Archive for shoes
Orthotics at Sowell Podiatry in Nacogdoches and Carthage Texas
Posted by: | CommentsFoot orthotics are supportive devices that are designed specifically for the purpose of improving one’s postural stability, reducing shock impact, and/or improving weight distribution. In most cases, these devices are functional in the sense that they also improve one’s biomechanical performance during gait. An impression of some sort, is usually taken of your feet, and used in the selection and fitting of a prescription orthotic. The particular information regarding anticipated cost, durability, and use may vary depending upon the type of orthotic and should be discussed with your foot specialist.
What do they do?
Imagine if you will, standing barefoot in moist sand with the arch being filled by the smooth sandy undersurface. The heel and ball of the foot leaves a mild depression in the sand while the toes grip the ground without resistance. If one could stand like this for lengthy periods of time, he or she would probably not have sore feet, would experience less fatigue and probably would not have many of those commonly encountered forefoot skin problems such as corns, calluses, and ingrown toenails. The problems come from standing on cement, asphalt, or other non-yielding surfaces, our wearing confining shoes, which further limit foot flexibility, and from lengthy periods of ambulation, which add fatigue and strain to one’s body.
Orthotics assist in restoring supportive comfort by bringing the ground surface up to the foot. They serve to improve postural stability, distribute one’s weight more evenly, and improve the mechanical functioning of the foot and ankle. Although orthotics do not cure every ache and pain in the foot, they are a wonderful approach in providing maximum comfort through improved biomechanics. Standing comfortably in sand is not necessarily an unreachable feeling even while wearing your everyday shoes.
Limb Length Discrepancy at Sowell Podiatry
Posted by: | CommentsA limb length discrepancy is a condition in which one leg is longer than the other. Some people have this condition and are completely unaware of it, while others experience a great deal of pain and discomfort. This condition can alter the way you walk, can affect weight distribution during gait, and can in some cases, cause knee and hip problems. It is normal to have slight variations in the length of the lower limbs. However, in certain cases, this variation can and will produce clinical symptoms. Foot specialists deal with and treat limb length discrepancies on a regular basis and are specialized in this area of dysfunction.
As a general rule, patients find it interesting that the long limb gets the worst of it! In gait the longer leg has to work much harder, travel much farther and therefore wears out much earlier. Patients often start to put these pieces of the puzzle together when they realize why they have been having problems in only one foot or leg.
What causes it?
Limb length discrepancy may be caused by a number of factors. Developmental alterations in the womb ca affect how the legs are formed. Persistent resting and sleeping positions of the growing child can result in limb length variations. Trauma can also cause a difference in the length of one’s legs. If a bone breaks in the lower leg, this may be enough to stop the growth of normal bone and cause a limb length discrepancy. Hereditary factors may also lead to this deformity. If limb length discrepancies run in the family, this may also increase one’s risk of developing this condition.
How is it treated?
Limb length discrepancies can be treated by a number of methods. If the dysfunction does not cause any pain or symptoms, it may go untreated. However, if this dysfunction causes pain, discomfort, or difficulties with ambulation, the condition should be treated. A thorough examination by a trained specialist should be the first step in any treatment plan. After a thorough examination, special orthotics or shoe modifications may be made to reestablish limb length equality and improved function. The orthotics may consist of a simple heel lift or may be customized to the patient’s foot. These modifications should help to effectively treat the deformity as well as to decrease the compensatory discomfort.
In-Toe Gait Concerns at Sowell Podiatry
Posted by: | CommentsIn-toe gait is a very common problem among children and even adults. Fortunately, most in-toeing that is seen in children is a growth and developmental condition and will correct itself without medical or surgical intervention. Not all bony foot structures are present at birth and in fact, most of the structures at birth are made of a very soft cartilage. Therefore, a child’s foot growth is a gradual process and it may go through many phases until the final structure is achieved. Parents may complain that their child frequently trips over his or her feet and runs in a funny or awkward fashion. If this applies to your child or even to you, your foot specialist should conduct a proper physical exam of your feet and legs.
What causes it?
There are many possible causes to an “in-toe gait”. An infant’s first environment is the uterus. Often times, this area is very cramped as the baby grows in size. The baby’s legs are usually curled up as the intra-uterine development occurs. Once the baby is born, the foot may appear flat but as the baby begins walking, a more normal appearing foot develops. If the child’s hips or lower legs are affected, it usually corrects itself. However, at times, the torsion on the hips and legs is severe enough that it won’t correct itself and will produce an in-toe gait pattern. A small amount of in-toeing should not affect one’s daily activities. However, if the in-toeing is severe, proper treatment should be instituted to prevent further deformities.
