Tuesday, April 29, 2014
New Post...it's about time!
Keep checking for new posts and an update to our website www.footform.com
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Medical Deductible for Shoe Insert Orthotics, Year-End Insurance
Every autumn my orthotics clinic becomes very busy because many clients come in to take advantage of their annual medical policy and update their shoe insert orthotics. Check out your insurance funds and if you have funds available, remember to purchase your othotics or duplicates before the end of the year.
It's very important to have duplicate orthotics because you are more likely to use your othotics when it's easiest. Having orthotics in more than one pair of shoes makes it easier to use them and allows each pair to thoroughly dry out before wearing them again.
Medical expense plans or "cafeteria plans" are a pool of funds that certain insurance companies (usually through a business medical insurance plan) offer to employees and members. This type of fund is a don't-use-it-you-lose-it policy, so be sure to use your available funds before Jan. 1st.
Other insurance companies have a yearly deductible, that if a recipient may have fulfilled over the year, enables them to have more of their out-of-pocket medical expenses paid. Some insurance companies allow one pair of foot orthotics per year, or a certain amount of money to be put towards the purchase of a shoe insert or foot orthotic.
www.Footform.com
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Custom Ski Boots - Daleboot is the Only Ski Boot Made in the U.S.A.
For over 4 decades I've worked with or in the ski industry. As a young 20 something I worked in ski shops for about 10 years, then owned my own ski shop for 10 years during the skiing heyday of the 1980's. Since then I've incorporated ski boot fitting and sales into my custom shoe insert orthotics business. To best serve my customers I only sell one ski boot, the Daleboot.
I've been selling the Daleboot for over 10 years and am extremely satisfied with how they suit my client. Because I'm a Certified Pedorthist, my ski boot customer is often looking for a good fit that might be the difference between continuing to ski or giving up the sport.
Ski boot shells are molded hard plastic. The molds to make them are very expensive for the ski boot manufacturer. So each brand or model of ski-boot is designed for one-style-fits-all.
The ski boot industry has tried to help customers with ski boot fitting by supplying a variety of customizable boot liners and shoe inserts or orthotics. Technicians can then spend time grinding and stretching the shell and hoping for the best.
All of these efforts don't help the ski boot buyer when the performance of the boot is wrong for them even though the fit may eventually be right.
Daleboot is the only domestically manufactured ski boot in the U.S.A. That means that I can easily customize the Daleboot ski boot with help from the factory. Factory involvement is especially important to be able to customize the boot shell.
The entire Daleboot liner is fully formed (not partially, like most other brands) to the entire foot, ankle and lower leg. This feature is amazingly comfortable.
The performance of the Daleboot ski boot is variable with a adjustable forward flex feature to suit all abilities of skiers. The even fit of the boot promotes good blood circulation and consequently the foot remains warm longer than in some other ski boots. If the client is especially sensitive to cold, there is room to install a boot warmer.
People from around the country visit my Footform Orthotics clinic in Bend, Oregon to be fitted and purchase their Daleboots. They can test them on the nearby slopes of Mt. Bachelor and get any needed tweaks before they head home.
Call my office to set your custom ski boot fitting appointment in Bend, Oregon
541-389-4547
www.Footform.com
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Customer Satisfaction - Keeping People Walking and Moving Well and Pain Free with Footform Shoe Insert Orthotics
I want you to know I think of you every morning, as I slip on my shoes for the day. Since I got my orthotics in May, I have been able to work, live and play pain free! I feel like it's not an understatement when I say your work has changed my life. I have even taken up activities that years ago I thought I would never be able to do. I'm even getting ready to run a 5k this fall (just writing this is bringing tears to my eyes)!
Thank you Randall. I'm a big fan!
Lisa
______________________________________________________________
Thanks Lisa for your note. Over the many years I've been in the Orthotics business I'm always touched to hear from a happy client. The proper integration of orthotics and shoes along with the client's efforts to change stance and gait can make a positive life-changing difference to our orthotics clients.
You are obviously implementing the changes we discussed during our appointment as well as regularly wearing your orthotics and proper footwear. I'm so pleased to hear that you are experiencing good results.
Good luck in your renewed running practice,
Randall
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Congratulations to Footform Gold Medal Athlete Barb Buchan
Retirement is the farthest thing from Barb's mind. She recently returned from Italy with a new victory and para-cycling world record. Here are the details:
- Where: 2009 Para-Cycling World Championships in Bogogno, Italy. Sept. 11, 2009
- What: Gold Medal Winner - LC3/LC4/CP3 - Time Trial BUCHAN (USA) with a time of 32:02 for 20k
Barb's physical, mental and emotional strength inspire all of us. The New York Times has featured a few articles about her. From Death's Door to the Medal Podium by Allan Schwarz, is one of my favorites.
Despite Barb Buchan's awesome successes, she is not able to get the level of financial sponsorship that relieves her money worries as she concentrates on her training. She is working as much as possible, but the extent of her head injuries along with the demands of her training severely limit her efforts. You can read about one of Barb's cyling fundraisers on my wife's CreateAndRelate blog.
