Reducing Arthritic Pain Through Shoes

Feeling achy? Hear your joints snap, crackle and pop like a sad bowl of Rice Krispies®? Arthritis can hit at nearly any age, any joint and cause irreversible damage. The most alarming is hindering you from achieving your goals from Point A to Point B. Losing mobility is losing out on a lifetime of opportunities. But the right pair of shoes can give back some of that privilege and protect your joints and preserve your joy.

With dozens of arthritis conditions stemming from multitudes of diseases, it’s important to work alongside your doctor to understand what kind you have and where you are most affected, so you’re picking out shoes that support you without increasing your symptoms.

The three most common types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis. While they are different in their onset and patterns of symptoms, origins and demographic correlations, there is a common denominator with all. Stiffness. Pain. Swelling. Inflammation. And as mentioned before, decreased mobility and ability to perform everyday activities like open a jar of pickles or pour a bowl of cereal.

One of the main sources for diminishing some of that pain and slowing down the rate of joint deformation can be found in your wardrobe. So long as it complies with the following criteria, of course:

1)    No heels: Women have said if they aren’t hurting, they aren’t helping. In other words, if you don’t feel a little pain while wearing them, they aren’t highlighting your body’s best assets. But women also say, looking back, that if they knew then what they know now, they wouldn’t have worn heels every day or so frequently. Heels conform our feet in an abnormal position, against the natural formation intended.

2)    No compact flats: While compression is good, lack of arch support and narrow toes causes suppression that bends your feet incorrectly. Our feet are pliable and susceptible once slipped into shoes, which is why it’s important to pay attention to the entire silhouette of a shoe: heel, toe, sole, straps, laces.

3)    More advanced flip flops: Cheap flips flops to feet is like wearing a ribbon around your neck and calling it a scarf during a blizzard. Thankfully companies have worked hard to advance the form and technology of a more stable and form-fitting shoe made with durable materials that cushions the foot, conforming to its arch and providing better quality. It’s imperative to avoid kinds that fail to provide an anatomically correct footbed thin, plastic types that do more flipping and flopping have a tendency to wear out in the heel.

4)    More suspension: Yes, suspension. Have you ever ridden in a vehicle that doesn’t have suspension? The simplest thing like driving over a speed bump can eradicate all feelings of safety and comfort. When it comes to recognizing suspension in a pair of shoes, you will often find it in a pair of sneakers, but many companies are recognizing the need for this feature, incorporating patented formulas in a wide variety of shoe categories.

5)    More orthopedic insoles: Whether they are sold separately or are an organic part of the shoe’s silhouette, quality insoles are the difference between walking on coals of fire or on clouds. Why so dramatic? Because an arthritic body is constantly wearing on the cartilage, every step wears away at it and without the proper insoles (and suspension) your feet aren’t properly encased in a comfortable, safe element.

6)    More security & arch support: This is more than just the right fit. A secure fit is a stable fit. Often arthritis can cause weakened joints which requires additional attention. While you want a pair that is sturdy with exceptional traction you also need to look for a pair that will mold to your feet and yours alone. Just like a house’s foundation holds up a roof, arch support in your shoes ultimately affects your knees, hips and back.

While it sounds like you’ll end up with a shoe that resembles a boot for a broken leg or foot, at ELM Shoes we have a multitude of options that cover these six criteria beautifully. We can find you a fit that helps eliminate or reduce swelling, aching and most importantly slow the progression through pain management. Pain inhibits healing, but the proper footwear keeps you on your feet in comfort from 9 to 5. And here you don’t have to compromise fashion for quality of life.

Let’s get started,

Your Missing Sock

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Foot Health Awareness: Taking Care of YOUR Feet

Join ELM Shoes this April and all the days after as we recognize Foot Health Awareness and play our part in healing our feet one step at a time by discovering several frequently seen symptoms and how to overcome them.

Foot Health Awareness is about more than just diabetes. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are. Whether male or female. Wherever you live, you hope to live for the long run. And a long life begins with healthy, mindful choices. From head to toe, there are choices you make to ensure your body runs in its optimum condition. Just like internal afflictions can manifest externally, wounds and other abnormalities seen externally have a great impact throughout our entire physique, thus the potential to affect our physical appearance and general well-being.

When it comes to our feet, many common areas of concerns have visible symptoms. However, anytime you feel pain, discomfort or see something out of the norm, it is worth consultation. It is said that the average person can walk up to 75,000 miles by the time they reach age 50, so whether it takes finding the right fit or having a doctor’s intervention, you owe it to yourself to take care of the issue sooner than later to reach that milestone.

SWEATY FEET: The root of sweaty feet cannot always be traced back to shoes. While some textiles allow your feet to breathe more freely, such as leather and wool versus acrylic fibers, excessive sweating in your feet is just like someone who has extreme sweating in their palm or anywhere else on their person. Known as Hyperhidrosis, it is not only an embarrassing symptom for some but depending what kind it is can stem from more serious matters. Whether the treatment is medicine, surgery or adjusting your daily habits, the prognosis is hopeful so long as you pay attention to the warning signs.

HAGLAND’S DEFORMITY: The word deformity seems like it would be a clear self-diagnosis but often this enlargement of the bone on the back of the heel is overlooked. For many, it’s called the Pump Bump due to its occurrence from wearing heels and pumps too much. When not properly addressed, Hoagland’s Deformity can lead to bursitis – a painful inflammation of the bursa. Treatment requires visiting a doctor or restructuring your footwear as this is a primary cause.

