Essentials of Foot Care

It is a fact, daily stressed by doctors, dieticians and medical authorities that walking is the best form of exercise, for both men and women, and across all age groups. Walking exercises virtually all parts of the body, from the feet and calves to the back, arms, lungs and the heart. It is the most natural form of exercise, and does not carry the associated risks of jogging or strenuous exercise in a gym, and is a lot less expensive.

But what if you are one of those many people who cant enjoy walking because it causes sore feet, leg pain, back pain and uncomfortable posture. Maybe your children do not enjoy sports at school, again because of foot problems and lower back problems. In these situations you need to look at orthotics.

Orthotics are orthopaedic devices designed to treat or adjust various biomechanical foot disorders. They may be simple, commercially made devices, such as cushioned heel cups or insoles for shoes, but the best ones are insoles designed by doctors that give the user some form of personal adaptation of the insole.

Because perfect feet are very rare, almost anyone can benefit from orthotics. There are several common symptoms that may indicate misalignment of the feet. You may be a candidate for orthotic devices if:

- one side of the sole of your shoe wears out faster than the other;

- you frequently sprain your ankle;

- you have chronic heel, knee or lower back pain;

- your shins hurt;

- your toes are not straight;

- your feet point inward or excessively outward when you walk;

- your feet hurt in general.

While perfect feet may be very rare, there is no such thing as an average foot. That is why Walkfit Insoles are much better than an over the counter insole. These insoles are designed by physicians and they come with three different inserts, Low, Medium and High, to insure that they are suitable for your foot. You are advised to experiment with the inserts, for about 1 hour per day, until you find the one that is best suited to your needs. They also come in a large number of different sizes to suit men, women and children.

When using these insoles, remember that your shoes may have extra layers already in them. It is advised to remove these layers and just use the supplied insoles. Insoles are not like an instant painkiller, so be patient. It could take up to three weeks to adjust to these insoles but once you do, then you will realize the huge difference they make to your walking and exercising. You will then be able to partake in the healthiest form of exercise available to you.