HealthyFeetStore.com Blog

When your feet are healthy and the weather is scorching there is little doubt that supportive, therapeutic sandals are one of the most convenient, breathable, comfortable footwear there is. Yet, many men refuse to even consider wearing sandals. Many men are ashamed of their feet, in particular their toes, believing that they are ugly and unfit to be displayed in public. Within this larger category of men suffering from foot embarrassment is a vocal minority of staunch believers in the theory that all men’s feet are ugly. Other men scoff at the notion that their feet are an eyesore, but worry that wearing sandals will threaten their masculinity. HealthyFeetStore.com Blog would like to answer each of these arguments in turn.

Read on as we reconsider the case for mandals! continue reading » »

Popularity: 9% [?]

Got a new or used pair of shoes just taking up space in your closet? Maybe its time to do a little belated spring cleaning? Instead of throwing them away, why not donate them to Soles4Soles, an international charity dedicated to providing shoes for children and adults in the United States and abroad who are victims of natural disasters and poverty.

Shoes are a powerful method for preventing illness. Shoes protect the foot from scrapes, cuts, and contaminants that can lead to potentially serious health care issues, yet every year thousands of people are forced to go barefoot because they have lost their belongings in a natural disaster or simply can’t afford the rising cost of footwear.

Lend a helping hand to help a foot in need!

Go to the Soles4Soles participating location page and type in your zip code to find a donation drop off point near you.

You can also mail your shoes directly to a Soles4Soles distribution center.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Myth #1: Flip flops are always unhealthy for feet.

Medical Fact #1: The thin, plastic flip flops that you find in most drugstores and some department stores are incredibly unhealthy for feet. Because they are completely flat they provide little support for the arch and the heel which can lead to foot pain and even plantar fasciitis. Drugstore flip flops don’t absorb shock very well, so for those who do a lot of walking, daily wear can eventually lead to shin splints. Ankle injuries and slip and falls are also a danger due to the instability and poor slip resistance of these supposedly comfortable summer sandals. Because thin, plastic flip flops are inexpensive and readily available they are the flip flops that most people wear and the type of flip flop that doctors and health experts frequently complain about.

There are; however, many healthier flip flop options! Healthy flip flops are made from EVA, cork, leather, and other more durable materials which are designed with foot health preserving features such as built-in arch support, hallux support, biomechanical correction, deep heel indentation, shock absorption, improved traction, and pronation control. The healthiest flip flops are designed by companies that have made a commitment to consulting medical professionals about the health of their sandals throughout the design and manufacturing process such as Moszkito, Orthotic Sandals, Bite, and Orthaheel.

continue reading » »

Popularity: 18% [?]

There are so many different types of PG Lite Alegrias that you’re almost guaranteed to find one that works for you. Don’t believe us, take the PG Lite Alegria Fashion Personality Quiz and we’ll prove it.

Grab a piece of scrap paper so you can keep track of your answers, then click on the “What’s My PG Lite Alegria Fashion Personality?” to find the meaning behind the letters you chose. Answer the 15 questions before you look at the personality types. Have fun! No peeking!

1. When you wake up in the morning you immediately…

A. open the curtains to let in the sunlight.
B. mentally review your itinerary.
C. plan the day’s outfit while putting on your makeup.
D. set the table for breakfast.
E. check the mail.
F. hit the snooze button.

2. On weekends you’ll most likely be found…

A. playing in the park.
B. grocery shopping or doing other errands.
C. at a trendy boutique stocking up on the latest fashions.
D. at a posh gala.
E. at the zoo.
F. at an art museum.

3. This particular weekend you’re at a party. You’re having fun because you…

A. love a good barbeque.
B. find networking at social functions to be really useful.
C. like to kick back, have a few drinks, and visit with your friends.
D. adore ballroom dancing.
E. feel energized meeting new people.
F. are the DJ and you love your job.

4. What do you do for recreation?

A. I like gardening.
B. I read or watch movies.
C. I love shopping.
D. I have a lot of fun decorating and entertaining.
E. I like to travel.
F. I listen to music, sometimes I go to concerts.

