FITFLOPS walker 3 - lemon

Batman1978

Hi all,

Boots.com are holding a live FitFlop event at 1pm TODAY. Just got an email.

You can ask the founder of FitFlops a question during this event & they will be giving away 20 pairs of FitFlops for the best questions that are draed out. Boots will tell you during the event if you are a winner.

Also 500 points on FitFlops untill Tuesday!!

Go to Boots.com & click on the link on the homepage.

photome

JVRMac wrote: »

I have just been diagnosed with flat feet and have an appt with Orthotic Services at the hospital re insoles. Only found out when I had reflexology and she commented on how flat my feet were, didn't realise the pain I had when walking, in my feet but particularly my shins wasn't normal!!!
Anyhow, I'm wondering what these orthotic insoles will do, will they be a miracle cure and will it allow me to wear heels, as would love to be able to wear some nice high heel shoes on a night out without having to sit down and take them off every 5 mins?

I am am male so cant comment on wearing high heels (not on a public forum anyway:D) but can say that if you end up having to wear orthotics all the time like I do, and they are the same as mine, ie built up from the heel and then the instep, it is unlikely they will fit inside a pair of high heels.

No they are not a miracle cure, I have been using them for last 10 years or so and I can walk and stand for longer with them in but still get feet and leg pain

photome

Jennieweb

Are you a podiatrist or an expert in Biomechanics?

Just wondered as you seem to be giving lots of medical/health advice

hogshead

My JL silver ones have arrived but I've not worn them as I wondered what the diff between adults/kids were.
Having suspected & read that the kids ones don't tone whilst walking I guess they're going back.
Do the Avon ones def tone?

jenniewb

photome wrote: »

Jennieweb

Are you a podiatrist or an expert in Biomechanics?

Just wondered as you seem to be giving lots of medical/health advice

Whoops!! am neither- but have alot of experience- I am writing from my own experience and close friends/relatives experiences rather then from medical knowlegde, I do try to make this clear but some times assume people know and don't always mention its personal experience (plus what the doctor and physio said) rather then me being a biological/physio scientist on the loose.

I have had many foot, ankle and shin problems- (at the moment the remnents of a shin splint, a grade 2 ankle sprain and several skin conditions) I exercise quite a bit and something tends to go wrong due to the intensity and my (stupid I know) lack of rest days. I have had to do alot of reading on things as I was not always able to get to the physio appointments when I needed them and my GP didn't have a clue. NHS direct wont help with symptoms alone.
My mum also has the foot condition plantar fasciatis (amoung other things- hap hazard body seems to run in the family) which I wanted to find out about so I could understand what was happening and see if I could offer any sites to her as she was so sure it was to do with her weight alone and I wasn't so sure- she is over weight but not massivly so, true to form her physio told her exactly what I had read up on- it was -for her- to do with lack of arch support.
I have also an invested interest in my diet as I have so many hiccups with it.
My sister is also training to be a personal trainer.... and I have learn stuff via her.


I don't advise anything here without backing (from things like the NHS site or runners specialists) and don't tend to advise unless its very obvious, I share my opinion and experience, I hope its not seen as telling people what to do, its not the same thing, people are more then able to make their own choices I think.

If I am giving medical advice please point this out and I will watch it- I don't intend to do anything against the MSE rules.

jenniewb

dogstarheaven wrote: »

i can wear high heels for v short periods, but tend to prefer ones with top ankle support, but haven't done so for about a year now.
do you think it's possible to get this checked out by my GP or do I go to the podiatory (sp?) dept at the hospital?

I do think you should get this checked out with the GP and they should refer you for physio help if its preventing you live a normal life (whatever normal is!) Sorry- I assumed when you said you had fallen arches/flat feet you had seen a doctor- this is a medical term and a doctor is normally the one to diagnose. Do see a doctor, its very important to get this checked out and there is stuff they can advice to help. Go to the NHS direct or netdoctor websites which have some written stuff on this which can help you understand whats going on- but get it diagnosed properly first!

I want to say more but as I am not qualified cannot-should not and wont say anything else- but read up on things, see if you can check out your questions with your GP, I have a friend with fallen arches before and there was a way to make things better- again not going to advise here!!

dogstarheaven wrote: »

so, fitflops aren't going to be that benenficial for me then? Is it possible for me to develop something serious in my feet at this time in my life (i'm 40, female) when I have never had had any probs previously? It all seems rather strange when suddenly changing my footwear for the summer that my feet weren't the same was they were before.

