December 12, 2022
This holiday season, let's consider healthcare during our shopping trips. Medical gifts are often on the wish lists of people we love, like our grandparents or even our doctors and medical student friends. They want useful gifts that not only ease foot pain and provide comfort, are also special for folks who like to showcase their foot health knowledge and care about preventing foot conditions.
But maybe you don't know where to start as you hunt for a healthy gift.
That's where we come into the picture! Feet First Clinic has curated the ultimate medical gift guide with a special focus on foot health. These goodies are affordable and can be stocking stuffers or larger gifts.
Useful Medical Gifts for Foot Care and Wellness
Here are some great finds in our holiday gift guide:
Shoes, shoes, and more shoes
Medical compression stockings
Orthopedic slippers
Therapeutic massage balls
Superfeet insoles
Foot files
Gehwol products
Shoes, Shoes, and More Shoes
For the loved one who is infamous for buying ill-fitting footwear.
Show someone you care by investing in a long-lasting pair of shoes that provide comfort and the right support.
Of course, it can be tricky to surprise someone without knowing how a shoe will fit, so you can offer to take your loved one on a shopping trip and treat them to a proper shoe fitting. At the end of the session, they'll leave with a great new pair of runners, winter boots, or another type of shoe they need.
To ensure you snag the right shoes to gift someone, consider this trusty shoe-shopping checklist!
Medical Compression Stockings
For the loved one going through pregnancy or struggling with edema-related(swelling) conditions.
There is a lot of misinformation about compression stockings. Some claim that they're only suitable for seniors, they cut off blood circulation, and they're bulky and ugly. But they couldn't be more wrong! Compression stockings are great for young people too! They stimulate blood flow and are super stylish!
Compression stockings help pregnant women and those suffering from foot swelling, and they're a great idea for frequent travellers and people who stand all day long at work. They're also great for athletes who need an oxygen boost for their muscles.
They're a wonderfully versatile gift. To arrange this type of gifting, instruct your loved one to attend a complimentary fitting and then cover the cost when the stockings arrive.
Orthopedic Slippers
For the loved one who wants some extra support and coziness at home.
Orthopedic slippers are a fun gift that would make almost anybody happy simply because they feel so soft and comforting. As a bonus, they can also increase blood circulation, help with spinal issues and lower back pain, and reduce the risk of sustaining an injury from a fall.
You can have some fun shopping for supportive slippers. Some come with furry collars and several colours to choose from. There are also broad selections for both men and women.
Check out this blog to learn why these slippers are a great medical gift idea!
Therapeutic Massage Balls
For the loved one struggling with pain at the bottom of their feet.
This tiny ball works wonders and is the perfect stocking stuffer. You can also include them in a foot care gift box if you'd like them to be a part of a major gift!
They're an accompaniment to several foot exercises (use them instead of tennis balls), and regularly using them can make a big difference in your loved one's quality of life.
Specifically, therapeutic massage balls help loosen tense muscles on the bottom of your feet. You can also use them to help with back and neck pain as they work out knots and boost blood circulation.
Superfeet Insoles
For the loved one looking for extra support to accommodate their footwear.
As far as medical gifts go, Superfeet insoles are a wonderful route to take. The general use of their most popular colour, green, is to provide extra support for people with flat feet, plantar fasciitis and other types of foot pain. They're also great at ensuring your footwear fits more snugly.
But if you have a loved one with more specific needs, worry not!
Superfeet produces several insoles with colours that indicate how they stand out. For example, Superfeet Berry is made specifically for women and comes with a slimmer heel and an arch length to fit the proportions of the female foot. And Superfeet Black is a versatile, low-profile option for people with flat feet. And that's just the beginning!
Foot Files
For the loved one who likes to practice a solid foot care routine.
You can gift someone a foot file as a stocking stuffer or as part of a gift box (throw in some Gehwol products and a massage ball for the perfect foot care selection!).
But why do we need them?
Foot files remove hard, scaly dead skin from the bottom of the foot, making them feel silky smooth. The perfect tool for concluding a luxurious at-home foot care session, you should give them some consideration as you shop for medical gifts.
Gehwol Products
For the loved one who embraces skincare.
