Foot Fungus: Is it always a bad thing?

On May 22, 2013, researchers reported in the journal Nature Online on their study which mapped the varieties and location of fungi found on the human body. They found more than 80 different fungi on human feet. In fact, more fungi, and more varieties, are located on the feet than anywhere else on the body. Researchers found about 40 different types on the toenails, 60 between the toes and a whopping 80 varieties on the bottom of the heel.

As explianed on LiveScience.com, fungal infections affect 29 million North Americans. factors that influence the prevalence of fungal infections include population and climate. Antifungal medications can have dangerous side effects, and new treatments that target fungal imbalances are needed, the researchers say.

Researchers believe that fungi especially like feet because they do not like heat. Feet are farther away from the trunk of the body and are therefore cooler than other parts of the body. Feet also pick up fungi from the damp floors of gyms and bathrooms, and from sweaty socks. Not all fungi cause problems. In fact, researches think that a “carpet” of good fungi on the feet probably help prevent harmful fungi from getting a foot hold (pun intended). It is thought that fungal infections occur when there is an imbalance in the normal fungal community on any particular part of the body.

Interesting, right?

What can you do to maintain the right balance of foot fungi? Keep your feet cool and dry by preventing heat and humidity build up inside your shoes. Many Pedag insoles and orthotics are made of natural materials that breathe and allow air to circulate. Pedag uses vegetable tanned leather, pure cotton, Angora rabbit hair, wool, and sheepskin to make flat shoe liner insoles as well as orthotics that support the feet.

Flat non-orthotic insoles to look at are: Pedag Leather, Summer (hand washable) , Deo-Fresh (hand washable), and Royal
Orthotic insoles we suggest: Viva Summer (hand washable), Viva and Viva High, Pro-Active XCO (hand washable), Siesta

www.pedagusa.com for more information

Which Metatarsal Pad is Right for Me and How Do I Use Them?

Pedag makes many items that incorporate a metatarsal pad. This is unusual in products found in the United States where most manufacturers focus on the longitudinal arch and heel but ignore the metatarsal, lateral arch of the foot.
Here is an overview of how Pedag incorporates metatarsal support into their product line:
1. Many Pedag items incorporate a metatarsal pad into an orthotic that includes a longitudinal arch support and heel cushion. Items like these use a "teardrop" shape met pad. These items are designed to support the whole foot and do not focus specifically on the forefoot. Items that incorporate this type of pad are: All the Viva family items: Viva, Viva Summer, Viva Winter, Viva Outdoor, Viva High, Viva Mini. In addition, Holiday and Pro-Active XCO have a teardrop shaped met pad.
2. Other Pedag items, like Comfort and Queen, are designed to be mainly metatarsal supports. These use a "T" shaped metatarsal pad, which is larger than a "teardrop" shaped pad. Deluxe also has a larger metatarsal pad but it also includes flexible longitudinal support.
3. Next, there are a other items that focus on the metatarsal area but incorporate the teardrop shape because they are intended to provide a little extra cushioning and support in the forefoot. Items like these are Lady, Lady Gel, Galant and Feel Good. These are ideal when the issue is comfort when wearing high heels or when a larger pad might be painful to inflamed nerves and tissues.
4. Finally, Pedag makes 2 metatarsal pad inserts only: Drop, the teardrop shape and T-Form, the larger "T" shaped pad.

Whew! If pain and inflammation is not a big issue, how do you decide which pad is right for you?
Here is a tip:
1. Take your socks off
2. Press your thumb into the fleshy, fatty part of your forefoot just south of your toes
3. If you leave an indentation in your skin where your thumb pressed that you can tolerate a larger metatarsal pad.
4. If you did not leave an indentation, your forefoot is too stiff and you will probably be most comfortable with a smaller teardrop shaped pad.

