Cotton, while somewhat breathable is absorbent and will hold the moisture in. Whereas a material such as Coolmax  incorporates fibers that will wick moisture away from your feet allowing for acceleration of evaporation. The right shoe will also help. Tight fitting shoes can compress the small blood vessels near the surface of the foot. This interferes with normal removal of wastes through the blood system and forces waste removal through the pores via excessive perspiration. We'll talk about getting the right fit in step 4.

2. MOISTURIZE!

Apply lotion such as Khepra footbalm to your feet daily, summer and winter! Believe it or not the sweating we just mentioned actually dries out your skin. This can lead to cracking and allow bacteria to enter and cause infection. Do NOT apply lotion between your toes as it can cause excess moisture, which as stated before, is a breeding ground for bacteria. So between your toes it's: wash and dry; do not apply lotion.

3.CLIP IT. AND CLIP IT GOOD!

Keep your toenails trimmed. A toenail is made of a protein called keratin and consists of many different parts vulnerable to troubles. Ingrown toenails are the most common of these problems. To avoid ingrown toenails trim your nail straight across. Do NOT trim by following the curve of your toe on the corners. Keeping your toenails trimmed will also keep your socks from getting holey toes. 

4.WEAR PROPERLY FITTED SHOES!

25-40% of Americans have foot problems. Blisters, Corns, Calluses, Bunions and Bunionettes are all conditions/ailments that can be caused by abnormal and excessive pressure from ill-fitting footwear. As you've probably found, one size does not fit all.  Just because you may wear a size 9 in Clarks does not mean you wear a size 9 in New Balance. Every brand will have different fitting characteristics that have to be considered. In addition no two feet are exactly alike, even if they both belong to one person. What? Really. Typically one foot will be longer than the other or wider or thicker and you always want to accommodate the larger of the two. It is best to have both feet measured and watch for any available fitting characteristics when choosing new brands.  *In addition to properly fitted footwear you want a properly fitting sock. A sock that is too tight can draw your toes up or squeeze everything together causing abnormal pressure in numerous areas. A sock that is too big can wrinkle or bunch up inside of your shoes causing areas of friction and increased pressure. 
*Ensure your Shoes will Fit*

5. DO NOT IGNORE FOOT PAIN!

Persistent foot pain and uncomfortable pressure is not normal. It is not something you should just tolerate. Your feet may ache after a long day of standing or walking but a constant ache or severe pain in any area is not something to brush off or take lightly. If foot pain persists, please consult a certified pedorthist or see your physician for a footcare evaluation. 

Your feet may be at the bottom but a stronger foundation leads to a happier, healthier structure.

Have a particular ped-question? Ask Dr. Shoelutions!
 

I've been on my feet a lot lately. I can't help it, this season gets me so excited I can't sit still...like a kid that finished off the rest of her Halloween candy and guzzled a couple of sodas! This morning when I jumped out of bed, ready to start my day, my feet hit the carpet. At least it looked like carpet but my heels were telling me I must have stepped on a couple of bear-traps! How did those get there? I'm not a bear-trapper.. I don't even know a bear-trapper, who does?! So my second thought, of course, was Plantar Fasciitis. Don't worry if you can't pronounce it... or spell it without a foot-term encyclopedia. It was only logical to me because I talk to people like you that may suffer from it every day.

Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most commonly treated foot ailments at our pedorthic facilities. Put generically it's heel pain syndrome and if left untreated, plantar fasciitis can become a chronic problem. The good news is that about 90% of patients improve significantly within two months of starting treatment. The better news, for me at least, is that I am best friends with a Pedorthist and she said I'll be better in no time! So cancel the flowers and cards. I am on my way to a speedy recovery with her recommendations of the Ultra Arch Insole and daily stretching using the Step Stretch. For those particularly trying evenings I treat myself to a foot rub with the Medi-Rub Foot Massager.  If you are among the many "stepping on bear traps" in the morning or have a constant aching heel, relief is closer than you think. Click HERE for more information on what you can do about plantar fasciitis.