Bunions are a bony protrusion, or bump, that forms at the point where your big toe and foot meet. They start off small and you might not even notice them. They may begin as a small sore or bump but over time they can grow into painful protrusions that can become increasingly inflamed and swollen. Eventually, they will interfere with daily mobility and you may need to have surgery to remove them. However, with early intervention you can slow down the progression of bunions

How Do I know If I Have Bunions?

You feel joint pain or pressure around your big toe
You are starting to get corns or callousesHaving flat feet
Your big toe is starting to move inwards
The area around your big toe is swollen and painful

How Did I Develop Bunions?

Many people get bunions but if you bunions run in your family you are more likely to develop them. Some more risk factors include:

Having hypermobile feet
Having a  foot injury or repetitive stress
Having flat feet
Wearing poor fitting shoes, especially high heeled shoes

How Can I Slow Down Bunion Growth?

One non-invasive way to slow bunion growth is with custom orthotics. These customize show inserts improve your balance and alignment by dispersing your weight and pressure more evenly. By keeping your feet in proper alignment, further structural damage to your feet is prevented. At the same time, custom orthotics will also provide relief from bunion pain. Please contact our office or fill out this form to book an appointment.

The post How to Slow Bunion Growth appeared first on .

If you have a job where you stand for long periods of time then I’m sure you have felt heel pain before. It becomes taxing on your body because often you are not able to get enough rest as you need to stand again the very next day at your job. Therefore, heel pain is very common among standing jobs.

It might seem strange but walking for an hour is actually easier on your ligaments, tendons and muscles. This is because while you walk your legs alternate and get a short “break” between steps where they aren’t supporting your body weight. However, when you are standing still your muscles need to stay constantly engaged, while supporting your body weight, to keep you upright.  Secondly, while standing the heart has a more difficult time pumping blood to the feet and legs which results in less oxygen and reduced circulation.

So what can you do if you need to stand all day for your job? Here are some ways to make standing all day less painful.

Take Frequent Breaks

Try to take scheduled breaks, and spend them off your feet as much as you can. If you aren’t able to and your feet are hurting, try shuffling or walking in place to give your muscles and ligaments small rests throughout the day.

Stretch

Stretching is a simple way to make a big impact on how your feet feel after standing all day. While on your breaks, stretch your heels, calves, and even your toes to strengthen the muscles and ligaments involved in standing. Be consistent with this practice and you’ll have stronger, more flexible feet and legs that can stand up to long periods of time on your feet.

Try Orthotics

If you are on your feet a lot then orthotics can be very helpful. Standing for long periods of time can flatten and strain the arch, resulting in heel pain or Plantar Fasciitis. By lifting the arch back to an optimal position, applying targeted acupressure, and soothing cushioning you can stave off damage while simultaneously relieving pain and discomfort.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

This one seems like a no brainer, but a good pair of shoes is absolutely critical for comfort while standing. Choose shoes that fully support your heel and ankle, have a thick sole, and arch support.

If you are experiencing heel pain, we can help. Contact us for an appointment today.

The post How to Avoid Heel Pain When Standing All Day appeared first on .

Now that more people are working from home we are now NOT wearing shoes for most of the day. It’s probably something most people haven’t thought of but shoes provide support for our feet and without them some problems may arise. This is especially true if you live in a home with hard floors. It’s best to provide some support with some indoor slippers.

Before you go grab your fluffy, squishy slippers or flat slides consider what kind of support your foot needs. On the other hand, you don’t want a slipper with so much support that your foot muscles weaken. You definitely want to avoid heel straps because you want your foot to grab the surface of the floor to keep it strong. If someone has existing foot problems it’s probably a good idea to wear something with support, even with socks, in the home at all times. Only people with no existing foot conditions can go barefoot but even that isn’t recommended for extended use and especially on hard floors. For most people wearing the right type of slipper will probably good protection and support.

If you are prone to foot issues it’s best to avoid backless styles or slides because they don’t wrap around the foot and can lead to potential foot issues. Also, make sure your slipper fits correctly. Do not wear too large slippers as the toe gripping at the ball of the foot to secure the shoe can lead to plantar fasciitis.

When looking for a slipper, look for styles that provide support and are made with breathable materials. Something with an orthotic footbed with arch support, deep heel and ball cushion is a major plus. For safety an anti-slip rubber sole is a bonus. These features will keep your feet comfortable while being well supported.

The post Best Indoor Slippers For Your Feet appeared first on .

The pandemic has changed life for many Canadians for over a year now. While the restrictions have been slowly loosening, people are still spending much more time at home than ever before. Previously, people went out to work, socialize, run errands, dine at restaurants and other personal interests. Nowadays, people are working from home, shopping online, ordering take-out and making zoom calls. This increased indoor home time has led to more time spent walking without shoes In addition, most of that walking is on a hard surface thanks to the modern hardwood floor trend. Walking on a hard surface with no protection or support for the foot can lead to many issues. Furthermore, those who wear orthotics are obviously not wearing them because they aren’t wearing their shoes.

