Is it a big deal if the shoe has pronation control? What if I don't need it? ... and by the way... What IS pronation control? In this session our aim is to clear up a little confusion about pronation and supination. As always if you are still left with questions please feel free to contact a member of our customer service at info@brownscatalog.com or go straight to the pro at DrShoelutions@BrownsCatalog.com. 

Pronation
When weight bearing, pronation is an inward tilt rotation of the hind and midfoot with a lifting of the outside border of the midfoot, and an outward swing of the forefoot. Sounds complicated doesn't it? But basically it refers to the outward rotation or "twisting" of the heel when weightbearing. It is quite common. In fact, a mild degree of heel pronation is considered normal. It is the natural yielding movement of the heel and heel tendon when receiving body weight and stress, and serves as a kind of shock-absorber. Excessive pronation however, indicates a serious foot problem. Such pronation is visible from a rear view of the naked foot when standing. The heel thrusts outward. This is accompanied by a visible outward curving of the heel tendon which is attached to the heel bone. Because the heel bone is the vital anchor or control center for normal foot alignment or balance, excessive pronation can create a malalignment and imbalance of the whole foot, as well as causing a shift in body posture. With excessive pronation the inner ankle dips down, the long arch becomes depressed, and the whole foot tends to tilt inward. Also the forefoot everts or turns outward. Excessive or Over pronation is a condition closely akin to flexible flatfoot. Excessive pronation tends to break down the medial side of the shoe from the excess pressure and stress. This is one of the ways a person can tell if they suffer from over pronation. A person with a flat or low arch tends to over pronate. Check your arch type here. For more information and recommended New Balance models for Pronation click here.

Supination
The opposite of pronation, supination is an outward tilt rotation of the hind and midfoot with an inward swing of the forefoot and increased pressure or shift of weight bearing surface to the outside border of the midfoot. Just as in over-pronation, excessive supination or under-pronation can create a malalignment and imbalance of the foot, causing a shift in body posture. With excessive supination the inner ankle is lifted, the long arch is extended, and the whole foot tends to tilt outward as the great toe may turn inward. Check the wear patterns on your current shoes. If the compression is on the outside (opposite side of arch) or lateral side of the foot from the heel to the midfoot this indicates supination. Please note, if the wear is primarily in the heel it may not indicate supination as a normal foot strike pattern shows wear in the outside edge of the heel. If there is excess heel compression this may be due to a heavy heel strike not necessarily supination. A person with a high arch may tend to supinate. For more information and recommended New Balance models for Supination click here.

For a full fitting experience contact a fitting specialist at one of our store locations. They will be able to analyze wear patterns and even scan your feet to identify high pressure areas and determine pronation or supination tendencies.

These recommendations do not take the place of consulting with your health care professional.

"They" say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. However, with the fantastic new look and format of  BrownsCatalog.com we say, "Go For It!" With easy to navigate drop down menus you can skip straight to what you're looking for under gender-specific categories such as running, walking, etc. Or you can sort through by brand: New Balance, Aravon, Dunham, Keen, Clarks, Merrell, Birki's, Klogs, and Drew. You will also be able to set up an account to provide an easy check-out for future visits, look up your last order, or track current orders. It's never been easier to find what you need! If you have specific ailments ask Dr.Shoelutions for recommendations at the bottom of the homepage. Or sign up for our Email newsletter to be notified of sales and events. Don't have a lot of time to spend online? Request a catalog and browse on your daily commute, preferrably not from the driver's seat. I could go on and on because basically.. We Love it! And we're fairly certain you will too! So go ahead. Judge us by our cover because we also have the customer service to back it up! If you have any questions or comments please feel free to give us a shout out at info@brownscatalog.com.

*Insider's tip: Look for our Back to School sale soon!

**FYI: Since the changeover to our new web format some of the links on previous blogs were broken. We're working on fixing most of them however if something doesn't link use the keyword in the search box on our homepage in the upper right hand corner. I apologize for any inconvenience! If you still experience problems with finding something mentioned in a blog please feel free to contact me directly at jessica@brownscatalog.com and I will send you a proper link. Thank you!

