Tips for Happy Feet this Holiday Season

Holiday shopping, decorating, parties and traveling are all part of our holiday revelries. But while you’re making all that merriment, how happy are your feet?

You may be doing a lot of walking, dancing, standing and sitting in one position throughout the holiday season. Half of all Americans report experiencing foot pain at some point in their lives, according to a survey conducted by APMA. No one wants soreness or injuries to slow them down during the holidays, so it’s important to care for your feet so they can carry you through all those seasonal celebrations and chores.

Follow this advice to keep feet healthy (and happy) this holiday season:

• Moisturize – Dry winter air and cold temperatures can take a toll on skin. Moisturize feet daily to help avoid dry, cracked and irritated skin.
• Exercise your feet – Stretching is a good way to avoid muscle cramps. Stave off toe cramps by raising, pointing and curling your toes for five seconds. Repeat 10 times. Rotating your ankles can also help relax feet. Cup your heel and turn each ankle slowly five times to loosen ankle joints.
• Massage – Foot rubs not only feel good, they’re a great way to release tension, boost circulation and refresh skin after a long day on your feet. Take a few minutes to massage your feet at the end of a day of shopping and celebrating. Use lotion and take care of moisturizing at the same time!
• Pedicure properly – Picture-perfect toes are part of a great holiday wardrobe for many women. Whether you do it yourself or go to a salon, be sure your pedicure is done properly. Never use a razor to remove dead skin – opt for a good pumice stone instead. Don’t cut cuticles; push them back gently with a rubber tool made for this purpose. Use toenail clippers with a straight edge to cut nails straight across.
• Raise your legs – Feet and ankles can swell from sitting too long in one position (taking a long flight to grandma’s house for the holidays, for example) or if you’ve been on your feet all day (shopping, baking or cooking). Elevate your legs to reduce swelling. Lay or sit and lift your legs above your heart.
• Wear smart shoes – OK, so you’ll never give up your sparkly high heels when it’s time for that special soiree. But for other holiday activities such as shopping, traveling or cooking, ditch the high heels. When you know you’ll be on your feet all day, wear comfortable shoes with good arch support and a padded sole. See which types of footwear have received the Seal of Acceptance and Seal of Approval for promoting foot health.
• Get help – Feet shouldn’t hurt all the time. Persistent foot pain can be an indication of injury, irritation or illness. See a podiatrist if you experience pain; don’t wait until the holidays end.

And of course - wear your QUADRASTEPS and littleSTEPS orthotics every day to help lessen the pain and fatigue in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, back and neck!

@LSteps @QuadraSTEPS

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Blog originally posted on the APMA website http://www.apma.org/Learn/HealthyFeetTips.cfm?ItemNumber=9850

Get Ready for Fall Sports with littleSTEPS®

Fall is here and kids everywhere are gearing up for fall sports programs including soccer and football, track and volleyball. over 30 Million kids are involved in at least one interscholastic sports program; 21.5 Million kids are playing on one or more organized sports teams! More than 2.6 million children are treated in the emergency department each year for sports and recreational-related injuries

According to statistics, nearly 35.8% of injuries in kids 5-17 relate to sports and recreation. Why are Kids more susceptible to sports related injuries? 

• Active bone growth precedes muscle and tendon lengthening creating limited flexibility and risk of overuse injuries.
• Kids have an actively growing musculoskeletal system. Motor strength imbalances can lead to muscle strains.
• Open physeal growth plates in kids can lead to a higher incidence of tearing injuries.
• Kids have limited skill levels and level of conditioning (coordination issues).
• Consider gender: Male-female ratio of injury 1.8:1, but some girls are more susceptible to particular injuries.
• Kids have greater ligamentous laxity.

Kids are not just small adults! Adults whose bones have finished growing might simply pull a muscle or a tendon after a fall. But in a child, that same fall could injure the growth plate. One of the most commonly injured parts of the body in adolescents is the foot and ankle, particularly those involved in sports. Here are some of the more common injuries by age group:

AGES 6-12

• Flat Feet
• Growing Pains
• Knee or Shin Pain
• Osgood Schlatters disease or syndrome
• Calcaneal apophysitis (Sever's disease)
• Poor Posture and Postural Weakness
• including Genu Valgus (Knock Knees)

AGES 13-17

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner's Knee)
• Plantarfasciitis
• Shin Splints
• Stress Fractures
• Ankle Pain
• Ankle Instability

littleSTEPS® foot orthotics for kids can help protect kids during sports activities. They can be worn in cleats or athletic shoes. littleSTEPS® products are specifically designed for kids to deliver a prescription based correction, closest you will find to matching custom UCBL devices! littleSTEPS® come in 11 sizes to fit toddlers to teens. For larger teens, a QUADRASTEP® orthotic may be more appropriate. Ask your practitioner about littleSTEPS® and QUADRASTEP® orthotics today! If you need to find a practitioner, visit our website nolaro24.com. Like us on Facebook @quadrasteps

#LSteps #QuadraSTEPS

Foot & Ankle Fitness

General Information About Foot & Ankle Fitness

By Dr. Louis J DeCaro

Despite the wealth of knowledge feet provide about overall health and undetected health problems, they are one of the most ignored parts of the body. Even when foot or ankle pain is experienced during running, walking, or other forms of exercise, people tend to overlook it and chalk it up to a normal occurrence during exercise. It is important to always see a podiatrist for any type of chronic ache or pain in the lower leg, ankle, or foot after type of exercise.

The feet and ankles are a complex network of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tissues, and nerves that endures constant pressure and stress. Needless to say, the feet are susceptible to pain from injuries and general wear and tear. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, improper foot care during exercise contributes to many of the 300-plus foot problems that can occur.

Aside from checking with a doctor or healthcare professional before starting any exercise or fitness regimen, be sure to have a podiatrist conduct a thorough foot exam to correct and/ or prevent foot problems that may worsen with exercise.