Walking for prolonged periods on a hard surface can lead to many foot issues from calaneal apophysitis to plantar fasciitis. It can also cause knee and back problems. Our feet are designed to walk on uneven surfaces similar to what’s found int he wilderness. However, walking on a cold, hard surface is usually what we walk on instead. Shoes give us shock absorption, motion control and support but without them can lead to foot, knee and back pain.

So how do we prevent foot, knee and back pain when this pandemic doesn’t seem to be nearing an end? Buy a pair of indoor shoes and try to wear shoes as much as possible, not just slippers. The shoes should provide adequate support, rigid heel counter, stiff soul, lace-up mechanism and shock absorption. Also, wear your orthotic if you have one. The pain should subside in time as your body adjusts. 

If you have pain in your feet, knees or back, please contact us and make an appointment.

The post Why The Pandemic is Hurting Your Feet appeared first on .

Do you have sore feet? Do you know what’s causing them to cause pain? It’s most likely your shoes. over 50% of Canadians confess that they were shoes that hurt their feet. Here are the shoes that seem to cause the most pain:

Wait a minute, isn’t that all the types of shoes out there? What are you supposed to wear then? Shoes don’t have to hurt your feet. There are some ways to prevent your shoes from causing your feet pain:

1.) Make sure your shoes give your toes enough room

Pointy shoes don’t pass this test. The pointy shape squeezes your toes together and do not give them any room for movement. This can lead to ingrown toenails, blisters, bunions and callouses. All of which are not fun. Skip the pointy shoes and go with styles with a generous toe box area such as rounded or square toed styles. If you wear shoes with laces don’t pull them too tight.

2.)Pass on stiff materials

The stiffer the material the more restrictive the shoes will be. Many times shoes are made of synthetic materials to lower the cost and increase the durability. However, synthetic materials are stuff and offer little movement. Try to stick with flexible materials such as leather.

3.)Save the heels for special occasions.

As the heel height increases so does the torque on the joints. Lowering the heel height would reduce force on the rear of the foot. However, don’t go too flat and avoid flip flops. It’s best to have about an inch of heel height.

4.)Get the proper support

The insoles that come with your shoes do not provide any arch support. They are merely there to provide a softer cushion instead of a  hard interior. Getting a custom orthotic will provide the support necessary to anatomically support your bodies from the ground up.

If you need a custom orthotic made or advice on which shoes are best for you please contact us for an appointment.

The post Are You Wearing Bad Shoes? appeared first on .

Summertime is the season where people will go barefoot. There’s no other feeling like walking on soft grass or dipping your feet in the refreshing water in a pool to cool off. However, while you have your shoes off you might also step on hot pavement or sand which isn’t as refreshing. This might not only hurt but can actually result in 3rd degree burns on the soles of you feet. Although, these burns are usually minor, they can result in some discomfort when walking as your feet can be sensitive to the touch.

If you get a minor burn on the bottoms of you feet this Summer, here are some simple and natural ways to sooth the discomfort.

Aloe Vera

Just as it’s used for sunburns on the body, it can be used for sunburns on the feet. Try chilling it in the fridge for some extra cooling effect

Tea Tree and Lavender Oil

Prepare a foot soak with cool water and add about 5 drops of either lavender or tea tree oil for a soothing healing treat.

Try to Stay Off Your Feet

The more you walk, the longer your feet will take to heal. Try to put your feet up and relax and they will heal quicker

Wear Shoes with Cushioning for Comfort

While your feet are healing, try to wear shoes with a bit of cushioning in the insole. The last thing you want is for the bottoms of your feet to be against a hard surface. If you have custom orthotics, that would be even better.

Always Wear Shoes

This one should be obvious and will be helpful in preventing any burns to the soles of your feet in the future.

The post Avoid Burnt Feet This Summer appeared first on .

in 2015 a University of A Coruña research team conducted a study to determine whether elderly people made wrong footwear choices due to the changes in their foot morphology. In their study 83% of the subjects did not choose the correct size and should have been wearing a different size for each foot. The mean age of the subjects was 80 years old.

Daniel López López, a scientist at the University of A Coruña who led this study, stated: “In this stage of life, there are changes in foot morphology involving increased width and length, as well as changes in pain tolerance linked to age, and the loss of muscle mass and fatty tissue in the feet.” Their results demonstrate that elderly people who use the wrong shoes have a lower quality of life in all areas related to pain, foot function, footwear, food health, general health, physical activity, social capacity and vitality.