Gehwol is known for its abundance of high-quality foot creams, sprays and powders. They also make lovely bath foams and revitalizing bath salts for tired, achy feet.
You can gift someone one product as a stocking stuffer or try creating a gift bundle with some variety. Here's a great example of a Gehwol gift bundle:
Gehwol's Fusskraft Herbal Foot Bath
Gehwol's Med Salve for Cracked Skin
Gehwol's Foot and Shoe Deodorant
Gehwol's Med Lipidro Cream
November 14, 2022
Your feet hold you up and keep you going through the busy days. And just like your face, hands, hair, and other body parts, they deserve care with the assistance of some fantastic foot care products. In other words, protecting your feet goes far beyond buying a great pair of shoes.
But where to start?
Looking after your feet is about being vigilant, preventing painful issues from arising, and searching for foot care products that help you achieve those goals.
Most importantly, everyone has different needs. You could simply try to boost your overall skincare routine, but sometimes it goes a step further. If you have a condition like athlete's foot, you might have to narrow your shopping list to find products that help relieve symptoms like itching. Furthermore, foot care products go beyond creams and skin care, with sprays, powders, and accessories available for the foot health-conscious shopper.
Here is a general foot care products checklist (don't worry --- we'll be talking specifics!):
Foot Creams
Foot Powders and Sprays
Supportive Accessories
Miscellaneous Products
Foot Creams
If there's one important tip we can give you, it's don't miss out on foot creams.
Issues like dry skin and rough, cracked heels are ever-so-present when Canadian winters roll around. Luckily, lathering your feet in silky smooth foot creams can help fight these common nuisances. Foot creams also provide a cooling and revitalizing effect, while simultaneously strengthening the skin's natural barriers.
Try these foot creams:
Gehwol Gerlachs Foot Cream: This foot cream targets excessive perspiration and foot odour. It's also great for preventing infection, blisters, and general foot pain.
Gehwol's Lipidro Cream: For the shopper with sensitive skin, this cream targets the lack of lipids and natural moisture production in the feet. It also protects again excessive itching and fungal infections!
Gehwol's Med Salve for Cracked Skin: This cream is extremely versatile, helping with a wide array of foot and nail conditions, namely cracked, dry and hard skin.
Dermal Therapy Heel Care: Smoothens thick, callused dry skin on the heels and feet. It's also fragrance-free, and works to restore moisture.
Foot Powders and Sprays
You may think powders and feet don't mesh, but you'd be mistaken. The same thing can be said for sprays! These are essentially foot deodorants that protect your feet from developing perspiration-related conditions.
Try these foot powders and sprays:
Gehwol's Foot and Shoe Deodorant: The Zinc Rizinoleate prevents and removes the sweat and odour on the feet and in the shoe. It also helps protect your feet in communal spaces that put your feet at risk of athlete's foot and fungal infections, like showers, locker rooms and public pools.
Gehwol's Foot Powder: This product helps absorb excessive sweat, keeping your feet dry and soft to the touch.
Supportive Accessories
On the prowl for affordable alternatives to custom orthotic fittings? Check out these cheaper, yet high-quality, options!
Superfeet Green: Superfeet offers high-quality, easy-to-use inserts for your shoes. Green is one of their most popular colours, even coming highly recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association. They offer orthotic support for people with high arches and other structurally painful conditions and can save you money if you don't have insurance for custom orthotics.
Superfeet Orange: Another popular offering from Superfeet, these insoles are great for high-impact activities and have a shock-absorbing foam pad at the forefront. If you're on the hunt for products that accommodate your athleticism, you may want to check them out.
Miscellaneous Foot Care Products For Your Checklist:
Foot bath products
Medicinal foams
Professional foot files
Therapeutic massage balls
Toe protection and padding products
September 6, 2022
Bunions are a painful foot condition that primarily affects women. Frequently wearing high heels is one of the main reasons that women experience bunions. High heels were first introduced in the 10th century and since then ladies all across the globe have embraced their stylish appeal. Heels of different styles and heights have become a staple for most work wardrobes, but along with this come some serious health consequences.
