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| Foot Care Myths Revealed
Myth: I can't get skin cancer on my feet.
Reality: Skin cancers can occur anywhere on the body, regardless of sun exposure. Foot and ankle surgeons recommend routine foot self exams to spot suspicious moles, freckles and other spots on your feet that show the signs of melanoma. Myth: Duct tape can remove a plantar wart.
Reality: Although there are many folk remedies for warts, patients should be aware that these remain unproven and may be dangerous. Patients should never try to remove a wart themselves - this can do more harm than good. Myth: Putting cotton under an ingrown toenail will relieve the pain.
Reality: Cotton placed under the nail can be harmful. It can easily harbor bacteria and encourage infection.
Myth: A doctor can't fix a broken toe.
Broken toes that aren't treated correctly can make walking and wearing shoes difficult. A foot and ankle surgeon will x-ray the toe to learn more about the fracture. If the broken toe is out of alignment, the surgeon may have to insert a pin, screw or plate to reposition the bone.
Visit our blogs for more foot care myths revealed. |
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Stressed?
Try Melon Juice!
Extramel, derived from a melon concentrate rich in antioxidants, has been shown to relieve stress and fatigue.
A study published in Nutrition Journal, was carried out with seventy healthy volunteers who suffered from everyday stress and fatigue.
They took the dietary supplement of melon juice concentrate or a placebo one time daily during four weeks.
The supplementation with the proprietary melon juice concentrate significantly improved signs and symptoms of stress and fatigue linked to physical (pain, sleep troubles), cognitive (concentration) or behavioral (attitude, irritability) performance compared to the placebo.
It was also noted that quality of life and perceived stress were significantly improved with the supplement. | |
Great For Work And Play!
Z-CoiL Shoes with Slip-Resistant Outsoles
You may be surprised to learn that several Z-CoiL styles are highly rated for their slip resistance - and they also happen to be some of our dressiest looks!
These include the Rio and Santa Fe for men; the Bella, Loryn, Taos Strap and Tia for women; and the Z-West boot for both men and women.
In fact, their slip-resistance rating far exceeds the minimum requirement of 0.5 COF (coefficient of friction) set by the US Postal Service. Although there is no official industry standard for rating slip resistance, basically the higher the COF, the better.
Independent testing* of these particular Z-CoiL outsoles by Precision Testing Laboratories measured their slip resistance as:
- Wet vinyl tile surface 0.67 COF
- Wet quarry tile surface 0.73 COF
So for those of you who work in environments where you run the risk of slipping, Z-CoiL has some great styles to choose from, with more on the way later this spring!
*using a Brungraber Mark II Slip Tester according to ASTM Standard F1677 |
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Take the Wet Test to Learn Your Foot Type
A simple wet test can tell you if you have flat or high arches, and how to choose your footwear accordingly.
You can go a long way toward discovering what you need in a shoe by looking at your feet. There are three basic foot types, each based on the height of your arches. The quickest and easiest way to determine your foot type is by taking the "wet test," below.
1) Pour a thin layer of water into a shallow pan
2) Wet the sole of your foot.
3) Step onto a shopping bag or a blank piece of heavy paper.
4) Step off and look down.
Observe the shape of your foot and match it with one of the foot types at the bottom of the page. Although other variables (such as your weight, biomechanics, weekly mileage, and fit preferences) come into play, knowing your foot type is the first step toward finding the right shoe for you. | |
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Reading Your Arch Type
Normal (medium) Arch
If you see about half of your arch, you have the most common foot type and are considered a normal pronator. Contrary to popular belief, pronation is a good thing. When the arch collapses inward, this "pronation" absorbs shock. As a normal pronator, you can wear just about any shoe, but may be best suited to a stability shoe that provides moderate arch support (or medial stability).
Flat (low) Arch
If you see almost your entire footprint, you have a flat foot, which means you're probably an overpronator. That is, a micro-second after footstrike, your arch collapses inward too much, resulting in excessive foot motion and increasing your risk of injuries. You need either stability shoes or motion-control shoes.
High Arch
If you see just your heel, the ball of your foot, and a thin line on the outside of your foot, you have a high arch, the least common foot type. This means you're likely an underpronator, or supinator, which can result in too much shock traveling up your legs, since your arch doesn't collapse enough to absorb it. Underpronators are best suited to neutral-cushioned shoes because they need a softer midsole to encourage pronation.
How Z-CoiL Footwear can Help
Z-CoiL Footwear can be custom adjusted in over 750 different ways to best suit your individual foot type, all while you wait!
When Z-CoiL shoes are properly fitted by our trained and authorized Z-CoiL distributors, they can provide substantial, if not complete, pain relief for many conditions affecting the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and back.
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