Why Superfeet Shoes are Beneficial to Your Health...

Shoe shopping provides you with a virtually infinite range of possibilities in terms of style, color, and price. But what about the comfort factor of these shoes? Comfort is something that is particularly important when it comes to the shoes you wear at work, while exercising, playing sports, or any other physically demanding activities.

The average person takes somewhere between eight thousand and twelve thousand steps every single day. That adds up to an enormous amount of wear and tear on feet, especially for someone who wears uncomfortable shoes, or shoes that don’t fit properly. When you wear shoes that don’t properly cushion and support your feet, a wide variety of problems could occur. Some problems could include bunions, corns, blisters, and under-foot pain.

When you continue to wear shoes that don’t fit, it is not just your shoes that suffer. When your feet are constantly tired or aching, you might tend to feel generally fatigued and unwell, perhaps even a bit irritable.

That’s why it’s important to choose not only the right pair of shoes, but also the right pair of insoles. That’s where the Superfeet line comes in.

The Superfeet Insole Line

When you wear insoles that are too soft or don’t properly conform to the shape of your feet, it can be like running in loose, dry sand. It feels good at first, but the extra effort you have to expend means you grow tired more quickly and you will soon begin to feel the exhaustion in your ankles, knees, and back. Superfeet insoles are just the opposite, they are made from firm, supportive materials that help your feet achieve better balance and your body achieve better alignment, and they are very comfortable as well.

The precise contouring and firm support of the Superfeet line of insoles provides your feet, and your whole body for that matter, with a range of benefits. Insoles are like mattresses for the feet, and a good insole, like a good mattress, is made from firm, supportive, and comfortable materials that cushion your feet in style. Superfeet insoles provide support that improves your balance and promotes correct alignment.

When your feet are properly balanced and aligned with insoles and footwear that are the right fit and provide the correct amount of support, you can really feel the difference. Your body’s weight is better balanced. The correct balance of your weight removes stress from your muscles and joints; reduces pain and reduces the possibility of future joint problems.

Choose the Right Superfeet Insoles to Ease Common Foot Ailments

There are several different types of Superfeet insoles to choose from, but don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as you might think to choose the perfect insole. The three factors to consider when choosing Superfeet products are your foot type, the type of shoes for which you will be using the insoles, and the activity for which the shoes are designed.

• Foot Types

There are three basic foot types. First, there’s the "neutral" foot, which is a well-defined shape that functions normally without any extra support. Only around 10-15% of the population has this foot type. Even though no biomechanical support is needed, people with this foot type can still benefit from the shock-absorbing qualities of Superfeet insoles.

The other two foot types are pronated and supinated. These two types of feet can particularly benefit from Superfeet insoles. Pronated feet have a tendency towards flatter arches and elongated feet, which may result in blisters, bunions, or warts, as well as pain in the knees, hips, and back. People with supinated feet are often more likely to experience frequent ankle sprains, tendonitis, or ligament problems. If your feet fall into either of these categories, choosing a Superfeet Premium Insole might be able to help correct the problems you are having.

• Shoe Types

Because most types of athletic footwear come already equipped with removable insoles, it is very easy to replace your current insoles with a Superfeet insole.

Some casual and formal footwear styles don’t come with a removable insole. Superfeet can still help you out with low-profile trimmable insoles. These are thinner than the standard line insoles.

• Activities

Superfeet insoles come in a range of shapes (and trimmable varieties) to suit the footwear and the activities designed for that footwear. For runners and walkers there are insoles designed to provide extra shock absorption. For those who are involved in other athletic activity, there are specially-designed insoles which provide a tighter fit that is ideal for the stop-and-start motions common on the athletic fields or courts.

The Superfeet Guarantee

Superfeet offers a sixty day comfort guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose, except tired, aching feet! If your Superfeet insoles don’t provide the results you were expecting, you can return them to the place of purchase within sixty days for a full refund or credit (subject to the return policy of the retailer where you bought the product). That’s the Superfeet guarantee!

Tags: Women Shoes, Shoes, Shoe, Man Shoes

Running Shoes: The Secret is in the Arch...

When buying running shoes to maximize your workout and prevent injuries, arch support is the first order of priority. Each person has a unique foot type, just like a fingerprint. This type is defined by the shape of the main arch on the foot, along with the extent of pronation, or inward rolling of the foot upon impact with the ground. The best way to prevent fatigue and hyperextension, then, is to relieve some of the pressure supported by the main arch of the foot.

Pronation is the extent to which the main arch on the inside of the foot, while in stride, collapses inward upon impact. The best way to measure it is by seeing how worn the bottoms of the shoes are along the inner and outer curves. A neutral stride means that the arch collapses just enough for proper flexibility of the foot. Running shoes are much less of a hassle to choose once the buyer notices a neutral stride. However, there are many shoes that solve the problems of overpronation and underpronation of the arch.

Overpronation is the complete collapse of the arch, and thus a complete rolling of the foot inward upon impact. This can cause hyperextension in the ligaments and tendons of the foot. Running shoes with high arch support solve this problem by limiting the arch collapse. Underpronation is the lack of sufficient collapse, which can lead to fatigue of the arch and pain in the hip or lateral side of the knee. Those who underpronate need neutral-cushioned shoes with little arch support to allow for the natural pronation motion.

