Have you ever been victim to the wrong shoes? While in short bursts they may not bother you, too much walking or standing could lead to an enormous amount of pain. If you’ve ever seen the TV show “Friends,” you may be picturing “The One with Monica’s Boots.” The fictional character purchases new boots. They’re super cute and very pricey, but after walking around in them, she realizes they’re completely uncomfortable.
She wants to prove to her husband that they were worth the expense so she continues to wear them around him until she can no longer do it. She ends up ripping her new boots off and leaving them on the sidewalk after admitting to her husband that they are killing her feet and she can no longer walk in them. So Chandler (her husband) carries her home on his back. While this may be a bit extreme, this is a great example of terrible shoes.
Shoes, of course, can be a fashion statement, but they should also be comfortable. The wrong shoes can do damage to your feet and even cause you pain in your back, hips, and knees. Your feet lay the foundation for your body, and with the wrong support you can find yourself in daily pain. When you’re in pain, it can be difficult to get motivated to do anything extra, let alone exercise. So, the wrong shoes can essentially lead you to a more sedentary lifestyle.
The good news is custom orthotics can be designed to fit your personal needs. The right orthotics can give you better support, help your muscles perform better, and get rid of pain. They can help people who stand all day, people who do a lot of walking, or those with diabetes. Orthotics can make a big difference for anyone, and you don’t just have to have foot pain to benefit. They can reduce other pain caused by bad support like pain in your hips, knees, or back. They can also help people who have flat feet. Plus, when your feet are comfortable, you’ll be more likely to live actively which can improve your overall health.
Your feet lay a foundation for the rest of your body, giving you the support you need to walk, run, and stand. Make sure they’re given the right support, so they can be the strong and sound foundation you need.
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Why is the Discount Challenge prize amount $15,024? Because that is the average “per-occurrence” fine for Medicare inducements. That’s not $15,024 per patient, that’s not per provider, that’s PER VISIT. Stinks, doesn’t it? To us, the prize amount is worth the investment if we can help our profession better understand proper discounting.