I might have the highest foot arch ever. This is not an exaggeration; I have never seen a higher arch than mine. This never bothered me before I started working for Dr. Lockwood because I didn’t know better. Now that I am a “foot care specialist”, I know most of my heel pain can be attributed to my custom foot condition.

I used to believe everyone’s feet hurt like mine. We are busy people walking around all day and it is just natural to have foot pain, right? This is definitely incorrect! No one walks properly; we all need a little help.

Custom molded orthotics are beneficial for everyone. Any type of foot or ankle pain can be reduced or eliminated with orthotics. Orthotics are custom inserts made specifically for the individual needing them. They are made from a mold of your feet, so the inserts are an EXACT match to your specific arch prescription.

Orthotics work so well because they actually change the way you walk. They will properly modify your body’s alignment, including hips and shoulders to eliminate whole body pain. Custom orthotics decrease pain by changing the way forces act on our feet.

Specifically for me and my high foot arches, orthotics help distribute my body weight more evenly to a greater surface area across my foot. By allocating my weight properly, I have decreased the stress on my feet. As a result, my heel pain has decreased and I feel like I am walking on a cloud!

I have never felt better while I walk. Getting custom molded orthotics was the best decision I have ever made. Call Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates at 309-661-9975 with any questions or to schedule your appointment for orthotics today!

We all have those cute shoes that we just “have to have!”  I know I have fallen victim to shoes with heels, pointy toes, and flip flops. However, my feet do not love these shoes as much as I do.  Stilettos, open backed clogs, pointy toe pumps and even ballet flats offer no arch support.  This can cause numerous problems for your feet including nerve damage, hammertoe, calluses, and heel pain.

Worst Shoe Offender: Flip-Flops

I literally had 10 pairs of flip-flops until I learned these are one of the worst shoes to wear.  I have fallen out of my flip-flops and scraped my feet, strained my ankles, and even broke a toe.  Flip-flops are one of the biggest reasons podiatrists see so many patients during nice weather.  The common conditions associated with wearing these shoes are tendonitis and plantar fasciitis due to lack of support. 

The solution: Invest in real sandals with supportive inserts like our Aetrex Sandalistas we carry in office. 

Spike Heels

When I was a little younger, I would wear heels to go out because they made the outfit look cute.  I still wore them even though I knew I was only going to wear them briefly because of the pain they caused me.    Pain can form due to the pressure and strain on the ball of the foot from heels. These high heels have even caused a friend of mine a stress fracture because they were so high! 

The solution: Only wear heels on special occasions and infrequently. Also, if you do have to wear heels, use a ball of foot cushion to help relieve some of the pressure.  Additionally, bring a backup pair of shoes just in case. 

Pointy-Toed Pumps

Pointy pumps are hazardous because they can cause neuromas. A neuroma is inflamation of the nerve between the toes.  It is most common to see neuromas between the third and fourth toes, but it can also affect any of the toes. 

The solution: Avoid these at all costs.  Look for a shoe with a toe box that is more wide than pointy.  You never want to squeeze your foot in a pair of shoes so much that you are put into an unnatural and uncomfortable position. 

Ballet Flats

I love flats, but have found there are different types that give you more support than others.  Ballet flats generally lack support and cushioning.  Without proper support, there is a risk of tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, which is never good!

The solution: One rule to remember when choosing a flat: if it can be folded and put in your purse there probably isn’t much support.  You want to make sure there is a real rubber sole with arch support.  If there isn’t support in your flats, orthotics or Powersteps would be a great option for additional support.

Many patients ask me if I have kids and I respond, “No-I have dogs.”  My two pups are like children to me; they sleep with me, eat with our family, and go on vacations with us.  I even leave the lights and TV on for them when I’m not at home.  And they are usually precious little angels…except for the other day.

I had returned home from running errands to find my Brooks tennis shoes drug out in the middle of my living room floor.  Surprisingly my shoes had no harm done, but somehow Ginger, my puggle (pug beagle mix), managed to chew up my custom orthotics that were inside my shoes!

As other orthotic wearers can attest to, my orthotics are life savers for my feet.  Without them I experience plantar fasciitis, otherwise known as heel pain. Orthotics are a substantial financial investment, which can last for years, if my dogs don’t chew them up.  So when I walked in to see my custom inserts made into chew toys, I was initially horrified.

After a brief moment of shock, I remembered I (just like all other HFAA patients) have a 1 year warranty on my orthotics.  So I was able to send my orthotics into the lab and have them recovered and back to me in no time!  This 1 year warranty is a huge benefit to patients because it includes adding, removing, and moving padding to achieve the best custom fit possible.  Padding can offload areas of high pressure and make for a more comfortable wear.  The warranty also includes recovering the entire orthotic in a new top cover. 

So this is all fine and dandy if your orthotics are within the 1 year warranty, but what happens if you need an adjustment or recover after the warranty is up.  Good news- it’s only $50 to recover ANY orthotic, including modifying padding.  This includes orthotics that aren’t even from our practice.

So even though I had a mild heart attack at the sight of my custom orthotics all chewed up, I was at ease knowing I was protected by the HFAA warranty. Anyways, with those little cute puggle eyes, I could never stay mad at my Ginger! 

Thank you so much to everyone that attended the 2013 Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Event! Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates was a proud vendor last Saturday and I sure did enjoy meeting so many health conscience members of the community.

Everyone I spoke with had amazing questions! I am so happy this community understands the importance of foot health. We had runners inquiring about heel pain (plantar fasciitis), diabetics wondering about proper foot care, and just about everyone fell in love with our all-natural and organic Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish.

Since spring has officially sprung, I was happy to discuss proper foot health, especially during pedicure season! At Healing Steps Spa (our in office medical spa), we completely sterilize all equipment, have a private room for you to fully relax in, and use only all natural and organic products. I have a healthy obsession with feet and I am so glad I got to share my passion with everyone at this wonderful event!

Please join us at our next event, the 2013 Arthritis Walk, where Dr. Lockwood will be speaking as Medical Honoree for her commitment to patient education.

Did you attend the Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Event? Hit the comment button and let us know what you thought!

Foot pain can occur for a number of reasons. Some reasons include standing all day, flat feet, being overweight or having problems such as diabetes or plantar fasciiitis. The correct shoe insert can help ease this foot pain. While there are many different shoe inserts on the market, it is important to choose the right one.

Choosing the right insert may be overwhelming for people who don’t know what to look for.  It is important to select an insole that is affordable, performs well, and is easy to obtain.  Here at Heartland Foot and Ankle, we always have our Powerstep Inserts available to you at an affordable price. We strive to ensure all of our patients get the proper care and treatment they need.

Powerstep Inserts were created by doctors using scans from thousands of patients’ feet.  I personally researched this topic because my husband is on his feet all day. I felt we should try inserts for him since intensive studies have been conducted proving the benefit of their use.   These inserts have helped my husband be more comfortable in his shoes daily and were definitely a great purchase.

The reason he is so happy is because Powerstep Inserts cradle your heel and better support your foot. This insert has two different layers of foams called Hypurcel and EVA. The Hypurcelcushions will help keep the inserts density and the EVA helps give that soft foam on the outside for comfort.

Another reason Powerstep Inserts are something my husband will continue to wear is because the top fabric is made with antibacterial and antifungal properties.  This will help with stinky shoes, feet, and dryness. What woman doesn’t want that for her man?