Staying Alert

1. Remaining Vigilant: Stay aware of surroundings and potential hazards.
2. Avoiding Shortcuts: Follow established safety protocols instead of taking unnecessary risks.

Report Unsafe Conditions

Employees should feel empowered to report any unsafe conditions they encounter. This includes:

1. Identifying Hazards: Employees should be trained to recognize and report potential hazards.
2. Communicating Effectively: Use clear and concise language when reporting issues to ensure they are addressed quickly.

Maintain a Clean and Organized Work Environment

A tidy workplace reduces the risk of accidents and injuries. Employees should:

1. Keep Work Areas Clean: Regularly clean and organize workspaces to prevent slips, trips, and falls.
2. Store Equipment Properly: Ensure that tools and materials are stored safely when not in use.

By working together, employers and employees can create a culture of safety that minimizes the risk of workplace injuries. This collaborative approach not only protects individuals but also enhances overall productivity and morale. If you would like to read how employers can reduce workplace accidents, the article can be found here.

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Creating a safe work environment is crucial for both employers and employees. By implementing comprehensive safety measures, the risk of workplace injuries can be significantly reduced. Below are key strategies that can help foster a safer workplace.

Employer Responsibilities

Provide Thorough Safety Training

Employers should ensure that all employees receive comprehensive safety training. This training should cover:

1. Understanding Potential Hazards: Employees should be aware of the risks associated with their specific roles and the workplace environment.
2. Emergency Procedures: Clear instructions on what to do in case of an emergency should be provided.
3. Proper Equipment Use: Employees must learn how to correctly use equipment to prevent accidents.

Implement Regular Workplace Inspections

Conducting regular inspections is vital to maintaining a safe workplace. These inspections should:

1. Identify Hazards: Regular checks can help spot potential risks before they lead to injuries.
2. Address Issues Promptly: Once hazards are identified, swift action should be taken to rectify them.
3. Review Safety Practices: Inspections can also be an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of current safety protocols.

Ensure Proper Use and Maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is essential for minimizing exposure to workplace hazards. Employers must:

1. Provide Appropriate PPE: Ensure that suitable PPE is available for all tasks requiring protection.
2. Train Employees on Proper Use: Employees should know how to correctly wear and maintain their PPE.
3. Regularly Inspect and Replace PPE: PPE should be routinely checked for wear and tear and replaced as needed.
4. Ensure Adequate Staffing:
Have sufficient staff to prevent accidents related to overloading or taking shortcuts due to understaffing.
5. Develop Emergency Plans:
Create and practice emergency action plans, including clear outlines for emergency exits and safe assembly points.

Following these tips will decrease your chance of workplace accidents. If you have a workplace injury and a WorkSafeBC claim, please contact us.

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Orthotics are designed to alleviate pain in various joints in the body and also support and correct foot problems. While they are often highly effective in improving foot health, there may be some minor side effects during the initial wearing stages. However, the good news is that these side effects can be minimized or eliminated and often are very minor compared to the benefits of wearing orthotic inserts.

Foot Soreness

Frequently new orthotics users will experience soreness around the ankles and calves during the first few weeks of wear. This is due to the body adjusting to the new alignment and support from the orthotics.

Irritated Skin and Blisters

If the orthotics are not fitted correctly to the shoe blisters and skin irritation may occur. The orthotics may cause the shoes to become tighter resulting in increased friction in certain areas of the feet.

Numbness in the Foot

Orthotics can compress nerves or restrict blood flow causing a loss of sensation or numb feeling in the feet. However, this is usually a rare occurrence.

Changed Gait and Posture

At time, orthotics can cause discomfort in other parts of the body due to the change in gait and posture. Pain may be felt in the knees, hips or back.

Difficulty Wearing Certain Shoes

Orthotics can sometimes make it difficult to wear certain shoes, especially those with narrow toe boxes or high heels. This is because the orthotics may take up additional space in the shoe.

Reducing Side Effects of Orthotics

You can easily reduce the side effects of orthotics by:

• Increasing wear gradually, starting with a few hours at a time
• Selecting shoes with a wide toe box to accommodate the orthotics
• Getting regular visits with your Pedorthist to check fit

Please contact us to set up an appointment.