NEUROMAS: When you think of a pinched nerve, you often think of it located in your back or hip. However, your feet are equally susceptible to pinched nerves. Neuroma, typically found in female patients, causes pain in the front of your feet between the toes and ball of your feet, causing swelling, tingling, burning and numbness. Frequently caused by compression, wearing shoes with plenty of room for movement is pivotal to the relief and succession of pain. In addition to changing your footwear, visiting a podiatrist is essential as the condition can worsen if left untreated.

INGROWN TOENAILS: Painful, problematic and the most prevalent of all, ingrown toenails are nails (usually on the big toe) that persistently poke and grow into the tender tissue of your nail grooves, subsequently leading to swelling, redness, irritation and, at times, infection. Persistent ingrown nails require a doctor’s attention for lifting the nail and removing the irritated areas.

DIABETIC WOUND CARE: As a diabetic patient, foot care is elemental to managing your symptoms as many complications can arise from improper care. With neuropathy, high blood pressure and other issues to factor into, your blood circulation and sensations can be irregular thus the need to visually and physically inspect your feet from top to bottom. 15% of diabetic patients will encounter a would or foot ulcer – typically on the sole – so it’s important to proactively seek out any possible areas you may have hurt yourself or where your open sores are a vulnerability.

While our feet are resilient, able to withstand our long days and treks across varied landscapes, this exposes them to daily stresses and environmental conditions. Since pain inhibits healing, it’s important to alleviate a primary source of the symptoms. At ELM Shoes our knowledgeable and passionate staff can assist you in finding the perfect fit.

It’s time to raise awareness and put your best foot forward again.

-Your Missing Sock

Pain Doesn’t Have to Be Part of Your Life

Tags

Arch support, Diabetes, men, national foot health awareness month, Orthotic, pain, podiatrist, women

 

It’s Foot Health Awareness Month and while for 30-days every year in April, people in the foot care or footwear industry are trying to expand their knowledge and importance of proper foot maintenance, there’s a catch. 30 days doesn’t cut it.

It takes meticulous and intentional care every day of the year.

Simple practices like drying between toes and applying lotion after bathing contribute greatly toward preventing fungal infections. And while painting interior or home exterior walls act as a sealant, it’s vital to skip nail polish for several months per year to prevent your nails from becoming brittle or growing fungus.

Whether it takes great acrobatic maneuvering or extending your foot over a mirror, inspecting your foot for cracks, peeling, dry skin, blisters, corns and other protrusions is vital to avoid infections or a non-healing wound. Especially if you are diabetic. And this is just stuff you may experience outwardly.

National Foot Health Awareness Month is about being self-aware of what’s happening with your feet. Whether it’s external or internal. Often one day with pain is one day too many. It’s time to discover where it’s coming from and how you can improve the quality of your life by adjusting your lifestyle, your footwear and finding the right help.

Footwear That Promotes Healthy Habits: High heels, flats, flip flops and sandals are making a comeback with warmer weather! And their comeback story is a bit woeful considering the pain people are experiencing. Often these categories of shoes do not offer the most pronounced support. Be on the lookout for brands that specialize in orthotic technology with built-in support, reducing stress on your feet -thus ankles, knees and back. When it comes to high heels, compromise with a lower heel that doesn’t over extended your arch and put to much stress on compressing your toes. When wearing flats, flip flops or sandals, ensure you alternate them throughout the week (or day) with other shoes that offer more support. Depending on your footwear’s shape and look, you can utilize arch inserts to compensate for any discomfort and lack of stability.

Check-In to Cut Out Pain: Just as soon as you think you’ve found your shoe size, your foot may change in other ways. As you shop for shoes, periodically have your foot measured for width, arch and even size to ensure you have the most proper fit.

Moreover, despite having the most stabilizing footwear, pain doesn’t have to be a part of your life. Numbness, tingling and general pain or discomfort are worth a call to your general practitioner and podiatrist. Keep up a good rapport with them. As soon as you suffer from any ankle, foot or toe injury follow up with them rather then toughing it out. The more you prolong seeking medical attention, the longer you will suffer from pain. Left untreated, injuries can result in the development of arthritis, bones not aligning properly in the healing process and limited mobility.

Decreasing The Diabetes Threat: From clipping toenails, to nerve damage and watching your weight, when you have diabetes, your feet are often most affected. However, when you are proactive with annual (or more if necessary) foot inspections with your doctor, you make great strides toward avoiding the harrowing fact that nearly every 15-minutes, amputations are done due to diabetes. Your feet can take you all over the world. They shouldn’t be what takes you to the surgical table for an amputation. When you begin to lose sensation in your feet (meaning the pain begins to dull), experience low circulation, have excess weight or don’t have the proper arch support, each detail adds a sense of emergency to find the proper footwear and medication and treatment plan to eliminate the threats and slow down or stop the process.

What we eat. How we shower. Our exercise routine. Ultimately it all can affect the way our feet feel and how we walk. Pain doesn’t have to be part of our lives. Sometimes all it takes is a good pair of shoes and daily care to make that happen.

Let ELM Shoes improve your quality of walk.

-Your Missing Sock