Love your flip flops, but worried by the recent “flip flops are bad foryour feet” stories? Or can’t keep flip flops on at all? Try Gisele’s designs for Ipanema Flip Flops - particularly the Ikatu Strap and Clear.

I suffer from Charcot Marie Tooth disease, which has damaged the nerves inmy lower legs and lead to muscle wasting. I can’t really wiggle my toes atall, and I have foot drop in my left foot. My shoes are all flat andsensible, and I’ve not been able to wear flip flops in more than 20 years,and I’m only 27! So imagine my delight when I discovered a pair of Ikatu Strap flip flops ina shoe shop in London. They look like flip flops, but I can keep them on -dead toes and all! (I did take off the ankle tie though - not my style…)I bought four pairs. Then, a year later, I was distraught to discover that the chain I boughtthem from had gone out of business. With the help of Google, I foundIpanema Flop Flops, and this year’s Clear style - another winner with thefeel of a flip flop but enough straps to keep them on without any effort atall. And no, I don’t work for them! I know there are plenty of other sandals outthere with lots of straps, but none that come close in terms of comfort,cushioning or the ability to walk straight into the sea wearing themwithout worrying, and then stick them under the tap when you get home. Definitely worth a go for anyone suffering from wearing normal flip flopsor not able to wear them at all.

Caroline

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Neurological Conditions Specialist Library

Original study-Purpose: To review the effects of shoes and other ankle or foot appliances (AFA) on balance in older people and individuals with peripheral nervous system disorders (PNSD). The Author’s conclusioned that no definitive conclusions can be drawn because of the lack of studies and the poor quality of the evidence.

See data abstract

ABC News-Do you wear your shoes in the house or leave them at the door? It’s an especially important choice for people with small children who play on the floor.

Soles in tests had as many as nine forms of bacteria.
In some countries and cultures, it’s scandalous to walk into a home with shoes on. But in the U.S., most people do.

“I don’t really think that much about it,” said New Jersey mom Michelle Ciocon.

“Good Morning America” tested the bottoms of eight different people’s shoes, as well as two dogs’ paws, for bacteria. Ciocon’s shoes contained the most bacteria of all — 66 million organisms.

Read more . . .

Washington Post-It was near the end of ” Sex and the City,” after the starlets had worn high heels in the snow, at the pool, to the beach, in the rain (is this sounding like Dr. Seuss?) and, of course, to bed. It was after the one who got pregnant went jogging and we were not allowed to see what she was wearing on her feet, and after the only visible shoes I remember spotting other than high heels had made their appearance (flats worn by an office intern and sneakers worn by two guys throwing rose petals during a photo shoot).

There is a long trail of evidence on the problems caused by high heels, including bunions, deformities such as hammertoe, a shortening of the Achilles tendon and stress fractures. There are several other problems listed on the Mayo Clinic’s Web site.

Read more . . .

AAOS-As the weather gets warmer, people often get motivated to spend more time outdoors. Whether it’s working on projects around the house, playing with the grandkids at the park or out exercising, it’s important that baby boomers remember their bodies are not as young as they used to be and not overdo it.

In 2007, more than 149,000 people between the ages of 45 and 64 were treated in emergency rooms, clinics and doctors’ offices for injuries related to exercise and exercise equipment, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission.

“When you are 50, you may injure your body more easily than when you were 20,” says James Keeney, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon and member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Leadership Fellows Program. “Joints, tissues and muscles may not be as flexible as they used to be. So as you get older, you need to take extra steps to protect yourself from injuries when you exercise.”

Read more . . .

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery

Original article: Introduction This study is an investigation of the biological effects of extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT) on bone healing in a rabbit model.
Materials and methods Sixteen 12-month-old New Zealand white rabbits with body weight ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 kg were used in the study. An intra-medullary pin was inserted retrograde into the femur canal. A closed fracture of the femur was created with a three-point bend method. The animals were randomly divided into the study group and the control group with eight rabbits in each group. The study group received shockwave treatment, whereas the control group did not. The animals were killed at 12 weeks, and a 5-cm long femur bone including the callus was harvested. The specimens were subjected to biomechanical study, histomorphological examination, and immunohistochemical analysis.
Results The shockwave group showed significantly better bone strength in biomechanical study, more cortical bone formation in histomorphological examination and higher number of neo-vessels and angiogenic and osteogenic growth markers including VEGF, eNOS, PCNA, and BMP-2 on immunohistochemical stains than the control group.
Conclusion ESWT significantly improved bone healing after fracture of the femur in rabbit. ESWT promoted the formation of cortical bone what might have been associated with increased biomechanical results. ESWT-promoted bone healing was associated with increased neovascularization and up-regulation of angiogenic and osteogenic growth factors.

