PAC Blog
Why Do My Calluses Keep Coming Back?
Why do calluses keep coming back? To answer this question, we need to step back a moment and see what calluses are. Calluses are thickened skin that the body puts down to protect the body parts from wear and tear. The palms of your hands and the soles of your feet have calluses on them more than the back of the hands and the top of your feet because you use palms to handle items of various sorts. The feet have calluses to protect from wear and tear as you [...]
Should I Wear Shoes Inside the House?
Over the past two years, many of us have seen a change in our work and work-life environment due to Covid-19 restrictions. With that, we have spent a better part of our time at home barefoot, in our cozy socks, or in slippers with minimal support. For many, the cumulative time spent barefoot has caused an increase in foot pain or discomfort as they go about their day. Wearing supportive slippers inside the house is often about more than just pure comfort. Foot specialists often recommend them over barefoot at [...]
Shoe Tips for Your New Year’s Resolutions
This time every year a lot of us will start to devise a New Year’s Resolution which we have some chance of keeping. In a lot of cases, pain can derail our New Year’s Resolutions if not taken care of. Preventing current pain and future problems can help you stay on the right track. If your feet are suffering, even occasionally, there is a simple solution for your current problems and the possibility of preventing them from occurring in the future. We tend to ignore our feet when there are [...]
Foot Tips for New Exercise Routines
Is exercise a part of your New Year’s Resolution? Walking, running, weight lifting or any increase in activity level? Any time you start a new exercise routine, it is important to be aware of your body to prevent injury from occurring. Looking at your feet, there are a few preventative steps to take prior to starting your new exercise routine. Footwear for Exercise Wearing the appropriate shoe for exercise is an important first step when starting a new exercise routine. It is important to wear the appropriate shoe for the [...]
Case Study: Pedorthic Care for the Diabetic Foot
Patient John Doe (55 yo male teacher with type 2 Diabetes) presents to his family doctor with bilateral painful 1st MPJ. The doctor diagnosed: bunions, halux valgus, and pes planus. The patient was referred to a Pedorthist for evaluation and treatment. The Pedorthist conducts an extensive history and assessment including range of motion testing, gait analysis,footwear evaluation, and a diabetic risk assessment. The Pedorthist finds: ROM/ Non Weight Bearing Evaluation Bilateral bunions and hallux valgus Hallux limitus bilateral Redness on 1st MPJ bilateral Normal ROM at all other major foot/ankle [...]
Winter Boot Tips
How do you choose the best winter boots for your cold-weather outings, from warmth and traction to style preferences? While winter boots are primarily concerned with "warmth," they must also be concerned with "fit." It is critical to have feet that are both warm and comfortable, so make sure your winter boots fit properly while providing the necessary support. A good pair of winter boots is essential for Canadians who live in cold climates. As you navigate months of snowy and icy conditions, they help keep your feet warm, dry, [...]
Holiday Shoe Tips
The holidays can be a busy time of year; surviving a party, family event, baking, shopping or a busy shift at work should not be something to worry about! Being prepared for whatever event you're attending and being realistic about what you’ve got on your feet can go a long way! Holiday Parties First and foremost, take a look at what you will be doing and be realistic. If you are going to a dinner or mostly seated event, it might be alright to wear the party shoes you’ve been [...]
Winter Boot Features for Comfort and Warmth
No matter the activity, comfort and warmth in your winter boots are essential. To achieve this, they need to fit and feel like your most comfortable lace-up footwear. If you are able to find and purchase lace-up boots, they provide you with a secure fit and stability for safety. The higher the boot goes up the leg the more warmth it will usually provide as it keeps the leg above the foot warm too. High boots are typically used for snowshoeing and deeper snow conditions. Additional hardware may be fastened [...]
Diabetes – When is There a Cause for Concern?
There are a few areas of concern for diabetics when it comes to foot and lower limb health. If well managed, it will not be a roadblock to a healthy, happy life! A couple risk factors of diabetes relate to the feet. Specifically, developing peripheral neuropathy, which can cause numbness or a lack of sensation, and peripheral vascular issues, which can decrease the body’s ability to heal wounds. Peripheral vascular issues are when there is poor blood flow to the extremities. Poor blood flow can lead to many different issues [...]
Why do I have Flat Feet?
Firstly, what is a flat foot? A flat foot, or a pes planus type foot is basically a foot that, when bearing weight has little or no arch. The foot contains 26 bones, 30 joints and over 100 muscles tendons and ligaments, and that’s just one foot! Everyone is born with flat feet, as the arches don’t start to develop until we start learning to walk. Age six is the usual time that we should have a fairly stable arch, however, about two out of ten will maintain their flat [...]
Simple Shoe Tricks for Children’s Footwear
If your children have issues with footwear, there are a few tips and tricks that can be used to help with fitting their feet in shoes. Some common problems are heel slippage, shoes feeling too big, problems tying shoes and holes developing on the inside of the shoe. Problem: Your children's heels slip in their shoes when they walk and are active. Solution: Fill in the gap under the top of the tongue where the laces are tightened or the Velcro is fastened. There are stick-on felt pads that can [...]
Diabetes: When is there Cause for Concern?
When buying shoes as a diabetic, it is always wise to seek assistance from a Canadian Certified Pedorthist to choose your footwear. This article will cover with some worst-case scenarios; however, every diabetic should be aware of these issues. Education is power! When fitting shoes, a very important question is whether or not you are diabetic. If yes, is there a possible neuropathy, and have there been blood circulation or nerve conductive tests done? When dealing with diabetic feet, the importance of a proper shoe fitting by a knowledgeable professional [...]