keystone effect

I am always reminded about the need to restore the arch.
We do it as Podiatrists in many different ways, usually with insoles or orthotics.
The real arch of the foot is across the middle and is known as the transverse arch. Get this right and the foot is a stable structure. Any problems here lead to hyper pronation and a tilting and rotating of the foot.
Hence the need to stabilise the arch with shoes, insoles or the Hyprocure or other arch procedures.

Buying shoes

Took my child to get a pair of shoes today and the

process was dreadful, she was measured one whole size different and told the shoes did not come in her size, but they do!

We went specifically to get a pair of Start rite lovely red patent shoes for my Dorothy aged 3.

We have had these before and love the style. Classic, good heel counter, well made and in a lovely colour. Her sister has them for school and my only request is that they extend the colours into the bigger sizes.

First stop John Lewis who despite no queues keep us waiting for half an hour. (Why?) Chap comes out and measures her on a Clarks gauge and declares that she is a size 8 and a 1/2 and that the requested shoes are not in stock as they finish that colour (not the style) at size 6 and a 1/2. Not true! We try another style of red patent but they are the last pair and the display shoe, ill fitting and not what we had set out for.

Next stop Russell & Bromley who did pay attention to the queue and the wait was brief. We were measured again, this time on a Start Rite gauge. The young shoe fitter tried the bigger gauge first ,too small, and then the baby gauge which is non-weightbearing. Dolly was declared to be a size 7 and a half! I decided not to ask why she had measured one whole size smaller than the last measurement and thought I would see how it panned out. I asked for the red Mary Jane patents, that were in the shop. The response; that was not possible as they started at 8 and a half!

I insisted on trying the 8 1/2 pair and they fitted well. However when I asked to recheck the sizing and this was duly done and then I agreed to buy the shoes. I was told I would be a "self fit" as I had not gone with her measurement! Apparently this means that any blisters or tripping up caused by the shoes would be my fault!

So in summary

I am invited to speak on womans hour about childrens shoes as a foot expert and am met with this ridiculous scenario when buying for my own child.

Two well known stores, one classic brand and so much mis-information. Actually the red colourway is available on the wonderful Start Rite website easily and simply in a size 9.

So much for getting them professionally fitted!

TUC & high heels

Celebrating the success at the TUC of the debate on the wearing of high heels in the workplace.

This started in 2007 when I was asked by the Soceity of Chiropodists & Podiatrists to address a Parliamentary select committee on feet. The topic I was asked to speak about was "working feet" so I thought about all the women I saw in my hospital near Heathrow airport and the trouble they had with their feet.

The first group, the clickety clacks as I christened them, were unable, by the set dress code, to wear anything other than heeled court shoes; if we as foot specialists needed to change their shoes, even marginally, with a strap or a buckle we could not. If their foot problem demanded a change of shoes the woman (always the woman) would be moved to a back office position or, worse, be unable to carry out her tasks and therefore lose her job.

So to see this culminate in todays high profile debate, widespread media coverage and an acceptance of the legitimate concerns of the female workforce is a real joy.

NB High heels are a huge topic but not the only one to affect women!

dangers of flip flops!

Having spent a day out at Legoland I had a horrid blister in between my toe! An injury inflicted by flip flops. Really good ones, Havanas, and super comfortable until they caused a blister!
Amazingly sore and a real lesson in foot pain. Rescued by a silicon tube from Supplefeet.

Thongs aka Flip flops

I have only just realised that the word used in Australia for flip flops is thongs! So there is this wonderful sentence in the article on wearing high heels ; "thongs and ballet pumps not being the best option for women" a quote from an eminent senior Australian podiatrist, Mr Brown. He and I were both quoted in the article in The Sydney Morning Herald.

I shall be very mindful of the word difference for the future!

Australian news!

The Sydney Morning Herald has run an article on high heels. They have picked up on an article I contributed to for the Daily Mail and have run with the headline "Heels not arch villains after all".
How amazing and as I have a best friend in Oz (Angela) I do hope she saw it!
Essentially I am quoted as saying that feet are more strongly placed in a high heel that holds the foot and allows it to arch... I agree!

Summer Feet

Summer Foot tips

It is a truth that great feet make cheap shoes look good.

Do remember to get a professional pedicure at the start of the season and then carry out your At-Home treatments on a weekly basis.

Do cut toenails straight across and use a buffer to bring them to a real shine. Our Supplefeet pedicurists start with a horizontal line of polish which really helps give a clean edge to your nail paint. And a lick of glitter paint for at-home pedicures really acts as a super top coat.

So armed with the Supplefeet mantra of scrub and moisturise feet I wish you a pleasant Summer break.