Arch supports can improve your tennis
Wimbledon is into it’s second week and with that comes fanstic games to watch plus many getting the tennis bug and starting to play.
The good news is that the sun is shining in South-west London and if you are lucky you may even find a free court to play on!
As shown by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open, tennis pros put a lot of emphasis on wearing arch supports (orthotics).
The benefits of wearing arch supports in your shoes is it improves your balance by better distributing the pressure through your feet. Better balance means it is easier to move on the court and hit the ball more accurately.
You don’t have to be a professional sports person to wear arch supports. But if you want to improve your game then it is highly recommend to invest in a pair of arch supports for your tennis shoes.
Just make sure you get your feet and gait assessed so that you buy arch supports that are right for you.
Tennis pro values orthotics ahead of racket
Novak Djokovic, the world number 3 tennis player, beat Andy Murray today to win the Australian Grand Slam tournament.
After winning the final in straight sets, Djokovic walked to the middle of the court, tossed his racket into the crowd, then stripped off his shirt and shoes and hurled them, too.
Before he threw his shoes, he made sure to take his orthotics out first.
Obviously they are more important than his tennis racket or his shoes!
With 90% of professional athletes wearing orthotics, it is not surprising that Djokovic places such value on his. Wearing orthotics are not just for those who have foot pain, but also for those who either want to prevent common foot conditions and for better balance and posture.
Improving your balance will improve your performance, which is why so many athletes wear orthotics.
Will your feet last to 100?
The Office for National Statistics has announced that 1 in 5 of us will reach 100 years of age.
That’s not good news for the pension crisis and neither is it good news for our feet!
We tend to start having foot problems from our mid 30′s onwards, with many people in their 70′s and above visiting Foot Solutions just so they be able to walk confidently again.
So imagine what it will be like by the time we reach 100!
The good news is that there are ways to prevent excessive foot problems, and like a pension the earlier we start to do something about it, the better it will be.
Appropriate arch supports and shoes for your foot type and gait, that have been fitted correctly for your feet will make a significant difference in being able to walk unassisted in later life.
To find out what you need to do to start investing in your feet now, then visit Foot Solutions in Richmond for a free foot analysis.
Mike.
Festive season trading hours
I hope you are enjoying the run up to Christmas and have finished all your shopping!
Just a reminder of our trading hours over the next week:
- Friday 24th December open from 10am to 1pm
- Closed Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th December
- Monday 27th December open 11am to 5pm
- Tuesday 28th December open 11am to 5pm
- Wednesday 29th December open 10am to 6pm
- Thursday 29th December open 10am to 6pm
- Closed Friday 31st December, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd January
If you need to get in touch with us, our contact details are below. We will get back to you as soon as possible
richmond-surrey@footsolutions.com
Telephone: 020 8940 1814
Wishing you and your families a happy festive season!
Mike
Don’t slip in the snow: a guide to staying safe in the snow and ice
If you have a journey into work like I do, then walking on the pavements can be treacherous. At least the main roads have been cleared of snow and ice, but the side roads and pavements can be dangerous!
If your local council is like Croydon, then they may have spent as much as £615k on compensation for trips and falls due to the icy conditions last year.
The good news is that wearing appropriate footwear can make a significant difference between falling and getting to your destination injury free!
Here are some guidelines to avoid slipping in these icy conditions:
1. Trainers are not made for icy conditions! Rather use wellington boots or walking shoes with a deep rubber grip in the sole.
2. Walking sticks, or Nordic poles can help with your balance. Ones that fold up can be easier to carry once you reach your destination.
3. Snow chains for shoes are a must! They slip over your shoes and are great for extra grip in the ice. Some brands can be hazardous on pavements that have been cleared of snow and ice, so aim for those that can be taken on and off easily.
Mike.
“Foot Solutions was an inspired choice”
Being the time of giving, I thought I would share with you some feedback we have had from a customer who had the following to say about Foot Solutions in Richmond:
‘After years of being misdiagnosed with a serious foot problem, in desperation, I walked into “Foot Solutions” and never looked back.