High heels can lead to sore feet, inflammation, redness around the side of the big toe, and a painful bump on the side of their foot. The most common cause of these symptoms is the bunion. Unfortunately, due to a combination of predisposition and improper footwear choices, far too many women suffer the slowly progressing yet debilitating effect of bunions.
The time has come to show your feet some love, ladies! Read on to find out how!
In this article, you will learn:
All about bunions
How your footwear affects your foot health; and
Whether you will need to give up stylish shoes for good
What is a bunion?
Hallux valgus, bunion in foot
The scientific name for a bunion is "hallux valgus." It occurs when there is a deformity in the joint that attaches your big toe to your foot. This joint is known as the first metatarsophalangeal, or MTP joint. While this joint may be small, it is extremely important. It helps us stand upright, keeps us balanced when we walk, and evenly distributes our body weight. When this joint becomes damaged, it causes the big toe to shift inwards, creating a painful lump on the side of the foot and can eventually affect the rest of our body and our overall posture.
Bunions aren’t something that happens overnight. They start slowly and progress over time. In severe cases, surgery is needed to correct this deformity and improve your quality of life.
Most cases of bunions occur in women. While some people are predisposed to this condition, many others suffer needlessly because of their choice of footwear.
How do my shoes affect my feet?
Nothing pulls together an outfit better than a cute pair of heels. Whether you prefer pumps, a wedge, or sky-high stilettos, your shoe choice can say a lot about your sense of style and the health of your feet.
Nowadays, we think of shoes as a fashion statement, but this item of clothing started with a much more important purpose. Shoes were initially designed to protect our feet from the hard ground and the elements. They were intended to keep our feet healthy and make walking easier. Unfortunately, women everywhere are experiencing the harmful effects of wearing shoes designed with an emphasis on aesthetics instead of proper support and comfort.
When you slide your foot into that stylish wedge or pretty platform heel, you force it into an unnatural position. Instead of distributing your body weight evenly across your sole, your entire weight is placed on the ball of your foot. This puts a great deal of stress on your MTP joint. Over time a disfigurement in this joint will occur, and a bunion will form.
Another consideration is the width of your shoe. Most heels have a narrow toe box. This squishes your toes together and places extra pressure on the sides of your feet. This compression can be painful, but it also exacerbates the condition and can cause bunions to form even faster.
Do I have to give up stylish shoes for good?
Here's the good news - no, you don't! Numerous companies make gorgeous shoes that are not only comfortable but stylish too. These brands keep the health of your feet in mind when designing footwear, giving your feet the ultimate support.
You can also limit the amount of time you spend wearing high heels. Instead of sporting this fashion daily, save them for special occasions. When you have to wear them, opt for those with wider toe boxes and shorter heels. If possible, bring a change of shoes with you, and only wear your heels when it's absolutely necessary. This will limit the amount of friction on your bunions and minimize the pain you experience. Trust us; your feet will thank you!
Helpful Tips to Help your Bunions:
Try to limit how often you wear high heels.
When you do wear heels, wear supportive insoles designed for dress shoes (like Superfeet EasyFit).
If your shoes are narrow, stretch them.
Wear wide toe, supportive shoes whenever possible.
To minimize bunion pain, wear toe separators and a bunion cushion.
August 29, 2022
Plantar fasciitis is a real nuisance, and it's also incredibly common. Luckily, plenty of shoe manufacturers design their footwear with this foot condition in mind. Knowing this, Feet First Clinic created a list of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis!
Before we dive into our list of supportive shoes, let's get the basics out the way and explain what type of footwear people with plantar fasciitis need.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of fibrous tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes.
The most common symptom is heel pain. Specifically, it may present as a "stabbing" feeling that can worsen in the morning and ease up as the day continues. Arch pain can also be a symptom of plantar fasciitis.
Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
People with plantar fasciitis generally need a stability shoe. These running and walking shoes help support the arch of the foot and control overpronation (when the feet roll excessively inward). Stability shoes are also more rigid than neutral ones since they control excessive motion.
Furthermore, arch support is the most important thing to look for when you have plantar fasciitis. The foot's arch is located in the centre of the plantar fascia tendon, so it's the most vulnerable to inflammation, which exacerbates foot pain and heel pain. Overpronation can also aggravate plantar fasciitis since weight constantly shifts from the heels to the toes.
