6 Diabetes Foot Care Mistakes
My aunt looked up at her medical van driver with a sheepish grin, scratch my foot, she says. He reaches down toward her foot as she bursts out in laughter. He blushes with embarrassment when he sees they arent there. My auntie had an amazing sense of humor. She took her chronic illness in stride every day and found laughter around every corner. You were blessed with two feet that have taken you many places in life and they can take you on many more adventures if you care for them lovingly. Diabetes foot care mistakes can lead to severe complications, such as; foot ulcers, infections, and possibly amputation. If you are facing diabetes head on, there are a few things with your feet you will need to consider. My aunt wore Birkenstock shoes every single day that I can remember. Yes, they are comfortable and cool looking, but after a few years she couldnt wear any other type of shoe. Her foot bones formed into the notches in the soles. Lets take a look at some common issues with diabetics and shoes: Wearing shoes that fit into all the curves of the feet and not just the arch. This can actually begin to re-shape the foot over time. Wearing flat shoes like; deck shoes, basketball shoes, and even flip flops. These do not give your arch enough support and can lead to plantar fasciitis, or irritation of the plantar muscle that runs along the bottom of your foot. Buying shoes that are too narrow can lead to rubbing and foot ulcers. Solution: Your feet will need a good fitting shoe that doesnt rub on any pressure points. You will also need extra room in the toes, good arch support, and ankle support. Check with your podiatrist and see if they have a shoe rack that you can purchase special diabetic shoes from. If these are too costly, ask your endocrinologist or podiatrist for a r Continue reading >>
Barefoot Running: Should You Try It?
Imagine going running without shoes, and feeling better for it. San Francisco personal trainer Kate Clemens once did that, 6 miles into an 18-mile race along the Pacific Crest Trail. After feeling a sharp pain in her knee , she took off her shoes and ran barefoot. Without shoes, her knee pain disappeared, and she was able to finish the race. "I felt a difference the minute I took my shoes off," she recalls. "When Im barefoot, my alignment is better and I run more from my core." Clemens and a growing number of runners are hitting the streets and trails without their sneakers. Fans of barefoot running believe wearing shoes hinders their natural stride, causing pain and injuries. But it's not for everyone. So is this trend right for you? The big difference is in how your foot strikes the ground. Runners who wear shoes tend to strike the ground with the heels first. This gait, called a heel strike, generates a force up to three times the bodys weight , which can lead to injuries such as Achilles tendinitis and stress fractures . In contrast, barefoot runners land on the balls of their feet, generating less impact when their feet strike the ground. "Weve over-supported our feet [in running shoes] to the point that our foot doesnt have to do what its designed to do," says Irene S. Davis, PhD, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School and director of the Spaulding National Running Center. "When you support a muscle, it doesnt have to work as hard. When it doesnt have to work as hard, it gets weak." Davis believes your body instinctively knows how to adjust when you shed your shoes or run in "barefoot shoes," extremely lightweight shoes designed to mimic barefoot running. Barefoot runners shorten their strides, reducing the impact on their low Continue reading >>
16 Weeks Of Progressive Barefoot Running Training Changes Impact Force And Muscle Activation In Habitual Shod Runners
16 Weeks of Progressive Barefoot Running Training Changes Impact Force and Muscle Activation in Habitual Shod Runners We are experimenting with display styles that make it easier to read articles in PMC. The ePub format uses eBook readers, which have several "ease of reading" features already built in. The ePub format is best viewed in the iBooks reader. You may notice problems with the display of certain parts of an article in other eReaders. Generating an ePub file may take a long time, please be patient. This article has been corrected. See PLoS One. 2017 April 19; 12(4): e0176426 . 16 Weeks of Progressive Barefoot Running Training Changes Impact Force and Muscle Activation in Habitual Shod Runners Ana Paula da Silva Azevedo, Bruno Mezncio, [...], and Julio Cerca Serro Short-term effects of barefoot and simulated barefoot running have been widely discussed in recent years. Consequences of adopting barefoot running for a long period, including as a training approach, still remain unknown. The present study evaluated the influence of 16 weeks of progressive barefoot running training on impact force and muscle activation in habitual shod runners. Six habitual shod runners (3 men and 3 women, 29.5 7.3 years) were tested barefoot (BF) and shod (SH), before and after 16 weeks of progressive barefoot running training. Tests consisted of running on instrumented treadmill at 9 km/h, for 10 minutes in each experimental condition. Nine data acquisitions (10 s) of vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and electromyographic (EMG) signal were conducted in each experimental condition for each test. BF training was effective to alter VGRF and EMG parameters of running in habitual shod runners, regardless of footwear condition (SH or BF). The magnitude of first peak of VGRF (Fy1) an Continue reading >>