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So you have planned to take your family to Disneyland! You are super excited for the trip but are wondering if you will survive all the walking! As an annual patron of Disneyland I can tell you that you will if you prepare correctly. Yes, it is A LOT of walking but it doesn’t have to ruin your feet or your trip. Here are my tips to get your feet in shape for Disneyland, or any other vacation that requires a lot of walking.

Train For The Walking

You wouldn’t run a marathon without training right? Well, Disneyland is not as extreme as a marathon but it will be tougher to manage if you don’t work up your steps. So get out there and start walking and increase your distance a bit per day. It’ll be best to start at least a month before your trip if you can. Also, unless you are bringing a stroller you will most likely need to carry some sort of backpack for your necessities. Bring along your backpack so you can get used to it’s weight.

Break In Your Shoes Beforehand

Be sure to bring comfortable, supportive shoes and at least 2 pairs. Yes, 2 pairs because you will want to have an extra “fresh” pair to switch into that isn’t compressed from all the walking from the days before. If you wear custom orthotics, be sure to bring those as well. Under no circumstances should you bring new shoes to the park. You would not want to waste a magical Disney day being having foot pain or blisters.

Take Breaks Throughout the Day

There are many areas to put your feet up at Disneyland. They have incorporated many seating areas outdoors and indoors. These areas are shaded and air-conditioned. Take advantage of these by taking many breaks during day to rest your feet. Another good option is to ride the train around the park. It’s scenic and you can rest for 20 minutes. Sometimes that is all you will need to be ready to go again.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated will help you maintain your energy levels as well. There is no need to pay for bottled water either. There are many water bottle refilling stations all over the park. Be sure to pack one and keep it in your backpack.

Elevate Your Legs Afterwards

After you return from the park and if you have sore feet be sure to spend some time with your feet up. The higher you put them the better. A good way to get relief is to lie by a wall and put your legs up against the wall to get your feet higher than your heart for a while. You can do this while watching TV or reading a book. Elevating your feet higher than your heart will help with swelling and improve circulation.

Stretch

A good stretch can do wonders. Stretch after you get home and also before bed. Muscles can stiffen after lying around for a few hours so be sure to stretch your body during the evening. A good time is after a shower when your muscles are warm.

Follow these tips for a comfortable and magical vacation at Disneyland. If you need custom orthotics or ankle/knee braces place contact us for an appointment.

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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.

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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.

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Knee pain is a common problem, especially for many older adults. Over the years, your knees endure a lot of wear and tear as you fight against gravity to move and walk. Over time, aging of the knee joints is inevitable but other factors can make you more susceptible to pain. Osteoarthritis, injury, excess body weight and lack of muscle strength and flexibility can all cause or contribute to knee problems.

A previous injury or continuous repetitive stress from an activity can also result in acute, recurring or chronic pain. When exercising, try to vary your activities so the knees do not endure a repetitive motion.

If you are over-weight, putting extra stress on your knees puts you at risk for knee pain, as well. Excess body weight not only accelerates joint deterioration but also increases your risk of osteoarthritis.

Weak or inflexible muscles don’t safely support the full range of motion of your knees. You will be at a greater risk for injury. Be sure to strengthen both your upper and lower leg muscles and frequently stretch them so they remain supple.

Try some of these tactics to prevent a future knee issue or reduce a current one. If you need advice with knee braces or shoes please contact us for an appointment

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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.

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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.

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COVID-19 is scary for diabetics and here is why. A French study found, that 3/10 diabetic patients treated for the novel coronavirus either required ventilation or died within a week of hospitalization.

Researchers looked at more than 1,300 patients with COVID-19 in French hospitals who also had diabetes — 89 per cent of whom had Type 2 — and found that 10 per cent died by day seven of their hospitalization, and one in five needed a ventilator to breathe.

The average age was 70 years old and most of the patients were male. Diabetics is a huge risk factor for more serious COVID-19 results and complications. Other influential factors were age (particularly over 75) also obstructive sleep apnea and higher BMI were also linked with higher death rates. People in these groups should limit their risk of exposure to the virus. Please note that although diabetics have a higher risk of complications, they do not have a higher risk of contracting the virus.

If you have diabetes be sure to follow rigorous hygiene routines and limit exposure to any potential opportunities of exposure.

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