Barb Buchan's always needs help with cycling expenses and donating to her will make a big difference in whether she can compete or not:
Send Donations (not tax-deductible) to: (Please Make the Checks out to Barbara Buchan)
Barbara Buchan
c/o CORIL: Central Oregon Resources for Independent Living
PO Box 9425
Bend, OR 97708
Barbara thanks you for your support.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Good Posture is More than Standing Up Straight
Our stone age ancestors had to rely on instant athletic movement to save their lives. In order to cover long distances, hunt or avoid being hunted, an athletic body was a necessity. As human kind became more civilized, ideas about movement and culture got in the way of natural movement. For example in the modern United States, fashion models and store manikins are often posed purposely in awkward positions that many young girls emulate.
Also in the U.S. many people do not move their hips while walking. I'm not exactly sure why that is. I've been observing gait for decades and find that many Americans use their hips as a hinge joint rather than the ball-and-socket joint it is, a cultural habit that I think is linked to hip damage in middle-aged adults, particularly athletes that have put many miles on their bodies.
Correct or "good" posture isn't a ramrod straight spine. Good posture is when you can move freely and easily to do anything you need to do instantly. Bad posture is when you lock your joints to brace your skeleton against itself to stay up. This locks out movement and makes any new movement a process of awkward adjustments.
Locking your knees, jutting your neck forwards or slumping your shoulders forwards are all common things people do to "rest" themselves while standing or sitting. Here are some posture tips to get you on the road to healthy posture.
- The first step to better posture is to develop body awareness through dance, exercise, yoga, martial arts, tai chi, sports -- anything that requires you to learn new movements (therefore becoming conscious of how you move).
- Now, take that new body knowledge and as much as possible stop yourself during the day and note how you are doing.
- Most importantly, bend your knees whenever you stand or walk. Never lock your knees no matter how fast you are walking.
- Keep your abs or core toned and engaged. Think about this when walking and sitting.
There is much more to say about gait and posture, but this is a good start. For personal gait and stance and posture training, contact my office for a half-hour appointment.
Footform Performance Orthotics Center, 345 SW Century Drive, Ste.1, Bend, Oregon
541-389-4547
www.Footform.com
Monday, September 14, 2009
"Barefoot" Running Shoes - Go Retro Instead and Wear Moccasins
Because these companies have a vested interest in their shoe, they'll make great claims and sponsor studies and athletes to support their product marketing. In reality, the trend towards minimalist footwear is a step backwards in shoe design.
Here's why some people like the minimalist shoe:
- Weight: very light and compact
- Perception: shoe buyers perceive the shoe is good for their feet and has high cool factor.
- Direct Foot Power: there is no influence of the shoe in the push off portion of the stride.
- Ancient Ancestry: For the tens of thousands of years humans have been walking, we've been barefoot or wearing minimal footwear. Most of those ancient steps were on natural earth, not concrete, asphalt, tile or other types of uniform hard surfaces. Historically most humans didn't live long enough to reap the results of wear and tear on their bodies. Modern middle-age until just the past hundred years or so was old-age for most of human kind.
- Excellent Biomechanics: Only athletes with both excellent gait technique AND bio-mechanics can excel with minimalist running shoes. Young athletes may feel fine with barefoot style shoes not realizing that they are running out of their personal biomechanical "grace period" that everybody has. When that grace period is up, wear and damage to the body sets up conditions that may lead to chronic injury and joint conditions.
If you really want to experiment with minimalist footwear shoe technology, here are my suggestions:
- Gradual Break In: Depending on the mileage you are doing, the break-in time from standard supportive athletic running shoes to barefoot style shoes could be as long as 3 to 6 months.
- Running Surfaces: Avoid ANY hard unyielding surfaces. This includes natural surfaces such as rock paths.
- Age Related Option: If you're middle age and older and want to experiment with barefoot running shoes, only run on soft beach or desert sand.
So, if you want to authentically go retro when buying running shoes, buy some good, North American made moccasins. North American Indians are still making moccasins like they have for thousands of years, with a few minor alterations to their technology. Though you can buy very expensive, handmade custom moccasins, my favorite moccasin company is Laurentian Chief. The Laurentian Chief moccasin company, based in Quebec, Canada still employs some workers of indigenous ancestry to make their ancient style of minimalist footwear.
Remember, if you do get biomechanical strain, see me at www.Footform.com. I've experimented with making my own moccasins and used them with and without orthotics.
www.Footform.com
541-389-4547
NOTE:Laurentian Chief does not sell direct to the public. One company I found on the web that is very invested in the Laurentian moccasin line is Get Outside Shoes in Toronto, Canada. They ship to the U.S.
If there are any other moccasin shoe companies that manufacture their moccasins in North America, let us know and we will add you to this blog entry.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Know When to Change Heels for Athletic Shoes and You'll Save Your Feet
Monday, July 13, 2009
Orthotics and Renewable Resources
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.
photo: Cristina Acosta
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Walk Before You Run
The footprints discovered in Kenya, researchers said, indicated that the erectus foot functioned much as a human foot does: the heel contacts the ground first; weight transfers along the arch to the ball of the foot; and the push-off is applied by the forefoot. In apes and apparently earlier hominids, this force comes from the midfoot.
The discovery is “even more explicit evidence,” Dr. Harris said, that the erectus species extended its range into more diversified habitats, camping and discarding stone tools at sites far from the sources of the stone. . .
This history shows that foot development over thousands of years promoted the development of humankind. With the rise of modern transportation, modern walking surfaces and the fashion shoe choices we make, our feet function in an environment very different from our evolutionary history.
With this in mind, pay attention to your gait. Remember when walking to keep your feet straight and a slight bend to your knees with every step. Your feet will take you places our ancestors never dreamed possible.