What does AMPA's Seals Mean?

APMA's Seal of Acceptance or Approval

When I talk about proper shoes to wear, I generally reference back to the APMA’s Seal of Acceptance or Approval. BTW, APMA means the American Podiatric Medical Association, if you’re unclear of the acronym.

They are actually two different Seals which are under one program. One is the Seal of Acceptance, and the other is the Seal of Approval.

Both seals mean that the products are recognized by the APMA, but don’t confuse the two. The Seal of Acceptance pertains to footwear, whereas the Seal of Approval pertains to therapeutic agents and pharmaceuticals. 

The goal of this program is to determine which products on the market promote foot health and daily foot care. The general public needs to be informed on which shoes or therapeutic agents work the best.

The APMA takes these Seals very seriously and has implemented a Committee specifically dedicated to the Seal Program. The Committee on Podiatric Seals uses scientific evaluations and evidence from laboratory and clinical investigations to determine if a product meets the usefulness and safety standards. Once every product has undergone research, the APMA Board of Trustees decides to accept or reject the recommendation.

So rest assured that the products with the Seal of Approval/Acceptance means that you are getting a great product. 

Citation:

American Podiatric Medical Association. (2011). APMA Seals of Acceptance/Approval. Retrieved from  

http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/RecommendedProducts/test/SealFAQs.aspx

Public Opinion in 2010

The APMA did a survey pertaining to Foot Health and Care, and 4 topics were surveyed: Foot Pain and Neglect, Health Head to Toe, Staying on your Feet, and Feet Misunderstood.

The key findings in the foot pain and neglect section suggest that half of the people surveyed have frequent foot pain. If you’ve been following my blog, I stress that feet are not supposed to hurt. Most people have experienced a foot or ankle problem at one point in their lives, and their feet experience more pain than any other part of the body. This is not as surprising as the feet take a lot of punishment on a daily basis. If feet hurt, make an appointment to see me.

 

One of the findings is that feet are the body part that hurts the most, but feet rank the lowest on the list of body parts that Americans view as important to health, and only a few would actually seek treatment from a Podiatrist if the pain wasn’t severe enough to interfere with their everyday lives. This doesn’t make any sense! If one’s eyes hurt, one would visit an Optomologist. This should be no different with feet and Podiatry.

Foot pain needs to be taken seriously because it can cause other health issues like back and knee pain. The pain that starts in the feet can throw off the rest of the body since people tend to overcompensate for the pain in their feet.  

APMA concludes that one of the reasons that people neglect their feet is due to lack of knowledge and education even though the public is looking for more information on feet related topics. That is one of my goals when I embarked on my social media journey. All of my Facebook posts and blogs focus on providing relevant information pertaining to the lower extremities.

Citations:

American Podiatric Medical Association. (2011). 2010 Todays Podiatrist Survey Key Findings.  Retrieved from http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/News/Surveys/2010-Todays-Podiatrist-SurveyKey-Findings.aspx?FT=.pdf

Image by logos: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Deriviative Works 2.5 License.

Retrieved from http://lo8os.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=0

Image by Cynicsgirl. Retrieved from http://cynicsgirl.blogspot.com/

Summer Flip-Flops

Summer & flip-flops. Is there a better paring? We wait all winter to let our toes hang out. But before you sport last year’s flip-flops, here’s a few pointers to consider:

•        Don’t automatically assume that last year’s flip-flops are up to the task this year. Traditionally, flip-flops are not made to last from one year to the next. Look over last year’s flip-flops to ensure they are in good condition.

 

•        When purchasing new flip-flops, look at the toe thong (the material in between the big toe & the other toes) to make sure that it will not rub against your toes and cause blisters. This is usually the most painful part of breaking in new flip-flops.

 

•        Flip-flops come in a variety of styles and materials ranging from flimsy to sturdy. Sturdy is better! If you can bend your flip-flop in half, don’t wear or buy them. They will offer no support while walking.

 

•        Look for flip-flops made out of soft leather as it will minimize blisters upon first purchasing.

 

•        Look for flip-flops that offer arch support and shock absorption.

 

•        Most importantly, make sure they fit. Flip-flops like to come in general sizes. They are not one size fits all!

