Best Foot Forward: New Year’s Resolutions for Healthy Feet If taking better care of your health is one of your New Year’s resolutions, start from the bottom up. The feet are our foundation! We often don’t think of our foot health until there’s a problem with our feet. This year, promise yourself you’ll take better care of your entire body. Here are a few simple healthy foot habits to keep you on your toes in the New Year. Healthy Feet Resolution #1: Walk More Walking is one of the simplest forms of exercise; it doesn’t require any special equipment, it can be done in almost any weather, and it’s good for your overall health – including your feet. It helps stimulate the circulation and nerves in your feet and strengthen muscles. Even in small 15-20 minute doses, walking will help keep your feet and your body in shape. Use boots with good insulation and good soles in winter, or ice grippers over your boots in icy weather when walking outdoors. Using Nordic walking poles can help maintain good balance and posture while walking. Healthy Feet Resolution #2: Work on your balance Balance is not usually one of the things we think about training during our life, but having good balance can prevent slips, trips, and falls and ankle sprains. The great part is, it’s very easy to improve balance; just practice standing on one leg with your eyes closed! Do this for about 30-60 seconds on each foot every day. Start with using your hand on the wall to assist, and prevent falling, but after a few weeks you won’t need to hold on any more. Healthy Feet Resolution #3: Shed a Few Pounds If this isn’t already on your New Year’s resolution list, here’s one reason you should consider adding it. Less weight means less stress on feet, knees, and hips, which is especially important if you play sports or work on your feet all day or if you have arthritis or diabetes. If you’re already at a healthy weight, keep up the good work! Your feet are one step closer to staying healthy in 2016. Healthy Feet Resolution #4: Have Regular Check-ups Your feet help you get around even more than your car does, so you should definitely be taking them in for regular check-ups. Regular visits to the Chiropodist (Foot Specialist), will let you know if there’s anything you should be paying closer attention to, if you already have a foot condition or other condition that affects your feet (e.g., diabetes). If you start a new exercise program, muscle aches are normal at first, but if you develop pain in the feet or legs that does not go away after a rest day make sure to call and book a Chiropody appointment. Healthy Feet Resolution #5: Eat for Your Feet What goes in your mouth affects your body – even all the way down to your feet. We all need to think about eating well to maintain a good body weight and for vitality and long term health. If you have gout or diabetes, maintaining a healthy eating plan can reduce your symptoms. Once you know which foods to avoid, you can find healthy alternatives that won’t trigger your symptoms. Also think about the other things we ingest – smoking can dramatically decrease the circulation to the legs and feet, and over-use of alcohol can cause numbness in the feet. Healthy Feet Resolution #6: Shape Up Your Shoes When it comes to improving foot health, 2 quick-fix recommendations for improving your shoe collection are: 1. Ditch the high heels and flip-flops. Both of these types of shoes can be hazardous to your foot health. High heels force the foot into an unnatural position, and can damage the foot’s structure, resulting in corns, callus, bunions and hammer toes. Flip-flops offer no support for the foot, often resulting in arch or heel pain, and the open design leaves your foot more susceptible to injury and infections, like athletes foot 2. Replace old athletic or walking shoes. Over time, even the best shoe loses its ability to adequately support and cushion your feet during activity. If you continue wearing them, you could end up throwing off the alignment of your foot. Worn-out shoes also put you at greater risk for sports injuries. Shoes that have been worn indoors, for example at the gym, may still look good on the sole while having lost their mid-sole cushioning over time. Think about replacing them at least yearly – more frequently if running regularly with them. Healthy Feet Resolution #7: Look After Your Skin Dry cracked skin can be a common winter problem for the feet. Cracked skin is more prone to bacterial and fungal infections. Make sure you are using a good moisturizing cream after each shower, and gently file any callused areas with a foot file or pumice stone. If you have persistent or painful cracks, or thick corns or callus seek professional help. Call and book a Chiropody assessment. The path to achieving your New Year’s resolutions awaits you, don’t forget to make sure your feet can take you there. Now’s the perfect time to schedule your appointment call us at Body and Sole in Kemptville. 613 258 5508. We can help with all your foot care and foot orthotic needs.