Read original article . . .

Fox News-No one likes looking at fungus – least of all when it’s growing on a person’s foot.

With sandal season upon us – and fungus breeds in hot, moist areas – it’s time to talk about the prevention and treatment of foot and toenail fungus.

“Fungus is an opportunistic organism – it’s all over the place in the summer,” said Dr. Suzanne Levine, a board-certified podiatric surgeon based in New York City. “It’s there when we are playing sports, in the showers, on the beaches, especially if we are perspiring. It loves moisture.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a fungal infection within the foot include:

— Thickened toenails

— Brittle, crumbly toenails

— Discolored toenails

— Itchy, scratchy skin

— Blistering skin

— Toe pain and/or a slightly foul odor

Fungal infections can begin in the nail or the skin, Levine said and then spread to other. If it starts in the nail, it can stem from an infection or trauma, and lead to a more dangerous condition, such as cellulitis.

Read more . . .

MNT-Many gardeners will experience foot pain this season as a result of overlooking the needs of their feet. But a few minutes of preparation and good common sense can keep gardeners comfortable all season.

“Gardening is an exertive weight-bearing activity and should be considered a sport rather than a passive hobby,” said Dr. Paul R. Kasdan, a board-certified podiatrist and medical director for OurHealthNetwork.com. “As with any sport, one should make sure to wear appropriate foot gear, and to properly stretch before engaging in the activity.”

Read more . . .

MNT-Three basic principles is all it could take to reduce the incidence of MRSA in hospitals according to a new research by Cardiff University.

Disinfectants are routinely used on hard surfaces in hospitals to kill bacteria, with antimicrobial containing wipes increasingly being employed for this purpose. Antimicrobial wipes were first introduced in 2005 in hospitals in Wales.

A study by the University’s Welsh School of Pharmacy looked into the ability of antimicrobial-surface wipes to remove, kill and prevent the spread of such infections as MRSA. They found that current protocols utilised by hospital staff have the potential to spread pathogens after only the first use of a wipe, particularly due to the ineffectiveness of wipes to actually kill bacteria.

Read more . . .

MNT-If walking seems too simple to be an effective fitness method, think again: taking a stroll for 30 minutes is the easiest way to lower blood pressure, according to the Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure, Canterbury Christ Church University.

Exercise science researchers, Mr Andrew Scott, Dr Kate Woolf-May and Dr Ian Swaine have found that walking at a steady pace is a more effective way to reduce blood pressure than walking at maximum intensity.

Read more . . .

The New York Times-THE average person walks the equivalent of three times around the earth in a lifetime. That is an enormous amount of wear and tear on the 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 tendons, ligaments and muscles that make up the foot.

In a recent survey for the American Podiatric Medical Association, 53 percent of respondents reported foot pain so severe that it hampered their daily function. On average, people develop pain in their 60s, but it can start as early as the 20s and 30s. Yet, except for women who get regular pedicures, most people don’t take much care of their feet.

“A lot of people think foot pain is part of the aging process and accept it and function and walk with pain,” said Dr. Andrew Shapiro, a podiatrist in Valley Stream, N.Y. Though some foot problems are inevitable, you can slow the progress of many problems.

Read more . . .

MNT-Walking may offer the best combination of ease and accessibility of any exercise activity, according to experts presenting at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), held in Indianapolis.

Session presenters stressed that the simplicity of walking - and the fact that nearly everyone can partake in it without high costs - makes it one of the best ways to achieve recommended amounts of daily physical activity.

“There are certainly many forms of cardiovascular exercise that improve health and fitness, such as running, cycling, and swimming,” said Catrine Tudor-Locke, Ph.D., FACSM, one of the session leaders. “But from the perspective of finding a great exercise program for the most number of people, walking is the best bang for your buck.”

Read more . . .

APMA-Bethesda, MD – Students searching for the right opportunity to launch a successful career in medicine have never had more choices than they do today. But according to a recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), entering the field of podiatry will guarantee graduates something many specialties cannot – one of the highest average salaries in the medical field.

The survey, which compared podiatry to five other popular professions requiring similar medical education, found that the average salary of a podiatrist is $176,000, ranking second out of six. While dentistry has the top-ranked average salary at $200,000, the dental profession also carries a substantial amount of student loan debt of $130,000 – $20,000 more than podiatry’s student loan figures.