From Barefoot Running To Diabetic Neuropathy
From barefoot running to diabetic neuropathy Because footwear alters sensory perception, research examining the role of cutaneous feedback in barefoot running may provide important insight related to some of the gait changes that occur in patients with diabetes and others who suffer from distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy. By Melissa Thompson, PhD, and Kristine Hoffman, DPM, FACFAS Shod running and peripheral neuropathy are two research topics that may seem unrelated, but they do have a key element in commonsensory feedback. Several studies have indicated footwear blocks sensory feedback, resulting in gait changes in runners.1-4 Similarly, peripheral neuropathy by definition alters sensory feedback, leading to gait changes in that patient population. Emerging research on how footwear affects the gait of runners may have implications for addressing gait changes in patients with diabetes and others who suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a common disorder affecting up to 7% of the US population.5 Peripheral neuropathy can result in numerous morbidities, including severe neuropathic pain, loss of sensation, foot ulceration, Charcot neuroarthropathy, amputation, falls, fracture, increased mortality, and impaired quality of life.6 Distal symmetric polyperipheral neuropathy (DSPN) presents as numbness, paresthesias, and/or pain that typically begins at the toes and spreads proximally. DSPN can be progressive and can eventually take on a stocking-and-glove distribution. Neuropathies are the most chronic complication of diabetes, with DSPN accounting for approximately 75% of cases of diabetic neuropathy.7,8 Other etiologies of DSPN include chronic alcohol abuse, nutritional deficiency, toxins including medications and chemotherapy, genetic disorders Continue reading >>
Diabetes And The Feet
Foot care is an ongoing issue for diabetics. Avoiding foot problems, dealing with minor issues before they become major, and preventing serious infections that could lead to amputation, are all concerns. For all the recent progress in wound care and intervention, prevention is still the best place to begin. Diabetes, over a period of time, can cause circulatory damage and neuropathy, both of which can affect condition of the feet. Because of impaired circulation, the body's ability to heal itself is diminished. Minor traumas, that might otherwise heal quickly, persist and can become infected. Diabetic neuropathy, nerve damage, can impair an individual's ability to detect foot problems. Because it doesn't hurt, you don't intervene, and small problems escalate into big ones. The best place to start is with your shoes and socks. Proper fit is essential! Do not compromise--you have too much to lose. Make sure the shoe is wide enough, and don't let it pinch your toes. Shoes that "breathe," (either leather or running shoes) are best. Avoid sandals, especially those with a thong between the toes. Socks should be seamless, athletic type, of cotton or one of the new fibers like "Thorlo". Before putting your shoes on (and after you take them off), inspect your feet. You are looking for anything out of the ordinary, anything that might escalate from irritant into infection. Be thorough! Blisters, bunions, corns, splinters, raw or discolored patches, ingrown toenails, even "athlete's foot" fungus can require action. Don't assume it will go away by itself! When in doubt, consult your podiatrist. Sight is not necessary to carry out daily foot inspections. Much can be revealed by feel and smell. You are looking for change, anything that shouldn't be there, or that wasn't there before. Continue reading >>
Going Barefoot | Diabetic Connect
I don't want to belabor the point, Brandon, but the problem with shoes with the narrow toe box IS the narrow toe box (yes I used to wear pointed toe cowboy boots but not for 6 to 8 yrs now talk about narrow!) I now wear "diabetes shoes" with plenty of room for my feet. I bought them as a "good feet" store and they were custom fitted, so they were and are the ideal fit. It is so important especially when one considers I have a case of burning neuropathy in my legs from knees to toes. These shoes are IMHO ideal for me. . I'm not a doctor (and don't play one on TV) and I don't know exactly what kind of shoes someone with diabetes needs, but shoes have more problems than just the narrow toe-boxes. The arch support and added cushioning in most shoes is often times not needed for most people. These "features" are new (1970s) and are the number 1 cause of muscle atrophy in our feet. I'll risk the muscle atrophy rather than risking amputation no-brainer even for a guy from Hawaii that spent 20 years wearing shoes as seldom as possible. All of us agree that keeping feet wound and infection free is the goal. The only thing I'm questioning is how to achieve that especially for those of us that prefer to engage in regular activity including walking, biking, hiking, etc as part of our overall Rx for health. As with most issues barefoot related even for the healthiest of subjects, the current research debunks most of the common knowledge that has been handed down generation to generation. Barefoot athletes including walkers and hikers have feet with lower rates of wounds and infections than their shod counterparts. They also have more robust circulation. Runners with chronically injured knees that don't enjoy being barefoot don't accept this advice even when coming from a health car Continue reading >>
Barefoot Running Faqs