Foot problems have increased in prevalence in elderly people and it’s becoming worrisome. Chronic diseases such as obesity, vascular diseases, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis have increased foot problems by 71 to 87%. The most common disorders are foot bone deformities, bunions, toenail malformations, plantar keratosis and flat feet. These often lead to infections, pain, difficulty walking, anxiety, apathy and loss of balance leading to more falls. These all negatively impact health, independence and well-being.

As people age there are many changes in foot morphology but most people don’t change their shoe size to accommodate these changes. Elderly people should recheck their shoe size periodically and also select proper footwear including wide-fit shoes with velcro or straps, rubber soles to prevent slipping and falling and those that reduce the impact on joints when walking.If you need help selecting shoes, please contact us for an appointment.

The post The Best Shoes for Seniors appeared first on .

Custom orthotics are personalized to fit your foot and can help rid or alleviate various foot symptoms relating to numerous medical conditions. Custom orthotics are more than just a foot or heel pad you buy at the sports or drug store which are mass produced with no personalization. Custom orthotics are also made of durable materials so they will last much longer than over the counter products. So, how can custom orthotics help me?

Custom orthotics can reduce or eliminate the pain and discomfort related to various medical conditions such as :

Bunions – orthotics with a wide toe box can help to reduce pressure and minimize bunions

Bursitis-inflammation of fluid-filled sacs in the heels and toes can cause bursitis pain and discomfort. Orthotics with heel and arch support can help to reduce bursitis discomfort from inflammation of fluid filled sacs in the toes and heels.

Flat Feet– Custom orthotics can help to provide proper support and foot positioning for those with flat feet.

Back Pain– proper support and alignment using custom orthotics can lessen back pain caused by inward rolling arches and lack of cushioning.

Arthritis-proper support and positioning of the feet using custom orthotics can help reduce discomfort caused by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Diabetes-custom orthotics can reduce the excess stress and pressure on the feet that can lead to foot ulcers in diabetics

Heel Spurs-custom orthotics can help to support the foot and reduce inflammation caused by excess bone growing on the back or bottom of the heel.

High Arches-custom orthotics can help feet stay stable and keep them from rolling inward or outwards due to high arches.

Plantar Fasciitis-supporting the heel and foot with custom orthotics can help alleviate the heel pain related to Plantar Fascilitis.

Doctors may also prescribe custom orthotics for people who have positional concerns with their feet or legs. This can include those with underdeveloped leg and foot muscles. Custom orthotics may also be recommended for athletes to prevent injuries. If you think you need custom orthotics, contact us to get measured.

The post How Can Custom Orthotics Help Me? appeared first on .

We all have faced swollen feet and ankles at some point in our lives. Foot swelling is not only uncomfortable, Swollen feet can slow you down by preventing free movement. For some, swollen feet may just be for the day or for a temporary period such as pregnancy. Foot and ankle swelling is a common problem for many people and usually not a serious condition in itself. However, some signs to see a doctor are if you also have leg ulcerations, blisters or sores. These can lead to infection and should be treated immediately. Also, if the foot swelling only occurs on one side of the body you could be at risk for deep vein thrombosis. Foot swelling is also frequently linked to foot and ankle injuries, surgery, travel, diet, heart and liver disease, Lymphedema and pregnancy.

The good news is that there are many ways you can ease foot swelling yourself at home. Try all or some of these ideas:

1. Drink plenty of water, at least 8-10 glasses a day. Dehydration actually promotes foot swelling more.
2. Elevate your feet when you sit or when you sleep
3. Reduce or limit your salt intake
4. Exercise more often and try not to sit or stand for too long periods
5. Use compression socks to prevent fluid collection in your feet an ankles

The post Causes and Relief for Swollen Feet appeared first on .

We all have faced swollen feet and ankles at some point in our lives. Foot swelling is not only uncomfortable, it can slow you down by preventing free movement. For some, it’s just for the day or for a temporary period such as pregnancy. Foot and ankle swelling is a common problem for many people and usually not a serious condition in itself. Some signs to see a doctor are if you have leg ulcerations, blisters or sores. These can lead to infection and should be treated. Also, if the swelling only occurs on one side of the body you could be at risk for deep vein thrombosis. Foot swelling is also frequently linked to foot and ankle injuries, surgery, travel, diet, heart and liver disease, Lymphedema and pregnancy.

The good news is that there are many ways you can ease foot swelling yourself at home. Try all or some of these ideas:

1. Drink plenty of water, at least 8-10 glasses a day. Dehydration actually promotes foot swelling more.
2. Elevate your feet when you sit or when you sleep.
3. Reduce and limit your salt intake
4. Exercise more often and try not to sit or stand for too long periods.
5. Use compression socks to prevent fluid collection in your feet an ankles

The post Top Swollen Feet Remedies and Causes appeared first on .