PAC Blog
A daily walk is important in winter too
A 30 minute daily walk is excellent for your physical and mental health. It improves cardiovascular fitness, helps reduce body fat, strengthens muscles and bones, improves balance and reduces stress and anxiety. Walking is great for everybody but it is particularly beneficial for seniors, people who are trying to lose weight and anyone who hasn’t participated in an exercise program for some time. During the spring, summer and fall it is relatively easy to get out for an invigorating daily walk. However, during the winter, when the snow, ice and [...]
Living with diabetes – extra tips
As I mentioned in my last blog (Living with diabetes – selecting shoes), purchasing properly fitted, supportive shoes is very important but you need to do even more if you want to avoid painful foot wounds that can lead to serious complications. Check your shoes daily to see if any small stones or foreign objects are caught inside. Also carefully examine the top, heel and toe of your shoes to make sure they haven’t broken down or worn. Damage to the shoe (as shown in the image to the left) [...]
Living with diabetes – selecting shoes
If you’re living with diabetes you need to pay careful attention to shoe selection and fit as your feet are highly susceptible to injury and poorly fitting shoes are one of the leading causes of foot wounds. Here are some tips to help you select shoes that won’t damage your feet: When you are shoe shopping, take the insole out of the shoe and stand on it. There should be a thumb width between your longest toe and the end of the insole. If any part of your foot is [...]
Living with diabetes – foot care
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes it is important to take your diabetes seriously from the start. I’ve seen too many patients who have been living with diabetes for years and wish they’d been given this advice earlier. As a foot expert I am most concerned about how diabetes affects the feet, and diabetes has a big impact on feet. Over time, diabetes can cause diminished, or total loss of, sensation in the feet which can lead to foot ulcers. These ulcers can develop into serious wounds which can [...]
Properly-fitted ski boots are essential
I never complain about Canada’s long, snowy winter as there is nothing I enjoy more than spending a day, or even better, a weekend on the ski slopes. After a stressful and sedentary working week, hitting the hills is a great way to relax the mind and exercise the body. Although skiing is great for your mental and physical health, it is a sport that is very tough on your feet and ankles as they bear the brunt of your workout, helping you make sharp turns, navigate bumps and come [...]
Give some thought to your socks
When you buy socks do you quickly pick up whatever brands are on sale or thoughtfully select colours and designs to reinforce your sense of fashion? Do you have a preferred material (i.e. cotton, polyester, acrylic, etc.) or do you simply purchase a few heavy, longer pairs for cold weather and some lighter, shorter pairs for warm days? There are many choices of socks available today, but beyond personal style, few people understand the importance of buying socks that are right for them. In earlier blogs, my colleagues have discussed [...]
Prevention is best for foot health
Every day I see a wide range of patients with a variety of foot problems who are experiencing foot pain, decreased mobility or both. Although they are keen to do whatever it takes to ease their discomfort, many of them are frustrated when I explain that their foot condition could have been avoided. Foot problems and foot pain are widespread problems in Canada but very few people are born with foot problems. The majority of problems develop because people, either knowingly or unknowingly, fail to care for their feet properly, [...]
Staying Active with Arthritis
If you’re living with the daily stiffness and pain of arthritis, exercising is probably the last thing you feel like doing. However, if you have arthritis, getting regular exercise is critical as it reduces joint pain, increases strength and flexibility, reduces fatigue and helps you maintain a healthy weight. If you join a group exercise class or take up a low impact sport with a friend, exercise will also improve your social life. Depending on your personal situation and interests, there are dozens of different activities you can participate in [...]
Head back to school with proper shoes
As the summer holidays draw to an end and your child begins to prepare to head back to the classroom make sure you put shoe shopping on your back to school “to do” list. Properly fitted, supportive school shoes play a vital role in the healthy development of your child’s feet and lower limbs so it’s important to spend time selecting the best pair for your child’s needs and foot type. Whether your child has strong fashion views and a clear sense of the shoes they want, or despises shopping [...]
Do you walk like a duck or a pigeon?
I know very little about birds but I’m often asked “do I walk like a duck?” and “do I walk like a pigeon?” A duck walk, having duck feet, or walking like a duck, means walking with your toes pointed outward. Walking like a pigeon is the opposite, walking with your toes pointing inwards. Although these sound like funny questions, they actually provide me with a good starting point for any pain or mobility difficulties a patient may be experiencing. During a patient’s initial pedorthic consultation, I conduct a gait [...]
When Should I See a Pedorthist?
I have worked as a Canadian Certified Pedorthist for 10 years but I continue to be surprised by the number of patients I see who have delayed pedorthic treatment for months, needlessly living with pain or decreased mobility. When I ask these patients why they waited so long, many say they believed the pain and reduced activity were simply things they had to live with. If you are unsure if you should book a consultation with a Canadian Certified Pedorthist, ask yourself the following questions: • Are you experiencing pain [...]
Don’t let a fall dampen your retirement
Falls are a serious health concern for Canadians 65 years and older as each year one in three seniors has a fall. For the seniors who break a large joint, such as a hip, the fall can be life changing as they may never walk unassisted again. Although age brings an increased risk of falling, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. The first and most important step is to keep active. Daily activity, whether you participate in a formal exercise program or sport, run errands on [...]