Loving the Snow?

Neither are we. If you’re like us (located in the southeastern U.S.) and many of those we serve, you’ve had just about enough of the white stuff.

Trade in the snow for sand with the Coastline Seabreeze, our new individually designed orthotic flip-flop.  Even if a fabulous Caribbean escape isn’t in your immediate plans, Seabreeze feels so good on your feet that you’ll forget about the Snowpocolypse outside (well, almost). While we don’t recommend the Seabreeze for outdoor wear in the cold and ice, it’s perfect for lounging around the house, doing chores, or just relaxing with the thermostat or fire cranked up high. Plus… Spring is not that far away. We promise.

Every Shoe Tells a Story: What Do Yours Say?

Shoes are like books, and every pair tells a story. Your healthcare professional can “read” yours to learn a lot about your lifestyle and health, specifically your risk for postural conditions. Your feet are your body’s foundation, so shoes that are worn out, poorly constructed, or don’t fit properly can shift the entire body “off-kilter,” and cause problems in your legs, knees, hips, pelvis, and spine.

Here are a couple of clues that your postural problems need to be addressed:

• Heel wear – As the heel of your shoe wears, it should wear evenly on both sides of the shoe. If one side of the heel is worn more than the other side, this indicates a possible body imbalance. Now examine two shoes of a pair together, side by side.  Is one shoe more worn than its mate? This screams “imbalance” too, which can translate into pain and instability up through the lower extremities and into the spine.

• Sole wear – Look at the soles of your shoes. From top to bottom, does one sole show wear that is creeping closer to the heel? This is another indication of bodily imbalance, as your foot on this side is likely pronating (rolling in) more than the other. (Pronation is a normal part of the walking cycle, but excessive pronation can have serious health consequences. We’ll talk more about pronation in a future post).

Check out that uneven heel wear — yikes!

What you put on your feet is not just about your feet. Proper fitting, supportive shoes are important for your body’s overall wellness, and functional orthotics in every pair go the extra mile in protecting and maintaining your health. Learn about the Foot Levelers’ functional orthotics, plus our Shoethotics and Sandalthotics, here.

Throw Away Your Old Flip-Flops, The Seabreeze is HERE!

After months of research and development, Foot Levelers has introduced the Coastline Seabreeze custom orthotic flip-flop. Designed to meet women’s unique postural problems, the Seabreeze combines our supportive 3 Arch Advantage — individually designed just for you — with head-turning style and incredible comfort.

Foot Levelers’ Seabreeze custom orthotic flip-flop, taking in some rays

The Seabreeze features a gorgeous shell-colored woven strap, suede top cover, our corrective 3 Arch Advantage, and a durable black rubber sole.

The Seabreeze is the perfect reason to throw away all your harmful other flip-flops and sandals. (Want to read about how traditional flip-flops can destroy your feet and even affect posture? Click here).

Unlike those others, the Seabreeze is designed to help your body, not hurt it.  For now, only your healthcare professional can assess and fit you for these warm weather beauties; find one near you here.

And Now, A Word from Our Doctors…

We received this great message from Dr. Amy Olson in Birmingham, Michigan about her marathon-running patient!

“One of my most memorable patients, an avid runner, suffered from knee and shin pain when I first saw her. The runner was forced to abandon her goals of marathon events but one day said, ‘Forget this!,’ and made an appointment to see me, determined to run in the 2010 Chicago marathon.

She suffered from two very common problems: pelvic torsion, causing a leg-length discrepancy, and the inability to maintain the arches of her feet in a weight-bearing position. Both of these conditions are extremely common and can lead to problems such as: plantar fasciitis, shin splints, patellar tracking dysfunction (knee pain), low back pain, upper back pain, neck pain, and even headaches. For a runner these problems can become magnified due to the extreme stress on the joints of the spine, legs and feet.

I began my patient on a treatment plan of chiropractic adjustments targeting the spine and feet, stretching, massage therapy, and Foot Levelers functional orthotics. Once the pain was under control, my patient continued to see me once per week for the months leading up to the marathon. On the big day, my patient finished the marathon without a hitch.”

Thanks Dr. Amy! We’re glad we could help.