4 Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
ASICS Gel-Kayano
Saucony Omni
ASICS Gel-Nimbus
APEX X-Last Walking Shoe
ASICS Gel-Kayano
Which Asics Are Best? Asics Offers Stability, Cushioning, Medical Benefits for Plantar Fasciitis
Known for being one of the best stability shoes from ASICS, the Gel-Kayano has the most stability and cushioning from their series of running shoes.
The Gel-Kayano is the right choice for people who experience moderate or severe overpronation and need maximum cushioning and arch support. It accomplishes this with its TRUSSTIC™ and DYNAMIC DUOMAX® technologies: The TRUSSTIC technology involves a resin structure (a medial post) in the midsole of the shoe that prevents the excessive twisting motion associated with overpronation. The DYNAMIC DUOMAX technology involves a firm sponge in the midsole that helps control and offset the inward rolling of the heel and foot. This ultra-soft cushioning is thanks to ASICS classic GEL® technology, which also helps with shock absorption. Furthermore, the external heel counter cradles the foot and adds extra support to the heel, helping manage the heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis.
Saucony Omni
The Omni from Saucony also provides great plantar fasciitis support. Despite being a rigid stability shoe, it also offers a good amount of bounce, letting runners propel forward. This is thanks to the springy PWRRUN cushioning technology.
The redesigned internal heel counter and extended medial post support are responsible for plantar fasciitis management. The heel counter guides your steps and helps promote a normal gait while managing overpronation. Furthermore, the medial post support adjusts to the body's natural alignment with added control.
ASICS Gel-Nimbus
Some neutral shoes offer enough features to accommodate plantar fasciitis. Neutral running and walking shoes are for people with a normal walking gait.
However, this neutral shoe from ASICS has some characteristics that often come with stability shoes, such as a specially engineered external heel counter and ASICS' TRUSSTIC technology. The Gel-Nimbus features cushioning in the back and front with additional support towards the inside of the arch. The FLYTEFOAM™ midsole cushioning also helps absorb shock with every step. The newest version of the Nimbus is also ten times more lightweight than its predecessors without losing its stability and structure.
APEX X-Last Walking Shoe
The X-Last Walking Shoe from APEX is a motion control shoe, also known as an enhanced version of a stability shoe. They are meant to support weight, accommodate flat feet and manage extreme overpronation. They are more rigid than stability shoes, and provide excellent support for the feet and ankles. While motion control shoes are sometimes on the heavy side, the APEX X-Last Walking Shoe is light as a feather (in fact, it's lighter than most running shoes!)
This shoe's heel cup, arch support, and pronation control features make it an excellent choice for people with plantar fasciitis. Specifically, the APEX X-Last Walking shoe includes a moulded external heel counter that extends from the heel to the arch.
Check Out More Resources on Plantar Fasciitis
Relieving Pain Caused by Plantar Fasciitis
3 Exercises To Help Prevent Plantar Fasciitis
5 Most Common Foot Injuries
August 18, 2022
There are countless causes of foot pain. One cause not often discussed is a foot condition called sesamoiditis, a type of inflammation of the sesamoid bones.
A sesamoid is a type of bone embedded in a tendon; they're in numerous body parts, such as the hands. Sesamoiditis targets the sesamoid bones in the foot, which look like two small, circular bones located beneath the big toe joint.
Today, we will discuss what sesamoiditis is, who is at risk, and how you can receive treatment for this painful foot condition.
What is Sesamoiditis?
Sesamoiditis is a type of tendonitis (tendon inflammation). Specifically, it is classified as inflammation of the sesamoid bones and tendons in the ball of the foot.
Sesamoiditis is a unique condition in that the sesamoid bones are the only bones in our body that are connected just to tendons - not other bones. Because of this, the sesamoid bones in our feet bear the brunt of insufficient shock absorption, causing inflammation and pain.
Other types of tendonitis in the foot include Achilles tendonitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon) and extensor tendonitis (inflammation of the extensor tendons on the top of the foot).
