Kumfs®

Caring For Your Feet

You only have one pair of feet for life. Take the right steps to keep them healthy you know:

• Our feet travel an average 115,000km in a lifetime - more than four times the circumference of the globe.
• The foot is an amazing network of 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 31 tendons and metres of nerves and blood vessels. A quarter of all the bones in your body are in your feet.
• The single heel bone has the shock load of 2 - 3 times the full body weight with each step you take.
• Around 75% of people will have painful foot problems at some point in their life.

Key aspects of good foot health are: exercise, regular self checks (and if necessary a visit to a health professional or podiatrist) and wearing quality shoes that are comfortable and a good fit.

1. Q1: Is the heel of the shoe less than 25mm (1 inch)?

   As heel height increases, the pressure under the ball of the foot becomes greater. This pressure can lead to callus and ulceration.

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2. Q2: Does your shoe have laces, buckles or elastic?

   If you wear slip-on shoes with no restraining mechanism, your toes must curl up to hold the shoes on. This can cause the tops of your toes to rub on your shoes leading to corns and calluses. Secondly, the muscles in your feet do not function as they should to help you walk, instead, they are being used to hold your shoes on.

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3. Q3: Do you have 1cm of space between your longest toe and the end of your shoe when standing?

   This is the best guide for the length of the shoe, as different manufacturers create shoes which are different sizes. Your toes should not touch the end of the shoe as this is likely to cause injury to the toes and place pressure upon the toe-nails.

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4. Q4: Do your shoes have a well-padded sole?

   Shoes should have a supportive, but cushioned sole to absorb shock and reduce pressure under the feet. Padded footwear, socks and some innersoles can significantly reduce pressure under your feet.

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5. Q5: Are your shoes made from material, which breathes?

   A warm, moist environment can harbour organisms such as those which cause tinea. Moist skin is softer and more prone to injury. Try to wear hosiery which will remove moisture from your skin and allow your skin to breathe.

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6. Q6: Do your shoes protect your feet from injury?

   The main function of footwear is protection from the environment. Ensure your shoes are able to prevent entry of foreign objects which can injure the foot. If you have diabetes, a closed toe is essential to prevent injury to the foot.

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7. Q7: Are your shoes the same shape as your feet?

   Many shoes have pointed toes and cause friction over the tops of the toes which can lead to corns, callus and ulceration. If you can see the outline of your toes imprinted in your shoes, then the shoe is probably the wrong shape for your foot.

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8. Q8: Is the heel counter of your shoe firm?

   Hold the sides of the heel of your shoe between your thumb and forefinger and try to push them together. If the heel compresses, it is too soft to give your foot support. The heel counter provides much of the support of the shoe and must be firm to press.

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