Smart Feet Savannah

Toenail Fungus

Posted on October 26, 2011 by caroleromig

Ick! That’s the operative word for onychomycocis, better known as toenail fungus.

This is a very common ailment that begins to show up as we hit our 30′s and into the 40s and beyond. Although some cases involve a nasty bacteria that requires medication, most do not. Along with a little mouthwash or apple cider vinegar (more on that later) and some changes in shoes and socks, this problem can be knocked out fairly easily – if you start early and are consistent.

The most common cause is shoes that are too short (and possibly too narrow) and with too little depth at the toe. Heat and moisture collect at the front of the shoe; when the shoe is too short and not deep enough air doesn’t circulate and you have the ideal environment in which fungus and bacteria thrive. It is estimated that up to 80% of the general public wear shoes that are too short, and that is one reason the condition is so common.

The other major contributor to this fungus problem is sock wear, or lack of it! Cotton and nylon socks don’t wick moisture away. Yes, we know that we’ve been told that cotton socks are the solution to virtually every problem. They’re not, and they actually contribute to athletes foot, another common fungus. Wearing shoes without socks is even worse….the moisture stays in the shoes…..and your shoes smell swell, too.

Here are the solutions: …..Click HERE to read more

Image: toenailfungustreatments.com

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Are Your Shoes the Right Size?

Posted on October 12, 2011 by caroleromig

Betcha they’re not! Approximately 80% of the population is wearing the wrong size shoe – and probably 90% of women!

Here is the same foot on 3 different shoe beds out of 3 different shoes. Which one do you think is the correct length for the foot?

1. 2 . 3.

The answer is #2. There should be 3/8 of an inch between your longest toe and the end of the foot bed.

Just for fun, check a few of your shoes. Take the bedding out and look at your foot imprint on the bedding.

What surprises many people is that their footbeds show a wear pattern like #1 or #3 more often than #2. Yet, they claim that the shoes feel just fine. If we say to them, “you’re wearing shoes that are too long or too short” we can expect a response of “It feels good to me and that is the size I always wear.”

Well, here is what we know about wearing shoes that are too short: The first metatarsal joint gets jammed with every step you take in a shoe that sizes like #3. That joint has a very long memory and is very unforgiving. A Bunion can develop or get worse. A rigid first toe joint (meaning it stops moving as it should and every step is painful), ingrown toenails and calluses can develop, even the dreaded toenail fungus because there is limited airspace. In a short shoe, the toes and joints can’t complete their task of motion and follow-through. Our knees and hips depend upon correct motion at the feet and ankles. If the feet aren’t correctly aligned, they don’t rotate correctly. Knee and hip replacements can be traced to a lifetime of incorrect motion beginning at the feet. If that isn’t enough, the toes start to scrunch up and what were perfectly straight toes at birth, become claw toes or hammer toes by the late twenties. Callusing and corns develop on the feet and toes………..READ MORE

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Women Have More Knee Problems Than Men

Posted on September 26, 2011 by caroleromig

Is this unfair or what? Women have more knee pathology than men do. They have twice the knee osteoarthritis (the long term wear-and-tear type) and they injure their knees playing sports up to 4 times as often as males. These are not just sprains that one gets over quickly; they are the serious kind of problems that lead to knee replacement and knee reconstruction surgery.

The unfairness overwhelmingly comes from things women can’t control – structural weaknesses and hormones. There are things women can moderate to control these factors, but first, here are the reasons women end up with more knee problems than men….. READ MORE

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What’s Your Running Shoe?

Posted on September 10, 2011 by caroleromig

We don’t consider Smart Feet a running store, since we happily share the same city as Fleet Feet, but we do have a few things to brag about. One is that we carry only 2 running shoe brands (that you may never have heard of) : Aetrex and Spira.

That’s it, only two. But between them we have shoes for the neutral gait, pronaters and supinators. Do you know which one you are? We can tell you, come on in! Both Aetrex and Spira shoes have various combinations of features, including motion control, rearfoot stability, rearfoot adjustability (what’s that?), midfoot support, forefoot freedom and great style and colors! There are straight, semi-straight, semi-curved and curved lasts, and we know which one is right for your foot. We have shoes with titanium springs that absorb 86 – 94% of the impact to your bones and joints. These 2 brands even include racing flats and trail running shoes. Most of the shoes are available in several widths. To top it off, we have arch supports for each foot type to further customize the fit, and socks that keep your feet dry and odor free no matter how far you run.

Are you training to run the Savannah Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in November? The Spira StingerXLT is light ( men’s size 9 weighs only 9.2 oz.) and has three titanium springs to absorb impact so you can run longer and faster. Comfort and less impact is important for those who aren’t trying to set speed records, but for those of you who are these shoes produce results! No lie. Click HERE to read about the efficiency of Spira racing shoes.

We know you love the shoes you’ve been running in. Just come in and try on the Stinger or another of our fine running shoes.

No obligation. Just fun!