If you buy one of Pedag’s insert metatarsal pads. Drop or T-Form, you need to know where to put it in your shoe.
Pedag advices the following:
**The correct position is approximately 2/3s of the foot length measured from the heel to the metatarsal arch. This is approximately the right position of the leading edge of the pad.Formula: Individual foot length divided by 3 x 2 measured from the heel to the metatarsal arch.
**Please consider this as only a broadly defined position because the final position should be based on the customer/patients comfort. The customer can experiment in the following way: They can remove the self-adhesive foil a little bit from the pad (or use double sided tape or a loop of scotch tape), slip into the shoe and sense if the position feels good. If not they can move it again. As soon as they found the right position, they can remove the foil completely and stick the pad into the shoe.
So that’s it! Everything you never knew you wanted to know about met pads. Fot details about any products mentioned in this Blog post please click here: Click

Pedag Insoles, Orthotics and Inserts: Our Full Range

There are many reasons why Pedag is different from other foot care manufacturers. But one overlooked reason is the incredible range of items available from Pedag.

1. Pedag makes flat shoe liner type insoles for warm and cold weather, dress shoes and comfort shoes.

2. Pedag makes orthotic inserts for to relieve every part of your foot or for overall foot supports for the entire foot.

3. Pedag makes specilized orthotic inserts for conditions like pronation/supination, heel spurs, heel lifts, arch arch inserts.

4. Pedag makes items that help shoes fit better such as forefoot grips, heel grips and strap cushions.

5. Pedag does not forget children. Pedag makes a full line of orthotic footbeds and shoe liners just for children's needs.

Look at our current foot care catalog to see what I mean about the range of Pedag products: Pedag Insoles and Orthotics Catalog

Now instead of always looking for solutions from the usual brands you know, think about Pedag when you want foot care. Pedag is anatomically designed, made with skin tested and natural materials, allows the foot to breathe inside the shoe and makes life easier on your feet.

More on Barefoot Running

Last December I wrote a Post about the barefoot running phenomenon. I quoted proponents and cautions from the American Podiatric Medical Association. I wondered if it was wise to run barefoot when so many experts felt it would be very risky. In the past year the cautionary voices have not changed but the proponent voices have reached a critical mass. Anecdotal, experiential and theoretical support for the benefits of barefoot running is everywhere. Enough people have run barefoot for enough time now to "prove" that barefoot running does not inevitably cause terrible foot problems. In fact, many runners who had foot problems have found that running barefoot has allowed them to resume their favorite sport pain free.
Of course all proponents agree that there is a new technique to learn. You cannot run barefoot the same way you run with a thickly cushioned, classic running shoe. In a nut shell the change in technique is to shorten the stride and strike on the mid-forefoot arch area rather than the heel. Here is a link to Dr. Oz demonstrating the correct technique (at the 3.47 minute mark). By the way at the 3.13 minute mark Dr. Oz talks about orthotics and uses a pair of Pedag Viva!
At least one barefoot running shoe is now made by the top athletic shoe manufacturers. Shoe stores and athletic shoe stores now all sell this fast growing category.
I think that Pedag Viva is the ideal orthotic to wear while you see if barefoot running is right for you.
· Viva is thin enough to fit into your barefoot running shoe.
· Viva will not add bulk and will allow the foot to feel the running surface.
· Viva will not interfere with the proper technique needed to run barefoot but it will support
the arches while you test this new technique.
· Using Viva will be a good way to begin barefoot running while your build up your foot's
muscles.

Plantar Fasciitis: Part III

I have had no heel pain for 2 months. My podiatrist says I may never have a recurrence or the symptoms could return tomorrow. However, he says he had plantar fasciitis 15 years ago and has never had a recurrence so I can be optimistic.

What finally "cured" me?

I had exhausted all the conventional treatment options and we were at the point where we were going to start trying experimental therapies such as shock wave treatments and painful deep tissue massage. However, my podiatrist wanted to try one last more conventional option (with a twist) first. I had already had about 6 cortisone injections with no benefit but my doctor wanted to try a few more injections spaced only 3 weeks apart rather than 4-5 weeks apart. The idea was to "dissolve" the scar tissue and promote new plantar fascia growth.

After the 2nd injection my heel pain was gone. I had a third injection anyway just to finish the treatment course.