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!
 

    Do you suffer from foot pain or discomfort?  Are you having a hard time ordering custom orthotics that really feel good and function well?  Where should you go if you are looking for shoes for the whole family?  Do you have narrow or wide feet and find it almost impossible to find good fitting shoes? 

    If you or a loved one are having difficulty in any of these areas, look no further.  Our New Balance stores specialize in carrying the broadest range of New Balance shoes in Missouri and Kansas.  We carry widths from 4A to 6E and a size range from infants to men's size 20!  ^*Certified Pedorthists are staffed to fill prescriptions for custom orthotics, over the counter orthotics, shoe modifications and can even make insurance submittions to Medicare and United Health Care. 

    New Balance athletic shoes have a great reputation among doctors and nurses everywhere.  Do you know that New Balance also makes dress shoes?  The men's dress brand is called "Dunham" and women's dress brand is called "Aravon".  Dunham and Aravon, although very different in appearance, share one main goal:  To provide you with dress and dress casual shoes that fit and feel more like an athletic shoe.

Take your life back today and let us help with all of your footwear needs.  Ask your doctor about New Balance!

^*A prescription from your doctor IS needed for custom orthotics and anything being submitted to insurance.  Insurance claims cannot be made through catalog or internet orders.

    Diabetic patients, because of the effects their disease may have on circulation (ischemia) and nerve endings (neuropathy), become susceptible to risky conditions involving their extremities.  These conditions can include: dry skin, callouses, corns, bunions, hammer or claw toes, loss of fat padding, arch collapse, loss of protective sensation, ulcerations and poor circulation.

    About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes may have a condition known as diabetic neuropathy.  This is a loss of sensation, numbness or even hypersensitivity from a compromise of the peripheral nervous system.  It usually manifests itself in the feet and lower extremities first because this region is the furthest from the heart.  Once some feeling in the feet is lost, the patient is at a risk for developing ulcers or pressure sores.

     Diabetes contributes to decreased blood circulation in the feet, which makes ulcers slow to heal.  If an ulcer gets infected, as it can because diabetes compromises the body's ability to fight infection, and the infection reaches the bone, it could lead to an amputation of a toe, a foot, or even a leg.  

    When it comes to diabetic shoe fitting, the name of the game is "prevention."  We like to match up our inventory to your particular foot shape.  Our shoes are all shaped differently for different arch heights and foot shapes.  The SL-2 Last shape is the most common recommendation for the diabetic foot.  This is because the SL-2 Last offers a very roomy toebox and extra depth (room from top to bottom).  Again, for preventative measures, there should never be any pressure points present in a good fitting shoe.  Unlike most brands of footwear, our shoes are available in a full range of widths and sizes.  These wider widths and roomier toeboxes are fantastic for accomodating swelling and preventing damage to the diabetic foot.  "Breaking the shoe in" is lingo only used by shoe salesmen that are working on commision.  If the shoe does not fit properly when first tried on, leave it at the shoe store or send it back for an exchange.  Never depend on a shoe to stretch or "break in" for it to fit properly.

    Most of our shoes have removeable insoles to help make them more versatile.  The original insoles can be removed and replaced with upgrades specific to the patients needs.  For extra protection, New Balance makes an upgraded insole specifically for diabetes.  The Pressure Relief Insole is designed to act as a large pillow for the foot, reducing pressure and friction.  This upgraded insole has arch and metatarsal support to help balance out the weight placement and relieves the overexerted areas of the foot.  Again, preventing preulcerative callouses on the bottom of the foot is much easier than getting them to heal.

For additional foot care tips for the Diabetic, click here. 

Chad L. Brown, C.Ped

New Balance St. Louis I

chad@nbstl.com 

To be directed to the Diabetic page on our website where you can find more information and fitting advice
click on the feet below.

Shoe Recommendations: Be sure to choose footwear with plenty of room!

Running: 1123, 992, 882, WR768, 587.

Walking: 926, WW844, 811, 659.

Cross-Training: 855.

Court: 803

Dunham: 8000.

Insole Recommendations: