How to Avoid Foot Injuries Transcript
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Hello, I’m Donna Robertson, Head of Training and Chief Pedorthist for Foot Solutions, a foot wellness retailer specializing in footwear and custom crafted orthotic insoles. Today we are going to discuss the broad topic of foot injuries and how to maintain proper foot wellness. Most of the population will experience foot pain at some point in life. Keep in mind that the foot bears the entire weight of the body and is our foundation. Foot injuries can be difficult to recognize because the foot is so unique and has so many functioning parts. At Foot Solutions we want you to understand how your foot can be injured and how to prevent it. The list of injuries that can be characterized as foot injuries is quite extensive. Foot injuries extend to the ankle and include sprains, strains, fractures, cramping, edema, swelling, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, just to name a few. The causes of foot injuries are just as numerous. They can be inherited or related to underlying medical conditions and occupational stress. Or they can be caused by simple things like wearing the wrong size shoes or shoes not designed for a specific activity. Everyone knows they shouldn’t wear heels in a soccer game, for instance, but there are other less obvious footwear choices that can just as easily cause a foot injury. Many foot injuries are caused by ill-fitting and inappropriate shoe selection and poor foot function (over pronation and over supination). You may be surprised to learn that a lot of technology and expertise goes into the shoe-making process. Because feet come in such a vast array of shapes and sizes and because we live in a self-serve world, most people are not wearing the proper sized shoes and often choose shoes that are not designed for the activity for which they are being used. Wearing the wrong size can lead to bunions, hammer toes, neuroma’s (painful nerve damage), heel and ball-of-foot pain, poor circulation, corns, calluses, excessive foot perspiration and blisters. Wearing shoes that are not designed for a specific activity can also lead to injury. One example would be using motion control running shoes to play tennis. In this example, the shoes are very specifically designed to stop feet from moving side to side to help reduce over pronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot) in running. Yet, tennis involves a significant amount of side to side movement. Using this type of running shoe for tennis puts the wearer at risk for a serious ankle sprain, knee injury or worse. Additionally, feet that aren’t functioning properly can experience excessive stresses on joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This often leads to injury. Wearing appropriately selected and correctly fitted shoes and arch supports can help eliminate many foot problems. Foot size and shape can differ during activity, temperature, and with age, weight gain, pregnancy, or prolonged increased activity. Getting properly fitted by a footwear fitting expert, like those we have at Foot Solutions, can ensure that your shoes fit appropriately and that your shoe design and technology is agreeable for your lifestyle and activity. As part of our mission to address all things related to Foot Wellness, our in-store board certified Pedorthists are here to help you prevent and eliminate foot pain and injuries. To learn more, make an appointment with one of our experts by visiting www.footsolutions.ca. Your feet are the foundation of your health. Let us take care of them for you.