I can walk again! I still have problems with the same foot though. After 1 1/2 years of heel pain, very limited walking and walking with a limp my foot lost a lot of muscle tone and I had developed an unnatural gait. I will need to build up my tolerance for walking over time. In addition, I think I have some plantar fasciitis symptoms in the arch of the same foot that I will need to treat if they do not go away soon.

But hey! I feel so much better I really cannot complain.

I hope I never have another word to say on this subject ever again.

Sexy Summer Sandals Can Be Comfortable

Summer is when feet come out to play. Sandals, whether sexy and strappy (with or without toe posts), flat or high heeled, glamorous or rugged are what your feet will be wearing for the next 3-4 months (not to mention your winter vacations).


So how do you make your sandals comfortable? Pedag has some good ideas.


1. For straps that pinch or rub try Pedag Sling: Narrow, soft suede leather strips with a self adhesive backing can be added to your strappy gladiators or other sandals. No more blisters or slippage. 4 strips to a package, they can be cut to fit your strap length or problem area.


2. To make sandals with toe posts comfortable try Soft Flip: Prevents toe post rubbing and abrasion and cushions the forefoot. Move freely from sandal to sandals. Hand washable too.

3. When your sandal does not have a toe post you can prevent your forefoot from sliding forward even in heeled sandals or open toed pumps with Girl: Holds the foot in place and cushions the forefoot. Come is 3 colors: Black, White and Tan leather.

Summer is here and you are "good to go"!

All items discussed here are available from Amazon.

Pedag FAQ

I thought I would do a post answering the most frequent questions we get from our customers.

Below are some of the questions we get most often:

1. How do you pronounce "Pedag"?
English speakers say "PED ag" but Germans pronounce it "PAY dag"

2. What if I wear a 1/2 size ?
We suggest 1/2 sizes wear the next larger whole size.

3. Where do I put the metatarsal pad (Drop or T-Form)?
The location of the met pad is somewhat a matter of personal comfort. Since the adhesive dot is extremely good once the pad is stuck, it's stuck. So, you might first try using double sided sticky tape on it before exposing its adhesive, to test positioning in your shoe. Once you like its position, mark around it and then expose the adhesive applying it carefully where marked. Once stuck, it is nearly impossible to remove and tears up if you try.

4. What is the difference between Viva, Vitality, Solar Plus, Holiday, Master and Pro-Active XCO?
These foot beds comprise a "family" group of Pedag orthotics because the orthotic elements are identical. All have the same metatarsal pad, heel cushion and polypropylene, semi-rigid, longitudinal arch support.
But each insole differs in the surface material and other component properties such as:
Solar Plus is warming due to 3 thermal layers, Pro-Active XCO is cushioning and resilient, Master is non-abrasive, Viva and Master use active carbon to prevent odors, Vitality and Pro-Active are hand washable, Holiday is a 3/4 length so it fits easily in sandals, shoes with tight toe boxes, etc., etc. Read about each insole in detail to help you make your choice.

5. How do I know which orthotic to buy for my foot problem?
The best way is to have your podiatrist recommend one of our orthotics but if this is not an option then:
1. First, look at our Foot Conditions page and see if your problem is discussed.
2. Next, look at our list of all our insoles and browse the suggestions mentioned on the Foot Conditions page for your condition.
1. If your problem is not mentioned exactly by name or if you do not have a diagnosis from a podiatrist look at the conditions that address the part of the foot that is bothering you.
2. Then read about the orthotics mentioned using the list of all our insoles page.
Finally, our orthotics such as Viva, Vitality, Solar Plus, Holiday, Master and Pro-Active XCO are constructed so that any foot, except one that has an extreme foot condition that has seriously deformed its structure, will benefit from the support these insoles provide. These orthotics are designed as much for prevention of problems as they are for relief of problems.

Other good sources of information are the Mayo Clinic website and the APMA website.

If you have a question about Pedag which is not answered here please contact me at info@pedagusa.com and if I do not know the answer I will find someone who does.