Podiatry also sits at the top of the rankings for providing its specialists with a wide range of practice options and high quality of life both in and outside of the office. According to the APMA, the combination of a comfortable work environment, stable amount of hours worked per week and work schedule flexibility gives all podiatrists the chance for a six-figure income while still working a typical, 40-hour week.

“Podiatric medicine not only provides a comfortable salary and flexible work week, it also offers the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art medical equipment, perform life-changing surgery and help treat and manage major medical conditions such as diabetes,” said Dr. Ross Taubman, president of the APMA. “Becoming a podiatric physician in the 21st century is one of the most challenging, rewarding and technologically advanced medical careers one can choose.”

Read more . . .

MNT-Golfers change their swing and key swing mechanics throughout the course of 18 holes of walked golf, which may influence performance, according to a study presented at the 55th American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.

Many studies have examined the mechanics of the golf swing to determine what aspects of the swing are most important to performance; however, researchers Nick R. Higdon and Eric Dugan set out to research how the golf swing changes throughout a round of walked golf. The researchers examined the relationship between time (playing 18 holes of walked golf), mechanical variables and performance variables related to the golf swing.

Read more . . .

MNT-People who favor flip-flops as their primary footwear option during warm summer months may experience lower leg pain and a change in their stride, according to research presented today at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in Indianapolis.

“Flip-flops are very common, and this study began with the observation that most people appear to be wearing them beyond their structural limit,” said Justin F. Shroyer, lead author on the study. “It’s also apparent that individuals alter their gait while wearing flip-flops. Based on this, we expected to find that flip-flops may be a cause of pain in the leg or foot, and if so, would be counterproductive to alleviating that pain.”

Read more . . .

MNT-A chronic, inflammatory disease of unknown origin, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1 percent of adults worldwide. Marked by joint destruction, RA often leads to disability and diminished quality of life. It can also lead to an early death from cancer. Various studies have linked RA to an increased risk of Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, and lung cancer. A link between methotrexate (MTX), a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) commonly prescribed to RA patients, and cancer has also been suggested. Numerous case reports of RA patients treated with MTX developing lymphoma and, even more strikingly, tumors disappearing when the drug was discontinued, have prompted concern that MTX itself may be carcinogenic. So far, however, studies addressing this concern have been inconclusive.

Read more . . .

USA Today-If you wear flip-flops all the time, keep this in mind: The shoes may throw off your stride and cause pain in your lower legs and feet.

That’s the finding of a study released last week at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis. Researchers at Auburn University in Alabama recruited 39 college-age men and women and measured how the participants walked on a special platform wearing thong flip-flops.

Read more . . .

The New York Times-People have walked barefoot in the grass for thousands of years, and barefoot in New York City’s parks at least since the days of Olmsted and Vaux. Neil Simon wrote a play about it, and Robert Redford and Jane Fonda starred in the movie.

As sun blankets the city, many people hardly think twice before shedding their inhibitions — and their shoes. Neither New York’s health department nor the parks department has any rules against going barefoot on the city’s streets or in its parks, officials said.

But while many doctors say there is nothing wrong with walking barefoot in New York, some see small but definite risks. They range from the obvious, like contracting tetanus from stepping on a rusty nail, to the invisible, like developing athlete’s foot from walking in wet grass.

Read more . . .

The New York Times-DESPITE improvements in socks and shoes, blisters remain a sports injury that won’t go away. “It’s one of the most common minor injuries among outdoor enthusiasts,” said Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg, the author of “Mountain Rescue Doctor” and the editor of the magazine Wilderness Medicine. “It’s not often reported so we don’t have a lot of statistics, but it’s very, very common and can be extremely debilitating on a long hike.”

Blisters form when friction and pressure cause the skin’s layers to separate. To deflect friction, hikers have long used slick petroleum jelly and sticky moleskin to protect incipient or existing blisters. Thanks to some innovations in products that treat or stave off blisters, hikers can now use nongreasy, nonstaining waxes fortified with moisturizing aloe as a preventive, and gel pads or breathable plastic to cushion blisters.

Jennifer Garofalini, above, the director of land protection at the Mohonk Preserve in the Hudson Valley in New York State, recently tested five blister remedies. She sampled two products that prevent blisters and three that cure them during daylong hikes inspecting some of the perimeter of the 6,500-acre preserve.

Read more . . .