 

•        For a list of APMA flip flops with the Seal of Acceptance, click here.

 

This may be common sense, but I’m going to state it anyways:

•      Don’t wear flip-flops to play sports.

 

•        Don’t wear flip-flops if you will be walking for long periods of time.

 

•       Don’t wear flip-flops while doing yard work.

 

•        Don’t run in flip-flops.

 

Image by mysza831. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysza/3522356941/sizes/z/in/photostream/License: Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0) 

Image by lincolnblues. Retrieved from  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lincolnblues/2567754027/sizes/z/in/photostream/ 
License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 GenericCC BY-NC-ND 2.0) (

Do You Know How to Run Properly??

May is National Runner’s Month, according to Dick’s Sporting Good Store. Whether this is a real dedicated month to runner or just something that Dick’s made up, runners are out in full force this month as the weather gets nicer. 

Running Man, Yorkshire Sculpture Park

A sculpture by Elizabeth Frink

Everyone has their own style of running. It is quite fascinating actually to see all of the variations of running techniques. Some people run slower, some people run with their arms tightly to their sides, and some run with a slight hunch. 

When it comes to feet and ankles, proper feet placement can be critical in staying injury free this running season. Do you know the proper way to run to ensure your feet and ankles stay injury free? Here are some tips:

• In order to run well, one needs to push off the ground with maximum force.

• When taking a step, one’s foot should hit the ground lightly! Stomping one’s foot on the group causes jarring to the muscles, tendons, and bones. Plus, it just doesn’t feel very well.  

• The foot should first touch the ground between your heel and mid-foot, and then quickly roll forward to the toes.

• Ankle should be flexed as the foot rolls forward. This creates more force to push off of.

• As the toes are rolling, and if one is agile enough, spring off the ground.

• While “springing”, one’s calf muscles kick in to propel the body forward.

Remember that quieter steps are better. If you are a noisy runner, try to evaluate the way you run. Are you overcompensating for a pain you are experiencing? If this is the case, visit my office for an evaluation. 

Citations:

Image Copyright Nigel Homer of Running Man. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence. 

The Eindhoven Marathon photo by Peter van den Hamer.http://www.fotopedia.com/users/12s687mhrt7jn
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

Embarrassed by Noising Othotics?

One of my Facebook fans, and patient, recently asked, “Any hints on how to quiet down the noise of orthotics when you walk?” This is a very common question.  It can be very embarrassing entering a room when your shoes are going, “Squeek, Squeek!”

 

I always appreciate questions coming from my patients. I am especially happy this question was asked because the noise alone from orthotics can drive people to stop wearing them, which is counter-intuitive what the orthotics are trying to accomplish.

So before you yank out the orthotics in your shoes add a little talcum powder in your shoes and add a little paraffin to the front edge of the orthoses. This will reduce the friction that makes the orthotics squeak.

 

Ever wonder what the process of making orthotics is? It’s actually a very simple process for the patient. Podiatrists measure a patient’s foot, and then in-house, takes a cast mold of the foot or makes a digital image in order to obtain the patient’s arch and heel pattern. This ensures that the orthotic, once made, forms to the patient’s foot. The Podiatrist finalizes an orthotic using custom manufacturing and then it is ready for the patient. The great thing is that orthotics can last up to several years!

There are three different categories of orthotics:

1. Rigid orthotics provide support and controls motion and is made out of plastic or carbon fiber. Rigid orthotics is used when a person has a strain, or aches and pains in the legs, thighs and lower back.

2. Semi-Rigid orthotics guides the foot to function properly by allowing muscles and tendons to perform efficiently. Semi-Rigid is typically comprised of layers of soft material which are reinforced with more rigid materials. These orthotics are used when a person is having trouble with their balance while walking or playing sports.

3. Soft orthotics absorbs shock, builds balance, and alleviates pressure. They are made of soft, compressible materials. People with diabetes and arthritis find relief with soft orthotics. 

Global Healthcare Company. (2011). Image retrieved from  http://www.globalhealthcare.co.in/talcum-powder.htm
Image by Antaean. Flickr. (2011). http://www.flickr.com/photos/8656572@N04/