Running and jogging can be a good way to keep fit, but what about barefoot running? Some people believe running in today's modern trainers leads to unnatural running techniques and believe barefoot running can actually reduce injuries. However, barefoot running isnt for everyone - including people with diabetes who should avoid foot injuries and complications of cuts and grazes. One organisation promoting running without shoes is the Barefoot Performance Academy at Battersea in London. Course director Rollo Mahon says: "So many of us walk and run incorrectly, putting pressure on our movement patterns and creating injury and friction within the body." Rollo says barefoot athletes can unleash their true potential on the track. The theory is that bodys nervous system senses running better without trainers. Stretching and pressure receptors in the feet allow the body to sense its position better. That feedback is said to help improve movement and balance. Part of barefoot running technique is about starting to change from the heel striking the ground to the fore foot touching the ground first. Running barefoot is about rolling back evolution, hanging up shoes and using the techniques our ancestors used tens of thousands of years ago before shoes were invented and running was essential for hunting and avoiding being hunted. In 2013, University of Cape Town researchers writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine set out to discover the facts about barefoot running by analysing up to date evidence published about it. They found that literature looking at the mechanical, structural, clinical, and performance implications of barefoot running is still in its infancy. They say long-term studies still need to be carried out to prove the claimed benefits of barefoot running a Continue reading >>
Barefoot Running: Great Idea Or Disaster In Disguise?
Barefoot Running: Great Idea or Disaster in Disguise? The barefoot running trend has its pros and cons. Barefoot running is also known as natural running. The first Olympians in Ancient Greece ran barefoot (bare everything, according to legend). Abebe Bikila became a barefoot running sensation in the 1960 Summer Olympics when he won the gold medal in the marathon event, running without shoes just as he had trained in his native Ethiopia (He later won gold again in the same event in 1964, this time wearing shoes). Bikilas triumph, however, did not spark a barefoot running trend. In fact, running shoes in the late 70s through the 90s sported thick cushioning in the heel, creating a high heel-to-toe difference or ratio. Barefoot running did not catch the worlds attention until Christopher McDougalls book, Born to Run, came out in 2009. He tells the story of how he successfully overcame running injuries by simulating the techniques of the Tarahumara, an indigenous Mexican group known for their extreme running abilities. His book sparked an interest in running barefoot and in minimalist footwear with a very low heel-to-toe ratio. In the early 2000s, the Vibram footwear brand marketed Vibram Fivefingers, a rubber foot glove with a zero heel-to-toe ratio, as a more natural, healthier running shoe, similar to running barefoot. These shoes were so popular that they quickly took a two percent share of the running shoe market. Minimalist shoes sales soared to $400 million in 2012. So, which is better? Running barefoot or shod? The truth is that studies are mixed, and there are supporters on both sides. Here are some relevant finds: Barefoot runners and shod runners have similar injury rates, but different types of injuries. A joint study by University of Delaware and Harvard prof Continue reading >>
Yelling Stop: Diabetes And Minimalist Shoes
One of the first thing I noticed after becoming a full-time minimalist during the summer of 2009 was the increase in "vascularity" in my feet. The increased demands I was placing on my feet were met by increased blood flow (the veins got bigger, which my wife pointed out to me), and circulation got much better (warm feet all through the winter). Now one group of folks who would seem at first blush to be bad candidates for barefoot-style shoes are diabetics. Late-stage diabetes typically results in poor circulation to the feet, and in "peripheral neuropathy", that is, loss of feeling in the feet. The loss of feeling means that diabetics are indeed poor candidates for barefooting. You must have good feeling in your feet to avoid injury. But increasing circulation should be a good thing. Fortunately, there are a number of good options for diabetics looking to take advantage of the barefoot running movement. It turns out that the production manager for one of the good options, Feelmax , is a diabetic. Here's what he has to say about his experience: "Well, I have diabetes as well and since 3 years I use Feelmax shoes (easy on me please :-) ) and my feelings in both feets have improved. Still can not run as I have wound on my foot (right - ball area) that is not healing well, but it is going in the right direction and looks that it is finally in the stage of closing up. Running is still out for me, but I wear my Feelmax asmuch as I can and my doctor told me that the blood circulation has improved in both of my feet. "I do think that minimal footwear is the way to go in this case and also a large / covert toe box that protect the toes is needed. " While I think that podiatrists are often way off base on their shoe recommendations, this is one case where if you're seeing a pod Continue reading >>
The Barefoot Running Craze: Bogus Fad Or Brilliant Way To Achieve Health?