It was an inspired choice.
I was dealt with competence and care.
The latest technology mapped out my feet in accurate detail and the ensuing bespoke insoles have alleviated my suffering. I can now walk with ease and comfort.
During my visits I observed the care and patience staff are taking to ensure all their customers needs are met.
On the financial side, considering the high quality craftsmanship and its orthopaedic components, the prices compare favourably with the extortionate prices of the high end shoe market.
I am so impressed by the professionalism and efficiency of the well trained staff that I am happy to give credit to such a wonderful organisation.’
Mrs J. Stokes, Richmond-upon-Thames (Full address provided)
You can book your free foot analysis at Foot Solutions in Richmond. Call 020 8940 1814 to book anappointment.
Should you buy shoes as a Christmas gift?
At this time of year I often get asked what size shoe someone should buy for a loved one as a gift.
The problem with buying shoes for someone else is that they may not fit, so I always recommend a gift voucher rather than trying to guess their size.
Research by Hommerton Hospital in London shows that 85 % of us wear the wrong size shoes. And that’s with trying us trying them on first!
A reason why it is so difficult to buy shoes for someone else is that there are so many different dimensions of your feet that need to be considered: the length of your foot, width of your heel, width of your toes, height of your toes, etc, etc. And each of your feet can also be different!
The best way to tell if the shoes fit is to first have your feet measured, then try the shoes on and walk around in them before deciding.
This is why I always recommend a gift voucher when buying for someone else!
How to make your shoes comfortable
Finding a shoe that fits perfectly and comfortably can be very difficult.
There are many different types of feet and it can be hard to find shoes that fit every type comfortably (unless of course you come to Foot Solutions!).
This is when arch supports (orthotics) make a huge difference.
Arch supports can help alleviate pain in many areas of your feet including your arch, ball of your foot, heel, knee, hip, back, etc.
Arch supports come in many shapes and sizes and can be used for almost any type of shoe. They can either be custom made or bought over the counter.
Prior to purchasing arch supports, ensure that your gait has been assessed by an expert in biomechanics of the foot, so that you get the appropriate type.
It is most important to wear arch supports in the shoes that you wear most of the time. However, when running you will put up to four times as much pressure through your feet compared to walking and standing. With this in mind you may benefit more during physical activity.
An important point about arch supports is that you will only get the benefit whilst you wear them!
My feet are different sizes: do I need custom made shoes?
Most people we see at Foot Solutions have different sized feet. And this is not because we only see people with unusual feet!
Half a shoe size is a sixth of an inch, and if one foot is a sixth of inch bigger than the other then it is not a significant difference. It can, however, make a difference when choosing the right shoes.
Whether there is a half a size difference, or a full size difference, this will need to be accounted for in order to have shoes that fit you correctly.
Some people go to the lengths of getting shoes that are custom made to each foot, but this can be costly.
At Foot Solutions we custom fit the shoe to the shape of each foot.
We ensure the shoe fits the bigger foot as well as the smaller foot.
Some styles of shoes can fit better than others, for example walking shoes and lace-ups tend to fit better than heels and dress shoes. But we do also have the option of using two different size shoes for extreme cases.
If you are having trouble getting shoes to fit you correctly, come and see us in Richmond to have your feet measured and we will find the right fit for each of your feet!
So, men don’t notice women in high heels?
According to recent research, men do not notice when women wear high heels.
The research was carried out at Northumbria University and identified that high heels are wasted on men. Apparently us men don’t even notice when women are wearing high heels.
This does not sound like good news, especially since the average women spends £16,000 on shoes!
However, Manolo Blahnik, the ladies fashion shoe designer, says that men have told him how “my high heeled shoes have saved their marriages“.
So who is right: The research that says men do not notice when women wear high heels, or the legendary fashion shoe designer who has followers like Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and the cast of Sex and the City?
Even if the research is right, I boldly predict that high heels will continue to be top of most women’s shoe shopping lists. After all, do us men’s opinions really count?
Mike.