It may seem intuitive that underpronation goes "hand in hand" with high arches, but this is not always the case. Those with high arches can experience underpronation, a neutral stride, or even overpronation. Similarly, those with low or medium arches can also experience any of the three movements. Many people purchase running shoes by finding out their arch type through the "wet test." This popular but faulty test tells only part of the story. It shows the wet imprint on paper of the bottom of the foot when not in motion. Since the shape of the arch doesn't indicate the extent of pronation, the "wet test" cannot determine foot type. Also, the test doesn't take into account bone structure of the leg, which can affect pronation.

The extent of pronation is not necessarily the cause of all running-related injuries. Running shoes with little cushioning don't absorb the shock of each impact, and thus transfer the pressure to the arch. To prevent damage to the arch, shoes can be complemented with "insoles," which absorb some of the shock. Insoles are not to be confused with external arch supports, a plastic shell that can be inserted in a shoe to restore foot structure and position during stride.

When looking for running shoes, one must know their own foot type, composed of the shape of the arch and extent of pronation. It is important to remember that pronation and arch shape are independent of each other, and that a shoe's arch support affects the extent of pronation. Overpronation and underpronation can cause many injuries in the foot, but the arch can also suffer damage from a lack of shock absorption. The best way to choose running shoes is to know what your feet need to prevent injuries while still ensuring the maximum workout...

Tags: Women Shoes, Shoes, Shoe, Man Shoes

Health Benefits of the Negative Heel Technology in Earth Shoes...

Earth Shoes is a shoe company that was started by the Kalso family in Minneapolis, Minnesota, back in the early seventies. Earth Shoes was established at a time when the company was designing and manufacturing for other well-known brands. After an absence of many years from the market it was recently re-launched and the famous “3.7 degrees” is back with a bang.

Since its return to the market, the company has expanded considerably, and these days you’ll find Earth Shoes just about anywhere on the planet. The only thing different from the original “hippy-style” shoe is that a whole new range of footwear was designed and made available to suit changing times and trends.

To keep up with increasing demand, the owners employ many manufacturing companies to do the work. One of the main and most probably the largest factory outlets is in mainland China. Regular contact and communication with these companies ensures that the final product has the quality and style that Earth Shoes is renowned for.

What is “Negative Heel Technology” all about?

“Negative Heel Technology” is basically about the angle at which the front part of the foot is higher than that of the heels. To be precise, it is exactly 3.7 degrees higher. When the shoe was designed, Anne Kalso was not only focusing on comfort and style but on improving the posture as well while the shoe is worn. Bearing in mind that she was at the time also a Yoga instructor, it is not difficult to deduce where the idea came from! Holding the correct posture is of primary importance for the Yoga instructor. Once it is in place and is held there it is not long before an improved noticeable difference is detected in bodily functions. Her idea to incorporate a yoga position into a shoe design has certainly paid off. Well being, health and comfort for her fellow human beings are the primary concerns for this remarkable woman, and she has achieved her aims with great success.

The design of the Earth Shoe allows the heel to dig back while the front is lifted and relaxed. The toes are also comfortably spread. The spine automatically straightens and the stomach muscles pull tight; breathing improves as the head is held straight and the shoulders roll back. Headaches start to decrease and slouching also becomes a thing of the past. Thus it eliminates back pain or any prospects of it. Walking at that angle is similar to walking in thick sand. The calves and thighs get a gentle workout as well. This greatly improves the prospects of ending up with a shapely pair of legs. A better functioning body definitely has a positive effect on the mind as well.

For some people slipping into a pair of Earth shoes will pose no problem. However those that are accustomed to high heels might find it a bit difficult at first to get used to the feet being in the opposite angle. This however depends entirely upon the individual. Exercises usually do the trick otherwise professional medical advice is recommended for those with problem or deformed feet.

The designers of Earth Shoes make use of various professionals, including a podiatrist, chiropractor and biomechanics specialist, to create the ultimate shoe for comfort, health and style. The 3.7 degree negative heel technology is applied to every single pair of Earth Shoes made.

New technology has made some types of Earth Shoes even better, with a special type of gel, called Gelron 2000, placed in the entire foot bed of the shoe. To complement it all, the design also includes arch support in all the right places. This makes it the ideal shoe for pregnant women or anyone who is carrying some extra weight and would prefer a more supportive shoe.

The gel allows the foot to mold into a perfect fit and this lends added comfort. With the gel creating a gentle massage effect the result is that tired, aching feet become a thing of the past. Those who are constantly on their feet for long hours will find this an incredible blessing as the tiredness will be drastically reduced.

Where can you find them?

Earth Shoes has designed shoes that are appropriate for all types of physical activities and exercises. They are hardwearing and relatively cheaper than other similar designer claims. The range of styles also seems to be more diverse as well as very up to date and attractive.

There are many stores that stock Earth Shoes and are therefore quite easy to obtain in the United States. Because of its increasing popularity worldwide it has become available almost everywhere. If there are any difficulties found in obtaining a pair they can always be ordered online.

Tags: Women Shoes, Shoes, Shoe, Man Shoes