5. Nobody likes doing chores, but what’s the chore you hate the least?

A. Weeding the garden - it’s fun to play in the dirt.
B. Organizing the bookshelf, though I might end up doing more reading than organizing
C. Interviewing for a new housekeeper - exhausting, but worth it
D. Polishing the silver - I like to see my table settings shine
E. Packing for my next trip and making flight reservations
F. Repainting the house

6. You’re eating at a 5 star restaurant with an incredibly eclectic menu, what do you order?

A. Apple pie ala mode – just like mother used to make
B. Skinless grilled chicken breast and a side salad – healthy is important
C. Red wine marinated flat iron steak – you only live once
D. The chef’s special - I only order the best
E. Red curry – the spicier the better
F. Anything I haven’t tried before

7. What’s your ideal pet?

A. Playful puppy
B. Mellow adult cat
C. Sleek and docile ball python
D. Purebred show dog
E. Exotic scarlet macaw
F. Mischievous monkey

8. Let’s get a little philosophical, which is most important?

A. Happiness
B. Truth
C. Love
D. Beauty
E. Adventure
F. Creativity

9. Life is like…

A. a box of chocolates.
B. a stage play.
C. a game.
D. an oyster.
E. a jungle safari.
F. a work of art.

10. If you were a flower which flower would you be?

A. Daisy
B. Iris
C. Rose
D. Calla Lily
E. Anthurium
F. Snapdragon

11. What’s the purpose of fashion?

A. Playful fashion choices brighten my day and make people smile.
B. Basic fashion is a form of personal hygiene.
C. Bold fashion choices get me compliments and positive attention.
D. Ever heard the expression, “dress to impress.”?
E. Fashion is about having fun and experimenting with new trends.
F. Fashion is fashion; my style is about personal expression.

12. Do you consider yourself trendy?

A. I like vintage clothing, do trends from the 40’s and 50’s count?
B. Not really, I prefer to wear classics that never go out of style.
C. I am so in the now it creates a time travel paradox.
D. If the trend works well with my personal style.
E. I’ve been known to get on the trend bandwagon a time or two.
F. Well, I certainly start enough trends.

13. Which adjective best fits you?

A. Up-beat
B. Practical
C. Sassy
D. Glamorous
E. Wild
F. Quirky

14. What’s your favorite shape?

A. Flowers and hearts
B. Square
C. Circle
D. Pentagon
E. Triangle
F. Squiggly lines

15. What colors do you usually wear?

A. I like warm, happy colors.
B. I like black because it goes with everything; everything black.
C. I like bold and sassy colors.
D. I don’t worry too much about color, but shiny is good.
E. I wear a lot of khaki; it goes well with my pith helmet.
F. Is rainbow a color?

What’s My PG Lite Alegria Fashion Personality? continue reading » »

Popularity: 28% [?]

Keep your head low and your eyes peeled; we’re about to embark on a sandal safari traveling deep into the wilds of warm weather footwear. Today we’ll take you to the watering holes and grazing grounds of some of the most beautiful sandals in the world. As your guide, I’ll point out some of the identifying features of different sandal species so that you can recognize them when you come across them in your own travels.

Uh oh, lookout behind you, better watch your feet! You see that savage five inch spike heel, sunning itself at the edge of that far clearing? Good thing you’re safe in our HealthyFeetStore.com Blog safari vehicle. That sandal is a clever predator. It’ll damage your metatarsal joints, shorten your Achilles tendon, and devour your foot health if you’re not careful make no mistake about it.

Strap in. It’s time we were underway!

continue reading » »

Popularity: 28% [?]

Reader Question:

Dear HealthyFeetStore.com Blog,
I have been a competitive Irish dancer for 10 years and last August I started to have intense pain in the arch/bottom of my foot ONLY when dancing. Irish dancing requires a lot of pounding with your feet in shoes that do no offer much in the way of support. The shoes that give me the most problems are called “hardshoes.” They are basically a plain lace up shoe with a fiber glass tip of about ¾” thick and a 1.5” wooden heel with a strip of flexible leather in between under the arch. The pain starts about 5-10 minutes into practicing and becomes so intense I have to yank my shoes off and sit down. It feels like a very bad cramp. As soon as I stop dancing though it will go away in 5 minutes only to come back when I start dancing again. It does not bother me at all on a daily basis, only during practice. For this reason, my doctor does not think it is Plantar Fasciitis. I’ve had x-rays which didn’t show anything and I have been to a sports medicine physician. He could not offer much more than orthotics. I don’t know if orthotics in my dance shoes will work because of the flexibility that is necessary to dance. The arch of the shoe has to be able to bend in both directions. I rested for 6 weeks, went to physical therapy, did the stretches, massaged the arch…. all of which did nothing when I went back to dance. No one has been able to give me a clear answer on what this is or what to do. I’m kind of at a loss as to what to do now. Do you have any recommendations?

