Need a Lift?

Workin' Wednesday

If there is a discrepancy in your leg lengths your podiatrist, chiropractor or family doctor may recommend a “lift” inserted into your shoes to take up the difference of the shorter leg. Quite often this lift is built into an orthotic insole prescribed by your doctor. From a health perspective your doctor would like you to only wear lace up shoes that accommodate the orthoses and lift which most often is a pair of athletic shoes

Your doctor means well but often he/she forgets to consider all the styles of shoes you have in your closet. . This can be very frustrating if you have an occupation that requires you to wear non-athletic shoes and no one wants to feel like they can no longer wear all the other shoes they already own.

What to do Part I:

Do your best to find one or two pairs of shoes you will wear when you are on your feet the most that will accommodate the orthoses/lift. Be sure to take out the insole that the shoe comes with before placing the orthoses/lift into your shoes. This will help reduce heel slippage in the shoe with the lift. Shoes with buckles or laces will also minimize your heel slippage from having your heel sitting up higher in the heel cup of the shoe. Since you have invested in improving your health and comfort by getting the orthoses/lift try to wear these shoes the most to optimize the benefits of the orthotics.

What to do Part II:

So...what to do about the rest of your shoes? Become friends with your local shoe cobbler!!! Bring your orthotics or prescription detailing the height of the lift your require (and for which foot) to your shoe repair shop and ask the cobbler to add a lift to your shoe. The cobbler can insert/build a lift into the outside heel of most shoes. When you have a lift added to the outside heel of your shoes you will enjoy the same overall “fit” you have been used to and at the same time make up for the discrepancy in your leg lengths. Start with a few of your favorite shoes to get a sense of price and materials that your cobbler can work within.

Most everyone has leg length discrepancy. If you have enough of a difference causing you grief, you can feel assured that there are practical ways to address the situation. 

Love and a Straight Gait,

abigail dagmar

Plantar Warts--The Long Goodbye

Workin' Wednesday

If you have a plantar wart on the bottom of your foot you are likely wishing to part company with it.  If you are suffering any pain from this unwelcome visitor, please make an appointment with your podiatrist to have it removed immediately.

Now, if you are bent on trying to evict a plantar wart that is not painful, but a nuisance, by trying various over-the-counter remedies commonly found at grocery or drugstores...let me save you some money!

Head to your nearest junk drawer, toolbox or garage and pull out your ever-useful duct tape! Cut a piece large enough to cover the wart completely, and repeat this every 2-3 days until the wart has vacated the premisis.

We all want instant results, but I can tell you that the store bought remedies require the same diligence and time as the duct tape...but the duct tape is drastically cheaper, less messy, will not burn off any skin and easier to apply at regular intervals.  This all lends to greater success in evicting the plantar wart.

It may very well take a couple of months to get rid of the wart, but I have seen results in as little as 3 weeks.  So, prepare yourself for the long goodbye, but know that you will eventually be victorious and thrift all at the same time.

Also, plantar warts like to multiply so it is a good idea to get that duct tape on right away.  There are times when a plantar wart will rampantly multiply and this situation also calls for an immediate appointment with the podiatrist.

Now where is that duct tape....:

Wishing you wart free, happy feet!

abigail dagmar

Workin' Wednesday-Puttin' the Shine In Your Step

Workin' Wednesday

Every time I pull out my little jar of “No.2 noir/black Meltonian Cream Shoe Polish” I can't resist the smell of it...moving the jar a little closer to my nose trying not to feel completely ridiculous. Knowing that I am sharing a tradition of shoe care of past generations gives me a warm sense of nostalgia. I love the feel of the cream as I push it across the scuffed toes of my boots knowing that these boots will shine again. To get the best shine I use a horse hair brush to buff out the polish once it dries. The main reason I polish my shoes is to keep the leather moisturized and supple and the cream does a better job of that than a wax. Waxes will give you the best shine, but repeated use will dry out your leather. Waxes generally come in tins whereas creams come in jars. Meltonian Shoe Creams are my favorite as they deliver excellent color stain and do a great job moisturizing the leather.  If you have never polished your shoes before, I recommend giving it a whirl.  It is very satisfying and will only set ya back about three bucks. You can use a sock that has lost its' mate to both apply the cream and buff to a shine.  When no one is looking, go ahead and take a whiff of that polish and let me know if the shoe geek in you likes it as much as I do.

Supple-Shiny-shoes,

abigail dagmar

Does Your Shoe Salesperson Know Their Stuff?

Workin' Wednesday

Walk in...

Ask to be measured.

Ask what your LENGTH--ARCH LENGTH—AND--WIDTH measures.

If your shoe salesperson can answer these questions without flinching or looking confused you can trust that your feet are in good hands.

Learn the salesperson's name and become friends:)

trusting sole,

abigail dagmar

Best Shoe Lacing Technique

Are your laces tripping you up?

Take two minutes to watch this whiz-bang way to lace your shoes and chase away your tripping blues.