Posted in Exercise, Helpful Products, Orthotics, Runners, Shoes | Leave a comment

Snoosy??? What’s that?

Posted on September 2, 2011 by caroleromig

Except for sounding like something you might take to help you sleep, it doesn’t have anything to do with snoozing! Snoosy gently separates the toes in an up and down motion as well as sideways, pulling and stretching ligaments, tendons and muscles in the toes and upper feet, which will give the whole body a sense of well being. Really!

The idea of stretching the toes and surrounding muscles and ligaments is probably not what you’ve thought about doing, but it is a concept familiar to anyone who practices yoga. The new popular 5 Toe Shoes utilizes it too. All of our joints, including the feet and toes, need to stretch to maintain flexibility and assist in proper balance.

Using the Snoosy after a long day at work is a good way to get your feet feeling like new again. It is made of cotton with a satin covering rather than plastic, gel, synthetics or other intrusive materials which can irritate the skin. It is easy to sleep in and can be used to separate the toes for a pedicure. Snoosy is hand-made by the Lisu women of the Lisu Hill Tribe in the mountains of Northern Thailand.

This is an excellent inexpensive and thoughtful gift item and comes in its own little bag, so it doesn’t even need gift wrap. It is lightweight and easily mailed. It comes in pink and blue. And guys – that’s blue for you. Gals don’t have the corner on the need for flexibility and stretching. You have to see Snoosy to really appreciate it. Come in and try it for yourself!

This isn’t in our on-line store but if you want to order one, call us and we will be happy to send it to you. The are $15 a pair.

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Golf Shoes that Really Fit

Posted on August 27, 2011 by caroleromig

Although there are many fine golf shoes on the market and some come in multiple widths, a common complaint we receive is how difficult it is for some golfers to find comfortable shoes. What they do is wear their favorite athletic or walking shoe, playing without the benefit of cleats. They do this to play comfortably, but as any golfer will tell you, anything that can reduce the total strokes (even if it is only 1 stroke!) is worth its weight in gold!!! Cleats help with stability and balance during the swing and they definitely contribute to keeping the strokes down.

Many don’t know there are 2 ways to put cleats on nearly any shoe. One way is to have a shoe repairman (or repairwoman) add them. The other is a slip-on product called “Insta Cleats”. …Read more

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Do You Work on Your Feet? If You Do……

Posted on August 22, 2011 by caroleromig

Many people work long, long hours on their feet. Knowing the importance of regular exercise, they want to do something when they get home. Since walking and running are two of the most convenient ways to exercise, that is usually what they do. Not surprisingly, their feet and legs tend to hurt before they even begin, as well as after. Complaints of sore heels, ball of the foot and “it just hurts all over” abound.

What started out sounding like a good idea – working 4 longer days or 3 very long days in order to get 3 days off – has come back to bite. Our feet simply were not made to be standing or walking on our feet on flat hard surfaces that many hours and days in a row. Smart shoes and arch supports make it more feasible for many but adding exercise on the feet after work is really too much for most. …… Read more

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Copper, Bamboo and Silver

Posted on August 12, 2011 by caroleromig

What do copper, bamboo and silver have in common? For one, they are all antimicrobial agents – properties that protect against virus, fungus, bacteria and odor. And for another, they now all come woven into socks so that our feet are protected against infection and odor.

Is this a big deal? Yes, it is. From teenagers whose shoes are the bane of the household to those who work long shifts on their feet and those whose feet are at risk (such as diabetics), these socks are a Godsend. Skin looks better with continued wearing and they are very soft and seam free. They are all naturally moisture-wicking so feet stay drier in them than socks that are made from cotton or do not have moisture-wicking properties……Read more

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AVA Moon River Walkers

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Carol

We’re forming a Savannah American Volkssports Association club, The Moon River Walkers.

The first walk – a short one of 3.1 miles around AASU and surrounding areas – will be held on Monday, September 12, and will include a brief organizational meeting to explain how AVA works. All walks are public, you need not be a member to participate. Members, however, can earn points and badges and accolades for a variety of things. Check out the AVA website (Click HERE) for more information, and plan to join us at 6:00 on September 12.

American Volkssport Association®

The AVA’s 300 Clubs provide more than 3,000 Walking Events, Bikes, occasional Swims, and Snowshoes every year in most of our 50 states. All events are open to the public.

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IT WAS A PARTY!!

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Carol

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the wild and wonderful success of our 10 year Aniversary Celebration! Cynthia Creighton-Jones for incredible food, Angela Beasley’s Puppet People for well, just FUN! The Crabettes, making music we all remember and love, Savannah Balloon created an environment and atmosphere of FUN! Chris Masters from the Savannah School of Massage, Becky Smith taking wonderful pictures so we won’t forget! Jusak and Jeff from TailsSpin brought t-shirts and mugs to raffle, Savannah Sports Monthly provided 2 rounds of golf at Black Creek. But most of all, thanks to all our friends and customers who came to celebrate with us.