kentsmith

Surgery for Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle

Hopefully the arthritis in your feet will go away with the help of orthotics, foot braces, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy and other largely non-invasive treatments. Sometimes, however, surgery is necessary. Arthroscopic Debridement i... Read >

New Balance Orthopedic Shoes

New Balance has long been popular among runners and avid walkers for their comfortable athletic shoes. Their line of custom orthopedic shoes promises the same level of quality that their customers have come to expect. Each New Balance Orthopedic Shoe is... Read >

Orthotics for Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a common foot deformity that occurs when the toes become locked into a permanently bent position. They are often caused by wearing ill-fitting footwear, particularly high-heeled shoes, which force the toes into a bent position. Anatomically... Read >

Hush Puppies: Comfort and Style

Hush Puppies is an internationally successful brand of casual footwear based in Rockford, Michigan. The first Hush Puppies were created in 1958 when the Chairman of Wolverine Worldwide (the parent company of Hush Puppies) was investigating the process of... Read >

Common Foot and Lower Leg Injuries Among Young Athletes

Athletes put their bodies (and their feet and legs in particular) under a lot of stress. Even among high school athletes, competition is fierce and so it's no surprise that so many young people wind up in the hospital with serious foot, ankle and leg inj... Read >

Could it be possible that I am getting bunions? My grandma had them and yesterday I was noticing tha

There is no way to know for certain whether or not you have a bunion without a doctor's diagnosis. A podiatrist will give you a thorough medical exam, go over your medical history and, in some cases, take X-rays to determine if that bump on your foot is ... Read >

Silver Socks and Silver-Lined Shoes

We have Dorothy's ruby slipper, Cinderella's glass slipper, Michael Johnson's gold shoes but what about shoes of silver? Believe it or not, "silver" shoes are widely available today even without a good witch or fairy godmother. Silver, it turns out, is ... Read >

Long-Term Consequences of Clubfoot

Clubfoot is a congenital defect that occurs in roughly one out of every 1000 births. Most people who are born with the deformity and have access to medical care are successfully treated as infants. Some people have even been diagnosed with the condition... Read >

How Severe Is My Ankle Sprain?

Spraining your ankle is the most common ankle injury, and it occurs when the ligaments in the ankle are either torn or stretched beyond their limit. People who have suffered from sprained ankles in the past have a higher risk of re-spraining their ankle ... Read >

All You Need to Know About Fitting Shoes

It is always a good idea to try shoes on before you buy them. This is especially true for athletes or for individuals with foot problems. People with diabetes, lymphedema or any number of foot deformities (bunions, corns, hammertoe, claw toe, plantar fa... Read >

Orthopedic Insoles made from Memory Foam

"Memory foam" has recently become popular among lines of orthopedic shoes and orthopedic insoles. This visco-elastic material is designed to conform to the shape of your feet. Memory foam actually changes shape when you wear it (just as if you were maki... Read >

Tips for Purchasing Athletic Shoes

1. When purchasing athletic shoes, you will probably need to go 1/2 size bigger than your regular size. Feet tend to swell when you run. Be warned. Not all brands of athletic shoes are sized the same. 2. If you use orthotics or orthopedic insoles, p... Read >

Protecting Your Knees

With the number of "healthy adults" going under the knife for knee surgery on the rise, it's clear that our knees won't stand up to abuse - even if we maintain an otherwise active, healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, putting up with ill-fitting footwear, s... Read >

The American Shoe System: Why are shoes sized differently for men and women?

Americans start their sizing system at 1 (unlike the Europeans who begin at zero) and use a formula to arrive at sizes for men's, women's and children's shoes. The heel-to-toe length of the foot (in inches) is multiplied by 3 and then a constant is subtr... Read >

Knowing Your Athletic Shoes Inside and Out

All athletic shoes have a least four basic parts: the outsole, the insole, the midsole and the upper. The outsole is the part of the shoe that touches the ground. It is usually made out of some kind of rubber material that is treaded for traction. The ... Read >