Looking for a sweet smelling Holiday Season? Someone on your list has smelly feet? The Steri-Shoe will help them and you! The patented SteriShoe ultraviolet shoe sanitizer is the only product that safely and effectively sanitizes the inside of shoes by using germicidal ultraviolet (UVC) light. There is no other shoe sanitizer that has been awarded a Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association or that has a clinical study published in a peer reviewed medical journal. Each human foot has more than 250,000 sweat glands and sweats up to eight ounces per day. Sweat and heat from feet cause shoes to become breeding grounds for the bacteria and fungi that cause athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, and shoe odor. The SteriShoe sanitizer safely and effectively kills these microorganisms in your shoes, so your feet have a clean place to enjoy the day. Call us for more information 613 258 5508.

Toe Menders: Toe Menders™ have been designed to help align your toes back to their original shape. Simcan’s Toe Menders™ help to separate and stretch your toes with soft spongy cords of cushioned acrylic. Wearing Toe Menders™ for just a few hours at the end of the day or overnight can help alleviate sore and painful feet. Great for people with hammer toes, bunions or corns on the toes. Now available at Body and Sole $15+tax per pair. Call us for more information. 613 258 5508

Bunion Socks - Now available at Body and Sole! These socks usually retail for $27 per pair, but for a limited time Body and Sole has a special stocking stuffer price of $19.99 +tax! Sockwell Revolution Moderate Compression Bunion Relief Over-the-Calf Socks help tired feet feel better with graduated support and bunion protection Choose these over-the-calf socks to revitalize tired feet and legs. Moderate graduated compression helps stimulate circulation up the leg. Plus, these socks are great for those with bunions. A split toe design encourages separation between the big toe and second toe, while cushioning helps protect the area around the bunion. Graduated Support Level: Moderate 15–20mm / Hg.

Need new orthotics? Most health plans run calendar year. If you have not had new orthotics in 2015, you may still have a few weeks to utilize your insurance. If you have had orthotics from us in the last 2 years you can call to order a second pair and take advantage of our second pair special rate. If you are a new patient or it has been more than 2 years since foot impressions were taken, call us to book for reassessment and current foot impressions. 613 258 5508. Your feet have to last a lifetime, let us help you take care of them!

Stocking Stuffer Socks for the Savvy Shopper! A sneak preview! Have you been looking for the best sock suitable for people with sensitive feet or diabetes? We think we may have found it! Sockwell’s Relaxed Fit/Diabetes-Friendly Series of socks may just be the perfect sock. They are made in the USA from luxurious cashmere and bamboo fibres sourced in Canada and the U.S. They come in a variety of designer patterns and several styles for men and women. They have a seamless toe closure, and the natural fibres control moisture and odor, as well as help regulate temperature. Sockwell also make a unique bunion cushioning sock and comfortable, fashionable compression socks. Flying anywhere this winter? Make sure you have your anti-embolism socks! We can measure you for a perfect fit. The Staff at Body and Sole all tried these socks at the CFPM conference we attended last week, and are eagerly awaiting our first shipment due early next week! Body and Sole is your one-stop for all your foot care needs. Our Foot Specialists can diagnose and treat your foot problems and provide you with any additional foot care products, custom made foot orthotics and footwear necessary for your condition. You don’t have to live with foot pain, corns, warts or ugly toenails! Drop by Body and Sole at 212 Van Buren in Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. for more information and to see our socks and orthotic-friendly footwear. To book an appointment call us at 613 258 5508!

Need new orthotics? Most health plans run calendar year. If you have not had new orthotics in 2015, you may still have a few weeks to utilize your insurance. If you have had orthotics from us in the last 2 years you can call to order a second pair and take advantage of our second pair special rate. If you are a new patient or it has been more than 2 years since foot impressions were taken, call us to book for reassessment and current foot impressions. 613 258 5508. Your feet have to last a lifetime, let us help you take care of them!