| With spring around the corner, it's natural to start | | | | genetics, it is important that women seek out custom |
| thinking about bare skin, sun dresses, and painted toes | | | | orthotic solutions specific to their needs. |
| in sandals. It's also normal to feel a little anxiety after a | | | | Many foot specialists recommend that women seek |
| long winter of dry skin and pedicure-free feet. Now is | | | | out flexible yet supportive custom orthotics. A properly |
| the time to start preparing to look your best during the | | | | fitted orthotic will help prevent or reduce foot problems. |
| warmer months. There is something that is easy to fix | | | | It may also provide back or joint pain relief and the |
| now, even if you are still wearing moonboots and | | | | reduction of joint friction and long-term damage. Ideally, |
| shoveling the snow off your car. It's a small change, | | | | the orthotics should support the longitudinal and anterior |
| but it can have a significant impact on your health, | | | | transverse arches of the foot, provide adequate |
| preventing painful and unattractive foot conditions | | | | padding and support, and reduce excessive heel |
| today and for years to come, including unsightly | | | | movement. In addition to a custom insole, experts |
| bunions, calluses and hammer toes. | | | | recommend ensuring that you are wearing properly |
| The female foot, like so many other things, is | | | | fitted shoes. High heels increase the likelihood of |
| fundamentally different in structure and biomechanics | | | | improper weight distribution and excessive pressure in |
| from the male foot. It's not only smaller than a man's | | | | localized areas of the foot. You may need different |
| foot, but also different in shape. It is much narrower, | | | | insoles for different heel heights to ensure your feet |
| especially in the heel, distributing the weight differently | | | | are protected and look their best when you slip on |
| and creating different biomechanical forces. Likewise | | | | those sandals when the sun comes back out. Many |
| the female gait is different than that of a male. | | | | women with diabetes experience an increased |
| Women walk a bit more loosely than men because of | | | | likelihood of these foot issues. The good news is, |
| less muscle mass, looser joints (especially after | | | | diabetic shoes not only help to reduce foot ailments, |
| childbirth), and a different waist to hip ratio. For these | | | | but they also come in a wide variety of attractive |
| reasons, hammertoes, bunions, callus formation, | | | | styles including trendy sandals and Mary Janes. |
| interdigital neuromas, and metatarsalgia are all more | | | | Note: This information is not intended to supplement or |
| common in women than in men. Since foot imbalances | | | | replace advice from a medical professional, or to |
| and subsequent problems depend on gender and | | | | diagnose or treat any condition. |