Thursday, July 30, 2009

Know When to Change Heels for Athletic Shoes and You'll Save Your Feet


Wearing dress shoes is OK for special occasions, but remember to keep your athletic shoes in your bag so you can change when you need to save your feet. My wife, Cristina Acosta, took this photo of a woman changing her shoes from heels to Nikes at the entrance to the Little Rock, Arkansas airport.

If you have to walk any significant distances and carry or pull weight (such as luggage or groceries), you'll be putting a lot of stress on your feet and your body. The proper footwear in this situation, a good brand of athletic shoes, enables you to walk better and balance the strain in your body. Not only will you ensure foot comfort, you'll keep your feet healthy and free of injuries.

Note: Footform custom shoe inserts will make most any shoe more comfortable, but there are limits. So, when in doubt, be kind to your feet and change your shoes to comfort footwear. No pain, no complain!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Orthotics and Renewable Resources

I've been dedicated to making safe custom foot orthotics or shoe inserts for decades. In the 1990's, I was motivated to make custom orthotics that last a long time. Most off-the-shelf shoe inserts or orthotics only last a few months before the orthotics materials compress out of shape and lose their shock absorption and supportive qualities.

My artisan made custom orthodics have a lifespan of five to ten years if the clients foot hasn't drastically changed. I succeeded with my goal of producing very long lasting custom orthotic arch supports that absorb shock while supporting the foot and increasing foot comfort. Footform shoe inserts are ideal for treating the flat foot, plantar fasciitis and other foot problems. Inserted into a well designed shoe such as a good athletic shoe that is right for my client, a custom orthotic and athletic shoe combination may be as good as or better than available orthopedic shoes.

We sell our brand of visco-elastic polymer mixed with cork, VISCORK™. I developed these arch support orthotics materials that I package and sell through my business, Footform Labs. Visco based materials have tested superior to all other orthotic materials yet they are rare because the first-generation fabrication methods were difficult and unconventional.

There is only one known competitor to our material, which is PQ™. I developed a visco fabrication method with Footform® Mold Shells that is an extremely simple system to make custom shoe inserts. Also, it is the only known method to thermo-form Poron®. Our VISCORK™ material has many advantages: easy grinding, low odor, no hazard rating, lightweight, simple 50-50-100 mix ratio, and less expensive. Our VISCORK is a perfect modern replacement of old-fashioned rigid orthotics technology. And, cork is a renewable resource. It's a win-win for our Footform clients, us and our planet!

Orthotics Manufacturers, Podiatrists, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and other medical professionals can order our low hazard and safe foot orthotic supplies at 541-389-4547. We formulate, mix, assemble and ship all of our custom orthotics materials from Bend, Oregon. Made in the U.S.A.

www.Footform.com


photo: Cristina Acosta