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Soletec Systems guide to foot health - to determine what type of shoe should be worn or if there is any remedial treatment for the patient necessary.
The human foot is a sophisticated mechanism, containing 28 bones, 20 muscles and tendons, 112 ligaments and 33 joints.
How each of these components behaves and works together creates an almost endless variety of foot movements. By understanding the characteristics of your feet and analysing the way they move, Soletec can help you chose the shoe that suits you best – this can be done through our unique 3D technology and Foot Care Services clinics.
The first step is usually to determine your foot strike and motion.
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When you walk, do you land on your forefoot or your heel?
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If you land on your forefoot, you might benefit from some form of added cushioning.
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If you land on your heel, what happens next?
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Do you roll up the outside (lateral) edge of your foot?
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Do you roll evenly up the central area of the foot?
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Or do you roll toward the inside (medial) edge of your forefoot and then on to toe-off?
This can be difficult to determine by yourself, especially since wear patterns on old shoes can be misleading.
At Soletec Systems and through the Soletec Clinic 'Foot Care Services', our technology can quickly assess your gait and the way that you move.
For example, you might be invited to stand on a flat surface or within one of our state-of-the-art 3D foot scanners - with your knees slightly bent forward and your feet flat to assess whether your achilles tendons, curve or your calcaneous (heel bone) tilts noticeably inward from vertical or do they remain fairly straight up and down.
If they curve or tilt down, then you are probably part of the 65% of the general population who over-pronate (roll to the inside edge of the foot). Over-pronators need motion stabilising within their shoes, which are designed to guide the foot to a more neutral controlled position from heel-strike through to toe-off.
The combination of the correct Shoes and the right internal support (prescriptive Soletec Systems insole) is easy to achieve once assessed and there are various levels of stabilization methods to meet the needs of mild to severe over-pronators.
If your achilles remains relatively vertical, you are among the 30% who have what is known as ‘neutral feet’ but who might benefit from cushioning. Approximately 35% of us have high arches and ideally require curved lasted shoes, 40% of us have medium arches and require semi-curved lasted shoes and the remaining 25% of us have minimal to no arches and require semi-straight or straight lasted shoes.
Your weight, also, will have an impact upon the type of shoes that you need. Increased weight places more demands upon your feet and might mean that you need a more ‘controlling’ and shock absorption built within the shoe.
Soletec’s technology enables the retailer, clinician or manufactures to quickly assess and determine what type of feet you have and how any discomfort or pain (including knee and back aches) can be avoided.
Within Foot Care Services a qualified ‘Foot Specialist’ will always be on-hand for more serious foot complaints.
Other tips:
• consider trying on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are at their largest
• Bring the socks or stockings which you intend to wear with the shoe
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