Ladies: Take the Helm with Catamaran™!

Hey Ladies!

Check out the newest Catamaran™ custom orthotic flip-flop made just for you. Handcrafted from decadently soft leather and featuring an embedded orthotic custom-built just for you, Catamaran is perfect for your casual summer outings or for simply kicking back in ultimate, pampering support. Available in two hues: Teak (shown on the left) and Mahogany (right).

Catamaran may look familiar because we actually launched it in 2015 as a men’s flip-flop. Requests started piling up for a women’s version, so our team got to work! Catamaran for gals (and guys) is available now, along with a whole Foot Levelers family of stylish, healthy orthotic flip-flops, shoes and sandals... Got pain? Ask your Chiropractor for yours, or call us at 800.553.4860 to find a doctor near you!

 

 

1 Scan = Unlimited Pairs (for Up to 2 Years!)

Did you know that Foot Levelers keeps your foot scan on file for 24 months? That means a fresh pair of custom orthotics or orthotic footwear may just be a phone call away!

Call your doctor today to ask about additional pairs–whether it’s the same model you got before or you want to try something completely different, one scan gives us the information we need to build you the support you need.  And if you don’t have a Foot Levelers doctor yet, call or message us today to find one near you! 800.553.4860.

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

Say “Aloha” to Brand New Shoethotics® from OluKai and Foot Levelers

Founded in Hawaii, OluKai believes everyone, no matter where they are, can “live Aloha.” Unlock your inner Aloha with footwear featuring quality materials and handcrafted details inspired by ocean culture.

Olukai is formed from two Hawaiian words: “Olu” meaning comfort and “Kai” meaning ocean. We’re especially excited to be partnering with them because of the Olukai philosophy: creating great products while leaving the smallest footprint possible on the planet. In every facet of its business, OluKai is committed to respecting the people and the environments it touches.

Want a pair of Olukai Shoethotics? Talk to your Chiropractor to learn more, or give us a call to find a doc near you: 800.553.4860!

Sneak Peek!

We’re adding a couple of really cool brands to our line of Shoethotics®, and the first shipment just arrived today! We’ll be launching officially this month, so stay tuned for more….

Foot Levelers, Footmaxx Donate Over 700 Pairs of Shoes to Wildfire Victims

Foot Levelers has a lot of friends and customers in Canada, so when we heard about the devastating wildfire in the province of Alberta, we wanted to help.

The fire, which ignited May 1 and was brought under control July 5,

L-R, Chris and Josh work together to pack up the shoe donation at Foot Levelers’ headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia

forced Canada’s largest-ever evacuation–90,000 people in the region were forced to flee, many of them to Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city about four hours drive south from rural Fort McMurry. More than 1.4 million acres of land and 2,400 homes and other buildings were destroyed.

The donation arrived at Edmonton Emergency Relief Services on  July 8th, full of new, high-quality footwear for men, women and children from brands like Franco Sarto, Clarks, P.W. Minor, Aetrex, Florsheim, and Acorn. The 704 pairs are estimated at about $75,000 USD retail value.

“Footmaxx has a long history of serving the people of Northern Alberta,” said Steve Stone, General Manager of Footmaxx. “Our hearts go out to those who have lost so much. We’re honored to have the opportunity to help in our own way.”

One front of the Fort McMurry wildfire photographed on May 7th by Jonathan Hayward/AP

Foot Levelers Senior Vice President, Dawn Galbraith, added: “The hardship that the people of Northern Alberta are facing is unimaginable, and we at Foot Levelers are eager to help. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are suffering.”

“Edmonton Emergency Relief Services would like to thank Footmaxx and Foot Levelers for their generous donation of over 700 pairs of new shoes to help support the relief efforts for the evacuees of the wildfire,” said Nicole Geoffroy, Media Relations for Edmonton Emergency Relief Services. “We appreciate all of their support in helping all the evacuee families receive these greatly needed items.”

Shoes arrive at the relief center

 

 

Article: The Difference Proper Foot Support Can Make

Check out this solid article on the importance of proper foot support–not only what it means for your feet, but how it affects your entire body, now and through the years.

Got aches and pains? Poor footwear may be to blame. Read our post on choosing healthy footwear here. And remember, wearing custom orthotics in every pair of shoes goes a long way toward keeping you strong, healthy and pain-free.

Or check out our lines of Shoethotics, Sandalthotics and custom orthotic flip-flops. This stylish, healthy, high-quality orthotic footwear comes fitted with the custom orthotic we build just for you based on a 3D scan or cast.

Foot Levelers carries orthotics and orthotic footwear for every activity, every lifestyle. Talk to your Chiropractor today!

Pick Your Perfect Shoe, Protect Your Body’s Foundation

What’s in a shoe?

Consider this: the average American takes 5,117 steps a day.*  Most people will walk thousands of miles over a lifetime.

With each step, improper footwear can cause degenerative changes in the muscles, joints and connective tissues of the feet.  Feet are the body’s foundation—when that’s compromised, everything above may shift. A body out of alignment is a body in pain, one that’s more prone to injury and disease.

Ladies—we hope you’re listening (!), because you, especially, are at risk.  A survey on women’s shoes found that 88% of women were wearing shoes that were smaller than their feet (by an avg. of 12 cm!). Is it any wonder that 80%  reported “some foot pain” and that 76% of the women surveyed were found to have one or more foot deformity?

What’s more, high heels and pointed shoes especially can cause bunions, knee pain, and lower back pain. Heels also shift enormous pressure onto the fatty pad of the forefoot, which can lead to early breakdown and injury. The higher the heel, the greater the danger.

So here’s a quick reference guide for choosing shoes that are right for you…

Say “YES” to shoes…

• With a square or wide toe box
• With a heel lower than two inches high
• With 1/2 inch of space between your longest toe and the tip of the shoe
• With arch support (for all three of the foot’s arches, ideally)
• With wiggle room for toes–especially the big toe

Just say “NO” to…

• Too high heels (sorry ladies…If you MUST wear them, try to do so for no more than two hours at a time)
• Stiletto heels (awful for balance—if you’ve got to go with heels, choose chunky instead!)
• Pointy toed shoes (heels or otherwise)
• Flat-as-a-board footwear like many summer sandals (if you must, fit them with orthotics)

A few more considerations:

• Don’t go by size alone: different manufacturers size differently, plus the feet tend to grow larger as we age. With pregnancy, you can gain up to a size! 
• Because the feet swell throughout the day—by up to 8%—do your shoe shopping toward the end of the day to ensure ample fit

Your body is your vehicle for that great adventure called Life—why risk premature break-down along the road? Wearing custom orthotics in every pair of shoes gives you the support you need for a long and fruitful journey. Shoethotics and Sandalthotics are a great choice too, because they take all the guesswork out of selecting healthy footwear, plus they’re pre-fitted with custom orthotics made just for you.

PS: We’re excited about our new custom orthotic flip-flops for guys and gals alike, which offer all the fashion and comfort of regular flip-flops, ‘cept with healthy three arch support.

Foot Levelers’ new Catamaran custom orthotic flip-flop (cool, casual footwear for dudes).

*7,000-10,000 steps a day is ideal, according to experts.

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.