FOOT DRESS - Does Your Shoe Fit? If someone should ask you, are you in health my brother or my sister, would you be able to say yes? Well when considering good health, very few people consider that the shoes that they wear has anything to do with their health. Friends just because a person may feel like this does not mean that this is so. What do the experts have to tell us? According to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, more than 43.1 million Americans—one in every six persons—have trouble with their feet, mostly from improperly fit shoes. A serious public health concern, foot problems cost the U.S. a painful $3.5 billion each year. Yet, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association, only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems. Rather it’s neglect and lack of awareness of proper care—including proper shoe fit—that brings the problems on. Since fewer than 10% of shoe salespeople have had even basic training in foot anatomy or shoe sizing, the foot problems that result from poor fit are hardly surprising. The foot is an amazing structure, capable of alternating between a supple, shock absorber when our heel strikes the ground and a rigid lever that propels when we push off and into the next step. In each foot, there are 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles (not to mention numerous nerves and blood vessels) that must work together to propel us forward. While all feet are unique, most fall into three basic types: Normal or rectus foot where the structure and alignment of the foot are well configured for the demands of daily living. Excessive wear, exceptional demands, or improper shoes can make this foot injured or painful. High Arched (supinated) foot is a foot with an unusually high arch. When the arch is high enough, the foot becomes shortened and rigid, making this type of foot a poor shock absorber. People with unusually high arches are prone to problems of the entire lower part of the body and back and may also suffer toe deformities (clawed toes) and calluses or pain on the sole of the foot. Flat (pronated) foot is a foot with an unusually low or collapsed arch and is one of the more common problems treated by foot doctors. People who have flat feet are prone to tired feet, arch strain, arthritis and various other structural problems. Shoe Size: size is not just about the heel to toe length, the length from heel to the ball of the foot is important, too. For shoes to be properly fit, the shoe must match the wearer’s foot shape. In addition the proper size/width combination must be chosen. Things to Look For In Comfortable Footwear: •• Stability -- The shoe should not easily twist or roll. •• Support -- The footbed of the shoe should cradle the bottom surface of your foot. The footbed that comes with the shoe wont support your foot, it must be equipped to be removed and replaced with a custom insole or orthotic device. •• Shock absorbency -- The materials in both the insole and outsole should provide adequate cushion. •• Fit -- Choose a shoe shape that most nearly conforms to the shape of your foot and a size that is appropriate for you. 10 Points of Proper Shoe Fit 1. Buy fit, not size. Sizes vary among brands and styles so don’t be wedded to a particular size. 2. Buy the type of shoe that is made for the use intended. A dress shoe means one thing, a shoe for standing all day means another. A shoe for walking is a different matter. 3. Select the shoe that is designed to support and fit your particular foot type. Flexible/pronated feet require a different fitting strategy than rigid/supinated feet. Your fitter may have to help you with this. 4. Have both feet measured and fit the larger foot (remember length and width). 5. Have your new shoe fit with the particular socks, hosiery, or stockings that you intend to wear them with. 6. Heel slip does not always mean that the shoe is too big. It may mean that you have a flexible foot. Ask your fitter for more information. 7. When standing you should usually have 3/8” to 1/2” from your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Remember that your big toe may not be your longest toe. 8. Choose styles that conform as nearly as possible to the shape of your foot. If you have a wide and/or square-shaped foot, pressure on the 5th toe (little toe) can be more important for fit than fitting the big toe. 9. Shoes should feel good when you buy them. Don’t buy uncomfortable shoes hoping they will break in and feel good later. 10. Take your time buying a new pair of shoes. Walk around the store and listen to your feet. Ask for a salesperson who is professional and understands feet as well as shoes. Pregnancy & Footwear:: During pregnancy, a woman’s feet may grow a half to a full size permanently. This is from a combination of factors, including the extra weight from pregnancy and increases in the hormone relaxin that cause joints to loosen. At the same time—the three arches of the foot need more support than ever—to give Mom the support she needs for both herself and her baby. Foot Facts: •• Walking puts 2 to 3 times your bodyweight force on your feet. Running puts up to 5 times your body weight force on your feet. •• Each person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day or over 3.5 million steps per year. •• Your feet log 1,000 to 1,500 miles per year. This adds up to about 115,000 miles in a lifetime -- more than four times the circumference of the globe. •• As shock absorbers, feet cushion up to one million pounds of pressure during one hour of strenuous exercise. ((richeyco) Slideshow taken from webmd. We pray this information was helpful in learning how to care for your feet. Ps 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 20:30:46 +0000
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