Do You Know Your Foot Type is Genetic?

By Dr. Louis J DeCaro

I was recently asked what is the earliest I put orthotics on kids. I answered "When the egg meets the sperm!" Well today I had a child present with hypotonicity at 16 months who is delayed and just beginning to pull to stand. I also had dad take off his shoes. Dad, 36 y.o., was also seeing me as a new patient due to a lifetime of foot and ankle pain and posterior tendon dysfunction. This picture (the right foot shows better than the left because the child was squiggly) clearly illustrates genetics at its finest and the need for early intervention! littleSTEPS size 00 (not SMO's) for the child, custom UCBL orthoses (not surgery) for dad! Mission accomplished!

We would love to see your Family Pho-toes. Try to get several generation of your family together for a foot photo, you might be surprised at what you see. Email them to info@nolaro24.com with a brief description of the feet in the photo - ages and relationships. Don't forget to have your kids screened by your podiatrist or therapist for potential problems, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

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

10 Things to Note About Your Child Before They Turn 10

1. In-toeing
2. Toe Walking
3. Frequent injuries anywhere in the body
4. Complaining about “growing pains”
5. “Clumsiness could be coming from poor foundation"
6. Poor posture
7. Scoliosis could be worsened or caused
8. Poor endurance during walking or running
9. Disinterest to sports involving running
10. Obesity

Are you concerned about your child's feet?

You are not alone. It is not uncommon for parents to be concerned about their child's feet!
Consider Genetics! Many adults recognize that they have feet genetically similar to their parents, but many not realize that they might have passed on these same foot traits to their children! Help your children avoid acquiring your foot problems by having their feet screened by a qualified clinician who can help you determine if treatment should be considered.

Check our FIND A PRACTITIONER page for a practitioner near you that carries Nolaro24 products


For more information EMAIL US
Twitter: @LSteps @QuadraSTEPS
FB: @quadrasteps
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All Treats, NO TRICKS!

For help finding a practitioner, try the
FIND A PRACTITIONER tool on our website

Choosing the correct orthotic

What is a foot orthotic?

By definition, a custom made foot orthotic is a medical device made to control the way a foot functions. There is a significant amount of literature that can scientifically detail what a foot orthotic should be, how they should be diagnosed, and how they should be manufactured. At the end of the day you have only one thing in mind - making your feet and overall body feel better.

A properly prescribed and manufactured foot orthotic inserted into your shoes will correct abnormalities in their biomechanical function, thus reducing pain, providing support, and preventing these deformities from progressing with age. Keep in mind that foot orthotics not only alleviate foot pain but are effective in treating hip pain, lower back pain, and knee pain that are a result of these mal-alignments in the lower body.

Orthotic Choices

There are two basic types of orthotics; accommodative and functional. Accommodative orthotics are designed to simply shift body weight away from the painful area but are not designed or intended to correct the underlying problem. These orthotics are typically made of a soft material and are referred to as "soft orthotics".

Functional foot orthotics are designed to specifically correct the abnormality and are the type of orthotic that will provide the highest level of correction and relief.

There are two types of functional orthotics; rigid and semi-rigid. Rigid orthotics are made from a firm material such as plastic or carbon fiber and are designed to aggressively correct mal-alignments of the lower extremity, i.e. pes planus. Semi-rigid orthotics are used for patients needing a more flexible device with more cushioning, i.e. pes cavus.

Our QUADRASTEP SYSTEM orthotics are a pre-fabricated custom-to-foot type foot orthotic that is the closest you can get to a custom foot orthotic with a prefab. They have all of the posting, recesses and correction of a custom functional foot orthotic at a fraction of the cost.

Your practitioner can explain how properly balanced feet can dramatically improve your overall posture and strength to optimize your bio-mechanical wellness.

To find a practitioner that can dispense QUADRASTEP® orthotics, check our Find a Practitioner pageon Nolaro24.com and get RELIEF NOW!

For more information EMAIL US

Twitter: @LSteps @QuadraSTEPS

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What makes littleSTEPS® Unique?

littleSTEPS® provide the same functional foot control found in prescription foot orthoses. Some of
these features are:

• An ultra deep 30 mm heel cup to maximize rearfoot control and realign the Achilles tendon.
  
• Excellent arch support with deep sidewalls to assure both comfort and correction.
  
• A unique thermoplastic compound which has a combination of strength and a “soft-edge” feel for patient comfort.
  
• littleSTEPS® are durable and easy to clean with soap and water.
  
• Fit in most standard athletic shoes.

littleSTEPS® are sold through practitioners, to find a practitioner in your area, check out our FIND A PRACTITIONER Tool.

For more information EMAIL US

Twitter: @LSteps @QuadraSTEPS

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DID YOU KNOW?

Here are some fun facts about Feet:

We all know that American bodies are getting bigger, but what about our feet? In the United States, the best-selling shoe size is 8.5 for women and 10.5 for men. Those are both up a full size from 30 years ago, according to the National Shoe Retailers Association in a Chicago Tribune article. If you think you know your correct size, you could be off — a 2011 report published in the Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery suggests that about 35 percent of people underestimated by at least half a size.

It is suggested that 9 out of 10 women wear the wrong shoe size!

Humans have nearly 8000 nerves in our feet

Compared to fingernails, toenails grow much more slowly – about 1mm a month

Fingernails and toenails grow faster during hot weather, pregnancy and teenage years

The record for the world’s largest feet belongs to Matthew McGrory who wears US size 28½

In a pair of feet, there are 250,000 sweat glands

It takes at least 5-6 months to grow an entirely new toenail

Akshat Saxena holds the world record for having the most toes with 10 digits one each foot!

In America, the average shoe size has gone up two sizes in just four decades

It’s rare that two feet are exactly the same; one of them is often larger than the other

For more information EMAIL US

Twitter: @LSteps @QuadraSTEPS

FB: @quadrasteps

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