Bogus fad or brilliant way to achieve health? For more than 40years, people in the West have been running on built-up squishy shoes, hoping to prevent injury and go faster. Yet barefoot runners arguethat running without shoes or in minimal footwearis safer and better. Whos right? And what kind of shoes should you wear for the healthiest running experience? Find out in this thought-provoking article. [Note: weve also prepared an audio recording of this article for you to listen to.So, if youd rather listen to the piece, click here .] Once upon a time, people ran without shoes. Or else they wore simple sandals, like huaraches . They pounded along packed-dirt pathways. They charged through rocky canyons. They galloped across green grasslands. All barefoot, or nearly so. In some parts of the world, people still run like this. Meanwhile, during the last four decades in the West, an entire industry has grown up around running shoe technology. These days, a lot of us believe that unless weve strapped on our gel-arch-pronated-supinated-midsoled-outsoled-lace-patterned-mega-industry runners, we shouldnt even think about hitting the streets. But theres also another camp: The so-called barefoot runners. They say the craze for built-up shoes is little more than baloney. They believe wed be better off returning to a more natural shoe for running. Or even leaving off our shoes altogether. People have been running since the dawn of time. To hunt, to escape danger, and even for the simple joy of it. In fact, records of competitive running date back as far as 1829 BCE. But it wasnt until the 1960s that non-conditioned athletes began to take up regular running as a form of exercise. And with this new group of recreational runners came a whole new interest in sport-specific footwear. Soo Continue reading >>
Medical Reasons To Not Run Barefoot
Most of the information you will find on our website is going to tell you how barefoot running can improve your endurance, your speed, and reduce your risk of injury. Theres no doubt that we would love to see more people running without shoes; however, there are some people that should approach barefoot running with caution, and in some cases, shouldnt try it at all. To run barefoot effectively and safely, you need to become more aware of the sensations of your feet and the surfaces you are running on. This awareness is what causes you to adapt your stride and your technique, and what guides you where to place your feet safely and surely. If you arent aware of the messages from your feet, then not only will you not run barefoot effectively, you risk accidents and injuries. There are two common conditions that lead to numbness in the feet, reducing that awareness and making barefoot running dangerous diabetic neuropathy and chronic compartment syndrome. The loss of sensation with the onset of diabetic neuropathy significantly increases the risk of injury when running barefoot. Additionally, diabetics, especially those with neuropathy, may find that their feet are unable to adapt and repair themselves effectively after running barefoot, and that excessive weight bearing activity may exacerbate the progression of diabetic neuropathy. Even careful, short gentle barefoot runs, on soft surfaces like grass, should be avoided by those with diabetic neuropathy. With any loss of sensation in the foot, there is a risk that small cuts or bruises could go unnoticed and lead to more severe infections. If you have diabetes, and you want to try barefoot running, always check with your doctor first and follow their advice. Even if your doctor says you can give barefoot running a try, i Continue reading >>
Barefoot Running - Wikipedia
Woman running barefoot on Torrey Pines State Beach Barefoot running, also called "natural running", is the act of running without footwear . With the advent of modern footwear, running barefoot has become less common in most parts of the world but is still practiced in parts of Africa and Latin America. In some Western countries, barefoot running has grown in popularity due to perceived health benefits. [1] Scientific research into the practice of running barefoot has not reached a clear consensus regarding its risks or its benefits. While footwear might provide protection from cuts, bruises, impact and weather, proponents of barefoot running argue that it reduces the risk of chronic injuries (notably repetitive stress injuries ) caused by heel striking in padded running shoes. The barefoot movement has prompted some manufacturers to introduce thin-soled and flexible shoes such as traditional moccasins and huaraches for minimalist running. Throughout most of human history, running was performed while barefoot or in thin-soled shoes such as moccasins . This practice continues today in Kenya and among the Tarahumara people of northern Mexico. [2] Historians believe that the runners of Ancient Greece ran barefoot. According to legend, Pheidippides , the first marathoner , ran from Athens to Sparta in less than 36 hours. [3] After the Battle of Marathon , it is said he ran straight from the battlefield to Athens to inform the Athenians of the Greek victory over Persia. [4] Children running barefoot; the animation is from the year 1893. In 1960, Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia won the Olympic marathon in Rome barefoot after discovering that Adidas , the Olympic shoe supplier, had run out of shoes in his size. He was in pain because he had received shoes that were too small, so he Continue reading >>