Symptoms of Sesamoiditis
Big toe pain, specifically pain under the big toe
Bruising
Difficulty bending the big toe
Pain on the bottom of the foot
Mobility issues: the inflammation of the sesamoid bones can make it difficult for the feet to bear weight
Redness and swelling on the bottom of the foot
Who is at Risk of Developing Sesamoiditis?
Sesamoiditis is an overuse injury, so physically active people are at risk. Since athletes, dancers and runners bear weight on the balls of their feet repeatedly, they often don't get enough shock absorption and protection from the ground's surface. This repeated stress is one of most common cause of sesamoiditis in young adults.
When it comes to older adults, those with osteoarthritis and bone spurs are prone to developing sesamoiditis. The sesamoid bones are already weak when you have these conditions, so they're more susceptible to inflammation.
Additional risk factors include:
High arches
Wearing high heels
Having large sesamoid bones
Osteoporosis
Sesamoiditis Treatment and Prevention
Wearing custom orthotics can help unload the stress on the sesamoid bones by correcting any biomechanical abnormalities that are causing excessive strain on the sesamoid bones. Likewise, they're a great way to relieve pain and also prevent the development of sesamoiditis. They provide both cushioning and the ability to correct the problem over time. These are a great option for severe pain since they fully conform to the unique shape of your foot. Superfeet insoles can also be a good option for cushioning, shock absorption and arch support if your case is mild.
Proper footwear with good support and cushioning is also essential for relieving (and even preventing) pain associated with sesamoiditis.
Your family doctor or foot specialist may also suggest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, to help with the pain. A specialist, like a chiropodist, may be able to tape your big toe, so it slightly points downward, providing relief.
Sesamoiditis Treatment at Home
Rest and relaxation
Ice and elevation
Avoiding physical activity
Investing in well-fitted shoes with supportive and comfortable features. Specifically, soft soles and low heels are helpful, like the ASICS Gel Nimbus.
July 26, 2022
Running is one of the most natural movements for humans. The foundation of all movement lies in our feet. And all it really requires is a pair of running shoes, a type of sports footwear specifically designed for running.
Because running is a high-impact activity, footwear is critical. For context, when running, the increased load (i.e.: weight or load) to your quads is estimated to be 4.7-6.9 times your body weight whereas the impact to your knee can be 7-11.1 times. That's some seriously impressive impact your legs and feet can withstand! Now multiply that by the number of steps you take on a run - this is reason number one why footwear is so important.
Footwear is also very personal. There are many different brands to choose from, and various types of running shoes. With that in mind, there's no one perfect shoe for everyone. Foot types vary, and preferences differ.
With so many different shoe models, how can one choose? In this article, you'll learn about the different types of running shoes, as well as how to narrow down your choices.
Understanding your arch type
To understand why various shoes are built differently from one another, we need to first understand your foot's arch.
Your arch is the part of your foot located between your heel and toes. The arch bears the weight of our body and allows us to move the way we do. The arch itself is the medical term for a variety of underlying tendons and bones including the tarsal and metatarsal bones. Because of its weight-bearing ability, it's no surprise that human architecture also borrows arch-shaped structures (for example, bridges and aqueducts).
The height of your arch (the distance between the ground and the apex of your arch) determines your foot type and influences the extent of your foot and ankle to roll inwards or outwards. Naturally, your foot and ankle should roll slightly inwards in what is known as pronation. The three types of arches are:
Normal: Your arch height is generally symmetrical in the sense that half of your medial foot touches the ground when standing. In this case, the foot and ankle generally roll slightly inward when walking or running.
Low: A low arch is synonymous with flat feet where most of your outer medial foot touches the ground when standing. The foot and ankle generally roll too far inward when walking or running. This is referred to as overpronation.
High: A high arch is characterized by a small portion of your outer medial foot touching the ground when standing. In this case, the foot and ankle roll outwards when you walk or run. This movement is called supination.
With this in mind, we can get into the finer details of running shoes.
