Orthotic and Foot Care Articles

I was given the following article in Hapwise magazine summer of 2008 – it is a periodical delivered to all HAP members. Below is the article and afterwards I will present some excellent summer choices for your feet.

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Ask your child to put shoes on this summer and odds are they’ll reach for either Crocs or flip-flops. Which choice is better for your child’s feet or your feet?  If you ask Edmund J. Kowalchick, D.P.M., Podiatrist, there’s no flip-flopping on the issue. “Crocs are better than flip-flops”, he says, without hesitation. “Flip-flops leave the toes exposed and feet can easily be injured. They are flat, with no arch support, which puts more strain on the tendons and muscles. The heels tend to be low, putting added strain on the calf muscles. Walking in flip-flops all day can cause tendonitis. They’re good for use in community showers to avoid infections but for day-to-day use, Crocs are preferable.

Dr. Kowalchick, whose own children spend most of the summer in Crocs, notes that they are good shoes to wear for extended lengths of time. “They have built-in arch support, the toes are enclosed and the brand-name Crocs are made out of antimicrobial material, so the feet are less likely to develop a fungal infection. They’re great to wear by the pool in the summertime,  because they dry out well, and if they fall in the water, they’ll float.

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At the OrthoticShop we provide both Crocs Rx Relief that have extra arch support:

and flip flops by Moszkito.  The Moszkito flip-flops are not your normal flip-flops described above by the podiatrist in the article.  These flip flops contain built-in arch support.  Not only do they provide your feet with extraordinary comfort throughout the day, they help put your body in proper alignment.

Please click any of the images above to find out more information about our comfort crocs / arch-support sandals.  The footwear will provide you with the proper foundation so you can enjoy any activity where you have to be on your feet!

The Orthotic Shop is now carrying CrocsRx’s Custom Cloud. The CrocsRx Custom Cloud was specifically designed by Crocs as protective footwear. It features extra-depth that is ideal for using custom orthotics and moldable inserts.

The Custom Cloud was recently accepted into the diabetic shoe program by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Acceptance by the CMS validates the superior benefits of Croslite material (Croslite ag+), Crocs proprietary closed-cell resin, as the Custom Cloud is the first molded shoe to receive an approved code verification from the organization.

As discussed above, the CMS validates the benefits of Croslite ag+ material. It is formulated with 1800 parts per million of silver crystals in the Croslite material. Numerous microbial tests were performed to determine this concentration, which produces a reliable 90+% kill rate for bacteria and fungi, and which is effective for a one-year period of time. Each new batch of croslite ag+tm material is independently tested to assure this kill rate.

Croslite ag+(tm) material works by a slow, steady release of silver ions, which maintains an effective concentration in and around the Silver Cloud and Custom Cloud shoe for a minimum of one year. The silver ionic release rate is accelerated by three factors: heat, moisture and saline concentration. In other words, the hotter and sweatier the feet become, the more silver ions are released to fight the increased threat of infection.

The Croslite ag+ material is effective when the patient wears the shoes with or without socks. Silver ions are extremely small, small enough to penetrate the cell walls of microbes, and thus easily penetrate the sock material to reach the skin surface of the foot. Effective immediately, medical professionals can fit the more than 23 million Americans suffering from diabetes in the CrocsRx Custom Cloud. The approved shoe comes with three pairs of heat moldable orthotic insoles and is usually fitted by a professional practitioner, to offer long-term relief for foot ailments related to the disease.

Additionally, the American Podiatric Medical Association with its distinguished Seal of Acceptance, recognizes that the Custom Cloud offers diabetic patients several advantages over traditional specialty footwear.

Among the most notable benefit is the customized fit that stems from the Croslite Ag+ material. Croslite Ag+ material expands upon the comfort attributes inherent to Croslite material while adding anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and odor resistant nano-Silver ceramic crystals.

Moreover, patients find the Custom Cloud to be easier to slip on, easier to keep clean and that the shoe weighs less than other specialty medical footwear styles accepted by CMS. The Custom Cloud is available in three color combinations including Navy, Black and Chocolate in men’s size 4-13.5 and women’s size 6-13.5, with four width offerings.

“We are thrilled with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s decision to include CrocsRx footwear in the Medicare program,” stated Eddie Scott, Director of CrocsRx. “CMS acceptance is an enormous accomplishment as this governing body completed an extensive review of clinical and historical performance data and found Croslite material to be a suitable alternative to existing specialty leather footwear.”

Please visit the following link for information on how to purchase the CrocsRx Custom Cloud