PAC Blog
Five Fails of Summer Shoes
On hot summer days, sandals can be an easy breezy footwear choice. But, it’s important to choose your footwear carefully based on your planned activity and not the weather. Most sandals are not appropriate for long walks or exercise. They’re also not your best bet for activities such as running errands all day, walking the dogs or standing all day at work. Running or walking shoes may be more suited for these kinds of activities to help prevent or reduce foot pain at the end of the day. Why are [...]
Meet a Pedorthist – Julia Hayman, C. Ped (C)
Julia Hayman’s, C. Ped (C), interest in pedorthics started at only 13 years old, after receiving her first pair of orthotics from a Canadian Certified Pedorthist. This interaction later inspired her to pursue a degree in Kinesiology with a specialization in pedorthics from the University of Western Ontario. Today, she’s living in Barrie, ON as a Certified Pedorthist with over five years of experience in the field. Julia believes patience and understanding are what makes a great pedorthist. About a year and half ago, Julia proudly opened her own practice, [...]
Rock Your Walk
Walking has always been an easy entry-level form of exercise that can provide long lasting positive effects on physical and mental health. Walking is now becoming a growing hobby for everyone stuck at home during the current pandemic we are experiencing in 2020. With all this extra time on people’s hands, we have more time to focus on our health. For those looking to improve their well-being or just escape the house, walking can be much more than just a leisure activity. Warm-Up That’s right, if it’s been a while [...]
Tips for Injury Prevention
With the arrival of summer and nice weather, more and more of us will be getting out and being more active. 2020 has so far been a trying year for many people, with COVID-19 interrupting people’s normal routines and greatly effecting physical fitness levels. Now, with a surge in people getting back to their chosen activities, it is inevitable that injuries will occur. Injuries though, can be prevented. Here are some simple tips to keeping you pain free and out enjoying the things you love to do. Warm Up. This [...]
Foot Strengthening for a Barefoot Summer
As warm weather and sunshine returns to Canada so do summer wardrobes, flip-flops and sandals. Some people enjoy going barefoot more often than they are used to and who can blame them?! Personally I love the feeling of grass under my feet and mud squishing between my toes. One condition that pedorthists see frequently in the summer months is a condition that we like to call ‘seasonal barefoot-itis’. Folks who normally wear footwear most of the time are now wearing sandals and are going barefoot and they come into clinics [...]
Easy At-Home Foot Care Tips for Seniors
Feet are one of the most overused yet overlooked parts of your body. Your feet help you get around and stay mobile and active. Staying active is what keeps you and your body healthy. So everyone needs to pay more attention to your feet – especially seniors. Healing rates can decline in seniors and there can be issues with circulation in the feet that also decrease the rate of healing. Ingrown toenails are a common problem for seniors and can decrease a person's activity especially if the ingrown nail gets [...]
Shoe Shopping Tips for Seniors
Shoe shopping for seniors can be a challenge, but it is not impossible. As we age, soft tissue and fat pads thin out making the foot more sensitive. Additionally, the size and shape of our feet can change which means the shoes we used to wear may no longer be the best fit. A comfortable shoe helps put some cushioning under the foot to make up for what is lost through the years of wear and tear. It needs to fit the foot right and accommodate any abnormalities found like [...]
Meet a Pedorthist – Sean Murray, C. Ped (C)
Sean Murray, C. Ped (C) lives in Gloucester, ON has been practicing pedorthics for 30 years and now works at his clinic in Ottawa - Ottawa Sport & Health Clinic. He loves to travel, stay active and plays golf and hockey on his free time. Upon completing his diploma in Sport Injury Management from Sheridan College, he knew he needed a career that would fulfil his fascination of biomechanics. He began to connect with athletic therapists and started learning about orthotic design and manufacturing; it was then that he shifted [...]
Are you Wearing the Right Shoes for At-home Workouts?
While treadmill running and outdoor running have their differences, for the average recreational runner, your outdoor running shoes should work well on the treadmill. However, it may be a good idea to switch shoes for your other workouts in your home gym. Treadmill & Free Weights Footwear If you typically run outdoors, it’s advised to keep similar parameters as you get started on your treadmill (such as distance, speed, shoes). At the onset, it’s not recommended to start on an incline if you don’t typically run hills outdoors. As you [...]
Safeguard your Foot Health During the Lockdown
Canadian Certified Pedorthist Kelly Robb answers questions about how to maintain the health and comfort of your feet during the COVID-19 lockdown, whether you’re WFM or physical distancing at home. Why is it a good idea to wear footwear inside the house during lockdown? The quick and easy answer – is because your feet are used to wearing shoes! Consider the idea that you would normally be working all day. Your feet are generally happy and contained within a structured environment. They are typically supported, cushioned, and used to encountering [...]
Warm Ups for Walkers
It is always important to begin your walk with a warm up and then some light stretching to aid in preventing injury and sore muscles. Begin walking at a light pace or even do a warm up exercise such as jumping jacks to get the blood flowing and muscles moving. Do a few minutes of static stretching (standing still) and then move on to dynamic stretching (during movement). A few recommended static stretches - hold each stretch 20-30 seconds - include: Hamstring stretch - Stand with legs straight and bend [...]
Footcare Tips for New Walkers
Whether the goal is to become more active, get out and spend more time with family, or just to keep mental health in check during these unprecedented times, a lot of people have incorporated walking into their new daily routines. There has been a noticeable increase in outdoor foot traffic since the start of COVID-19, especially now that the weather is getting nicer. For any physical activity, especially long-distance walking, it is important to take into consideration the type of footwear you are wearing. Wearing proper footwear with adequate support [...]