Main types of footwear
Running shoes are categorized by structure. Specifically, the midsole construction, type of cushioning, stiffness of cushioning, distribution of cushioning, and weight of the shoe can all differ. The two primary types of running shoes are:
Neutral
Stability
You may hear other descriptors for running shoes like lightweight, training, racing, trail, minimalist, or maximalist. However, these fall under either a stability shoe or a neutral shoe. They're just additional ways to describe the weight, purpose, and style of a shoe.
1. Neutral running shoes
The Saucony Triumph is a popular, highly rated neutral running shoe.
First, we have neutral-cushioned shoes. This is the most popular and widely-used running shoe and its cushioning and structure are relatively symmetrical — this means the inner and outer parts of the shoe are similar in features. That's another way of saying that this type of running shoe does not have medial support or features within the midsole, no wedges or stiff plastic support along the arch, and its cushioning is uniform from the heel to toe. This does not mean neutral running shoes have no support: a well-made neutral running shoe, like the Saucony Triumph or ASICS Gel-Nimbus, offers excellent support throughout the foot - it's just differently structured than a stability shoe.
Neutral shoes have few to zero correcting features — which means that any abnormalities in your stride or gait will not be corrected in a neutral shoe. This can be a good thing if you have a regular running stride. However, if you have abnormalities in your stride, these will be amplified over time as you would be wearing an inappropriate shoe.
Those with medium to high arches are good candidates for neutral running shoes. This is because these types of feet don't need additional inner foot support along the inner edge of the shoe as there is no overly inwards rolling of their foot and ankle.
2. Stability running shoes
The ASICS Gel-Kayano is a highly supportive stability running shoe that provides maximum stability and cushioning.
Stability shoes, as their name suggests, provide more than just cushioning to your stride. It provides structure and stability. Stability footwear often features extra support (called a medial post) on the inner side of the shoe side to prevent arch collapse and overpronation.
Mild pronators, or heavier-set runners, should consider stability footwear. This is because stability shoes prevent excessive lateral movement for your foot. The shoe's features stop your foot from rolling too far inwards and help prevent certain injuries caused by this tendency.
Those with low arches or flat feet are good candidates for stability shoes as you want additional support along the inner edge of your feet. (Remember, those with flat feet pronate too far inwards.)
How do I know which running shoes to buy?
Now that you know of neutral and stability running shoes, what comes next? Choosing a pair. Here's how you can narrow down your options.
Footwear Assessment with Biomechanical Analysis
At Feet First Clinic, our chiropodists can match the best shoe to suit your foot type and gait during a footwear assessment, during which they'll conduct a full biomechanical analysis. This provides insight into any irregularities in how you distribute your weight and the movement of your joints and muscles when you walk. The chiropodist can then use this information to determine what could be causing or contributing to your foot pain, and how to effectively treat it. The chiropodist may also assess your gait with our state-of-the-art video gait analysis equipment, during which they'll analyze your running or walking style while on a treadmill.
Depending on your foot type and gait revealed through a video gait analysis, your chiropodist will recommend either a neutral shoe or a stability shoe. A well-matched running shoe should in part correct biomechanical irregularities to ensure each muscle group works in its intended way. Doing so can help prevent several related foot conditions down the line, such as flat feet, high arches, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, gout, bunions, hammertoe, blisters, calluses, and Morton's neuroma.
To book an appointment, use our online booking form or contact us at 416-769-3338.
Shoe fitting
Our clinic also provides free shoe-fittings to help you select your preferred footwear. You can get shoe fitting by dropping into the clinic. Our staff can help select and fit you for shoes in our shop, where we carry a specially curated selection of orthopedic footwear and pre-fabricated footwear from running industry-leading brands like Asics and Saucony. Note: Shoe fittings do not include gait analysis - for that you would need to book an appointment with a chiropodist.
At-home: the wet test process
An at-home test, called the wet test, can also help you determine your arch type. This will help narrow your choices for the type of running shoe to look for.
Dip the soles of your feet into a shallow tray of water.
With wet feet, stand on a piece of paper.
Take a full step off the paper.
Review the imprint left from your foot on the paper, and match its shape with a guide for arch types.
Half of your arch (the middle portion of your foot) imprinted on the paper indicates a normal arch; seeing the majority of your arch on the paper indicates flat feet (or a low arch); little to a sliver of your foot indicates a high arch.