How is it treated?
There are many ways to treat an “in-toe gait”. If your child walks with his/her feet turned in, there are certain things you can do to prevent the condition from worsening. Positioning your child’s feet when he/she is sleeping so that the feet are pointing outward is one form of treatment. Encouraging your child to sit Indian style rather than reverse Indian style also helps. If this condition is caught early enough, there are other forms of treatment that can be instituted. These treatment modalities include special shoes, stretching exercises, and even special bars to positionally affect the feet and lower legs. It is important to remember that many “in-toe” deformities correct themselves. However, if you are concerned or worried about a persistent pigeon toe or in-toe gait pattern, your podiatrist should be consulted.
Diabetic shoes for diabetic feet in Nacogdoches and Carthage Texas
Posted by: | CommentsThe diabetic shoe bill provided through Medicare is a great program. This bill provides diabetic patients on Medicare an opportunity to get one pair of shoes and three sets of inserts annually. Like all Medicare programs, there are abuses of this coverage by providers, suppliers and patients but overall I find it rewarding to prevent future severe foot complications in situations where the shoes are needed. Not all patients qualify for the shoe bill. Diabetic patients who have diabetes with peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, a history of amputation or many variances from these basic qualifiers are allowed to participate. My blog today is not so much about the program’s operations but more about the shoes provided.
The primary purpose of the program is to provide shoes that reduce pressures on the foot and therefore reduce the risk of ulcerations that often times lead to infections and amputations. In my book, this is a worthy goal. However, if I am allowed to rant a bit today, I feel that too often diabetic shoes are made so soft and “squishy” (lol) that patients begin to have additional problems with their feet. Particularly those patients who happen to have the qualifying conditions to get the shoes but are still very active. It is almost like walking around on pillows all day or spending many hour walking the beach barefoot.
Our feet need some help. Particularly when they have spent a lifetime in a supportive environment such a good leather lace-up shoe with an arch support or when arthritis has begun to show itself. To take that foot, and then one day put it in a soft foam-like upper with a heat mold-able plastic insole (plastazote) gives the foot little help and leads to fatigue, contracture of the lesser toes trying to stabilize the foot and can ultimately increase pressure in some spots.
My request for each of you considering diabetic shoes is to make sure they are as supportive as possible considering your foot condition and as functional as possible considering your activity level. If you are active it is very likely you will need additional arch support in your new shoes and not just cushions! I’m talking about semi-rigid plastic, cork, felt and many other material options that will help you propel more efficiently and reduce stress and strain.
Be sure to find an expert in diabetic shoes and ask questions about the shoes that are being made for you because they should help your foot situation…not make it worse.
Shoe Fitting Basics from Mark E. Sowell, DPM
Posted by: | CommentsI’m sure I will be writing tons of blogs over the years concerning shoes. Today I want to start off with the basics. Everything from serious foot disorders to more common foot and ankle conditions can be exacerbated by one, avoidable cause: inappropriate, poor quality, and/or ill-fitting shoes. Quality, properly fitted shoes pay big dividends for your feet—now and in the future.
The most important quality to look for in shoes is durable construction that will protect your feet and keep them comfortable. Shoes that do not fit properly can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes and other disabling foot disorders.
The Fitting
Here are some tips to help reduce the risk of foot problems when shopping for shoes:
- Don’t force your feet into a pair of shoes in order to conform to the shape of the shoe. The shoe needs to conform to the shape of your foot.
- Fit new shoes to your largest foot. Most people have one foot larger than the other.
- Have both feet measured every time you purchase shoes. Foot size increases as you get older.
- If the shoes feel too tight, don’t buy them. There is no such thing as a “break-in period.”
- Many high-heeled shoes have a pointed or narrow toe box that crowds the toes and forces them into an unnatural triangular shape. As heel height increases, the pressure under the ball of the foot may double, placing greater pressure on the forefoot as it is forced into the pointed toe box. Limit heel height to two inches or less to protect your feet.
- Shoes should be fitted carefully to your heel as well as your toes.
- Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Judge a shoe by how it fits on your foot, not by the marked size.
- There should be a half-inch of space from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe.
- Try on new shoes at the end of the day. Your feet normally swell and become larger after standing or sitting during the day, which makes for a better fit.
- Be sure to try on both shoes. Walk around the shoe store in the shoes to make sure they fit well and feel comfortable.
- When the shoe is on your foot, you should be able to freely wiggle all of your toes.
