Emma Supple’s Blog from Supplefeet

Choosing shoes in the January sales?

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Choosing shoes in the January sales? Then don’t forget this heel-to-toe checklist for value, stability and fit.

Happy feet are usually dressed in softer, more pliable leather. It has memory and molds to the foot. Well made shoes also have flexible leather soles. A leather lining is best as it absorbs excess moisture and has enough “give” to allow the foot to swell slightly.
Invisible construction is important. The better crafted a shoe is the more seamless it should look with no visible glue or staples. Unfinished insides are not comfortable, no matter...........

A look at the benefits of running

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As the foot experts our aim is to get you walking pain free. We also work with you to get you running and as the London Marathon approaches again (Sat 26th April 2009) you may be taking part or using it as the impetus to get you moving.

It is natural to run. It is not simply a learnt skill, it is part of life itself. Running brings rewards beyond the triumph of the finishing line. I have never been a fast runner but running is part of our lives. We need to keep moving...........

Ugg Boots - My Opinion

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ugg boots: love them or hate them they are an amazing success.
The woes of wearing them were discussed on GMTV yesterday as they have been making headline news as being bad for your feet.
That is not entirely fair.
They are a remarkably comfortable shoe and the quite expensive price tag has made them ultra fashionable. Kate Moss and Sienna seen wearing made them uber-trendy.......

Shoes - the return of Docs

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

My obsession with shoes is still really in its infancy; I still covet some of the fabulous names in shoe design and crucially construction. I have a large stack of magazines from over the years that are starting to take over, so I have been de-cluttering.

What is fascinating to me are the adverts for shoes. The language of describing these is changing so much but to include words such as fierce and gladitorial when discussing feet is new.......

Chilblains

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What would you wear if you were standing waiting to witness the inauguration ? Warm boots of course, preferably with a lambswool lining and two pairs of thin thermal socks. Perfect.

However so many ladies go out with hats, gloves, warm coats and just a leather shoe and nylons on their feet........

Dirty feet

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dirty Feet are a fact of life. If you walk barefoot or in sandals etc (which you should when you can) they will get dirty. Keeping the dirt on feet can be a precursor to callus and hard skin formation. Small bits of grit and grime being pushed into the skin on the ball of the foot act like irritants and cause hard skin to form over many years. So scrubbing feet is a crucial part of your everyday routine. As vital as cleaning your teeth......

Painful Nails

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I am being pathetic about a bashed thumb nail. I caught it on a padlock today and it hurts! I can see the blood blister forming under the nail. It occured to me how super sore bashed up nails can be. When you get a blood blister under a nail it increases the pressure and is called a subungal haematoma. Common in marathon runners who need the nail pierced at the end of the race to alleviate the pressure. If you get it fast enough the blood can really spurt out! Otherwise the blood dries and the nail blackens and often falls off.

My poor thumb is nothing compared to that but it is always good to be reminded just how sore nails can be. If necessary we can numb the toe to sort out the nail properly.

So do as I did not; avoid hitting the nail if you can.

High heels

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One thing that always seems to surprise our clients is that we are not averse to, and positively encourage, the use of high heels. The image of chiropodists is such that unless we extol the virtues of "traffic warden shoes" then we are not conforming to our image!

At Supplefeet we truly believe that along with a perfect heel height for all, there is lots of scope to continue to wear and enjoy high heels.....

Athletes foot

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How is your january going?

On the wagon,lots of exercise and an annoying itch in between your toes?

Seriously; Gyms and public swimming pools are notorious places to pick up foot fungal infections. So beware. It is something to do with the pH and lots to do with the plentiful barefeet around in a warm, damp environment..........

Communication

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Supplefeet has just hosted a seminar on surgery. It was very good, although I say it myself! We had great feedback and there was a real engagement from the delegates. Thanks to Steve Kriss and Grahame Mann for their contributions, very valuable.
Judith facilitated it for us and was, as always, an inspiration. She looked at communication and pointed out that the average time given to a patient by the medical profession to explain their problem is 23 seconds! We did some exercises just to drive home the point that listening is essential. Many clinical histories are to be found in the story of the complaint and taking the time to hear the story is so important........

My flatfoot correction

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I am officially the new owner of a new foot! My Supplefoot has a stent in place and I have a non wobbly, arched foot. The longterm problems of hyperpronation are resolved and I am delighted.

The operation was yesterday and I am in no pain. The surgery was fine, done under local anaesthesiae with barely any pain and my sub talar arthroeresis went well.
The implant used to transform my foot is the Hyprocure TM and we have amazing before and immediately after xray pictures.
The surprising find from the motion analysis tests was a rigid beam of a 4th metatarsal that has supported my feet despite all the flexibility around it......

Day 6 post-op Hypocure

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Day 6 post op the Hyprocure TM by Dr Graham and a whole new world of a non wobbly - albeit asymmetric- foot is opening up.
It will be 4 weeks before I can safely (ish) assume that fibrous adhesions have formed sufficiently to be less nervous of it, but so far so good. No pain. Able to walk up and down stairs and did a Mum stint around Asda, as you do, with a wrapped up foot and a sock on as unable
to put on a shoe that we (me , myself and I ) agree on.
The most difficult thing is what to wear. All old shoes are out, no need for orthotics and new shoes yet to be bought or worked out! Still too early for heels.

It may be wellies yet. Hunter of course.

Sarah Brown 5th Toe

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah Brown (wife of current Prime Minister) has had her feet papped!

Step by step guide to School Shoes

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:59:59 GMT

This week, I am off to buy my four-year-old daughter Dorothy her first pair of school shoes. It should be a special occasion but, to be honest, I am daunted. My other two - Arthur, who is seven, and Lucy-Mary, eight - have both grown out of last year's, so they'll need new pairs, too. As a foot specialist, I know that correctly fitting shoes are essential for children's feet to grow properly. The wrong shoes can cause painful problems later and I regularly see patients with corns, calluses and hammer toes, mostly caused by wearing the wrong shoes as children.