Thank you!

Podiatrist Jeff Hurless’ Answer:

Although we cannot provide a medical diagnosis to you without seeing you as a patient in our office, we can offer the following product suggestions.

Some dancers who experience foot pain find using Powerstep Arch Boosters in their dancing shoes to be helpful. You might also try a metatarsal gel pad. Usually there is not enough room inside a dancing shoe to support a complete orthotic. These are both inexpensive products that may be worth a try. We do recommend visiting footphysicians.com and finding a board certified foot and ankle doctor near you for an evaluation. Good Luck.

Popularity: 28% [?]

The first day of spring is less than a week away and summer won’t be far behind it. Now is the time to think about sandal shopping.

Shopping for a comfortable sandal can be very different than shopping for a properly fitting shoe because sandals are constructed using entirely distinct principles. In a shoe, the vamp (top part of the shoe) fully covers and constricts the motion of the foot. To ensure comfort and prevent foot injury, special attention must be paid to the size of the toe box and the shoe’s overall depth. In a sandal, particularly an open-toe sandal, the attention shifts to the footbed and outsole because that is where the majority of your foot’s support will come from.

Another thing to remember when shopping for sandals is that sandals tend to come in whole sizes. In most cases that means that you will need to go a half size larger if you usually wear a half size, for example if you wear a size 7 ½ in shoes you would wear a size 8 in sandals.

Here are a few other things to think about when looking for a sandal that will fit comfortably. continue reading » »

Popularity: 48% [?]

Whether you’ll be visiting a salon or scheduling your own do-it-yourself makeover at home, use these 25 pedicure tips to get your feet in tiptop shape for the spring sandal season. Don’t let your tooties swelter in shame inside boots and closed toes shoes when the weather turns warmer.

Tips for Salon Pedicures

1. Schedule a pedicure in the morning when fewer people have used the salon’s footbath or make sure you find a salon that cleans their footbath thoroughly between customers.

2. Bring your own pedicure tools to the salon to ensure you don’t get toenail fungus or bacterial infection.

3. If you have sensitive diabetic feet inform the salon at the time you make your appointment. Ask about sterilization procedures, the temperature of the water during foot soaks, and if any of the salon’s pedicurists have experience working with diabetic feet.

4. If you are diabetic and feel uncertain of the salon’s ability to take proper safety precautions trust your instincts and try a different salon. Remember that pedicures can be an invaluable component of diabetic foot care, but only when performed by a knowledgeable professional.
continue reading » »

Popularity: 63% [?]

On Valentine’s Day lavish gifts only go so far. On the road to true romance actions speak louder than words. Make your sweetheart swoon by performing the most complete, bliss-inducing, foot pampering massage ever using our 27 tips. A romantic foot massage makes the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a man or a woman. A rejuvenating foot soak and an intimate foot massage works well as a prelude to the evening’s festivities, and is perfect for getting your honey in the mood for love after a long day at the office. You can also perform a foot massage as a soothing surprise after an evening on the town.

continue reading » »

Popularity: 43% [?]

Last week I was filled with confidence that the New England Patriots would be straight with the press about Tom Brady’s ankle injury in the team health stats that were released the Wednesday before the Super Bowl. (In retrospect I realize this was somewhat naïve.) I promised HealthyFeetStore.com Blog readers an update on Tom Brady’s health and mobility and how that might affect the outcome of the Super Bowl.

The health report on Wednesday said nothing out of the ordinary. It mentioned that Brady had a shoulder injury. Brady’s ‘shoulder injury’ (nearly as mysterious as the ankle injury that pulled a Houdini on the health report) has been listed on the New England Patriot’s regular health reports for several years to no effect. continue reading » »

Popularity: 38% [?]