Barefoot Running? For People With Diabetes And Neuropathy, Barefoot Could Equal No Foot: Uofa Surgeon
Barefoot Running? For people with diabetes and neuropathy, barefoot could equal no foot: UofA Surgeon The latest craze in fitness- barefoot distance running- adopting techniques used for centuries by Native Americans and African athletes- has led to many people dramatically changing their exercise routines. For some, that is beneficial- but for people with diabetes, it could literally cost life and limb. I dont think we can overstate this case, notes David G. Armstrong, Professor of Surgery and Director of the University of Arizonas Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA), People with diabetes should not go barefoot. Armstrong, who directs the largest research and clinical group in the world dedicated to amputation prevention explains that Over time, people with diabetes lose the gift of pain. This problem, called neuropathy, causes them to literally be able to wear a hole in their foot just as we might wear a hole in a stocking. That hole also known as a diabetic foot ulcer, is what leads to more than one million amputations performed every year, worldwide. But Armstrong notes that the goal is not to sit on the couch. We very much want our patients to be active just protected. If you dont use it, you lose it, but if you dont protect it, you lose it too! Continue reading >>
A Barefoot Runner, With Diabetes
I am now a BAREFOOT RUNNER!!! argh!!! :) I have been running sprints, jogging and performing exercises barefooted for almost two years. However I never considered myself a barefoot runner until last night. I ran 3 miles, on pavement (and cement sidewalks) lastnight Todayafter running a 5k, I feel comfortable using the term barefoot runner to describe myself. Its just a theory, but I cant help but believe my lifestyle contributes a high saturated fat, high protein diet gives me what my body needs. Click to enlarge. The one scar on my left food is from an accident as a teenager. By the way, the picture top right, was taken minutes after completing the run.And even now I have not treated my feet in any way no salves, ointments etc. :) You can see a picture below of my feet this morning, the day after. Part of what I do on an almost daily basis (or try to do) is tear down the walls of conventional wisdom. The greatest gift that Mark Sisson (of MarksDailyApple.com) taught me was to critically question everything. I do not accept any conventional wisdom as fact unless I have tested it on myself I am a diabetic and the vast majority of certified diabetes educators, podiatrists or primary care providerd will tell diabetics DO NOT GO BAREFOOT! oh hell no. DIABETICS must wear diabetic socks, diabetic shoes and use diabetic creams daily I must stipulate however, I MAINTAIN NORMAL BLOOD SUGARS!!! If you do not have normal blood sugars DO IT NOW! Using drugs, insulin and diet get your blood sugars down to normal ranges before attempting what I do. As a diabetic or anyone suffering from inflammatory diseases YOU CAN THRIVE!!! Get up off your couch, eat right and exercise! I was sitting in front of the TV, communicating with folks when I said to myself, Steve, why dont you get up off Continue reading >>
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- American Diabetes Association® Releases 2018 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, with Notable New Recommendations for People with Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
Barefoot Running: Trend Or Trouble?
Get a print subscription to Reader's Digest and instantly enjoy free digital access on any device. I took up running exactly one year ago this month, and during the 1,200 or so miles that Ive logged, Ive seen some amazing things. Ive run as the sun was setting over the St. Lawrence River. Ive sprinted past rescue workers saving a fisherman in New York Citys East River. Ive seen numerous people relieve themselves as Ive trotted by. Most recently I saw a pair of what I can only describe as amphibian feet running towards me. They looked like something out of a science fiction movie thin rubber encasing both feet with each toe separated, similar to a glove. I stared and wondered Why on earth that person was wearing gloves on his feet? I ran home and did what any person in my situation would do. I Googled shoe gloves, and discovered the vast world of barefoot running. The shoes are called Vibram FiveFingers . Its makers claim theyll cure your running aches and pains and lead to faster, longer runs. The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments, the company website says. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised. VibramFiveFingers.comWould you dare to bare? As the weeks went by, I saw more and more shoe gloves run by me. At first it seemed like a silly shoe trend ( Reebok Pumps anyone?). But the more I researched the concept of barefoot running, the more intrigued I became. A friend suggested I read Born to Run , a book about a hidden tribe in Mexico touted as the greatest runners in the world. And, get this, they dont wear shoes! Im a sucker for the next best thing when it comes to exercising. Ive tried it all: hot Continue reading >>