I would say get your feet checked out first. I have my own opinons on them but from a technical point of view, trainers have arch support- you can feel the texture/squishiness of the arch as being denser then the rest of the shoe. Fitflops are the same all over. This is what a physio has pointed out, not just my thoughts, I am sure they are safe and fine and good for many people but can't help thinking if you have a weakness already that needs support to be rebuilt.... maybe getting things checked out with your doctor first, ask questions with someone who can see your feet and if they will be OK for you but personally if I had an underlying foot condition, I'd definetly get things OK'd first before buying fit flops as they will put your feet under more pressure just because they are different to your everyday shoes.

dogstarheaven wrote: »

Well, I don't know whether the chirodist actually told me technically whether the arch was fallen or low. all i remember she asked me to turn my foot outwards for her to see how arched it was and she said something like it was low, or something. as it wasn't a professional appt. i had with her, i'm sure she would of explained this in more detail for me.

Please get this checked out. There will be advice after you have been diagnosed and its better to prevent things getting worse then to have them go bad and try to repair them- trust me!

dogstarheaven wrote: »

partner's away for 6mths now so can't get any massages, i'm afraid! :(:( (he wasn't v good tho'.... he's just not got that tender touch!!!

Damn! You could always look for professional physiotherapy/sports massage clinics, they will cost a bit- but at least you know they are doing things right. Only was ever able to get myself a sports massage a few years ago and it did show alot up to me, shame I can't have them more regularly as I really do believe they are beneficial. I am sure there are also many other palaces which offer massages, word of mouth tends to be the best advertising but again your GP may have more info.

dogstarheaven wrote: »

i've just had my physio assessment today, and was told that my neck pain is likely to be caused by being in office-based jobs for most of my working life (now i don't tho') and also, lying down on my elbow when reading in bed aggravates my shoulder and neck area too. phsio person gave me some exercises to do, so hopefully i'll feel better one day.

Did he/she give you some exercises? I found yoga helped me best and was unsuprized to find many stretches advised to me when I had back pain were actually yoga poses!

dogstarheaven wrote: »

i used to go a long time ago, but stopped as the yoga centre shut down but just recently, realised I needed to go again.

Definetly worth a shot- get a good yoga teacher and you have nothing to lose IMO, I want to say "it works it works!" but don't want to give anyone the wrong end if the stick- its not medical or physio advice I am giving here, its my own personal experience or experience of those close to me I know well.

BTW- The multi quote, you MUST must must have the

_posters_name_ wrote: »

then the quote followed by

or it doesn't work. I am sure theres an easier way to do it then copy-pasting all the time to write through someones post but this is what I do!

dogstarheaven

jenniewb wrote: »

I do think you should get this checked out with the GP and they should refer you for physio help.Sorry- I assumed when you said you had fallen arches/flat feet you had seen a doctor.

I saw the Dr about my neck/shoulder pain and got referred to physio and I was waiting for my first appt for an assessment for seven long weeks, and it was Wed. last week when I chased this up, and by Friday, 11th June, I had got the appt. As I said previously, the main causal factor was due to working on computers for most of my working life, plus propping my neck with my elbow in bed on my side whilst reading for several hours a day is very for me too.

I didn't go to the Dr about my foot problem tho' but after visting my brother last week, I found out he had problems with his feet too.He has supports for his footwear, but unfortunately, I don't have much info on what condition he has but his fiancee told me to go straight to the Podiatory Dept. athe hospital rather than be referred by the GP as that can take too long, or they don't refer you.

Damn! You could always look for professional physiotherapy/sports massage clinics, they will cost a bit


sorry, no can do.:o can't afford this, but I would if I could tho'.

Did he/she give you some exercises? I found yoga helped me best and was unsuprized to find many stretches advised to me when I had back pain were actually yoga poses!

got exercises for my neck and shoulder, still haven't them properly tho'!!:eek:


BTW- The multi quote, you MUST must must have the or it doesn't work. I am sure theres an easier way to do it then copy-pasting all the time to write through someones post but this is what I do!

still don't really understand what I'm doing, I'm sorry for being so-ooo thick or IT illiterate...:(

I've worn my suede moccasins (normal flat heel) yesterday for the 2nd time this summer, and altho' my small toe on the left foot was sore (didn't get sore last few yrs tho':cool:), I didn't feel any discomfort with the sole. It's usually the base of the foot that gives me the gyp when I've worn my ballet pumps, flat sandals and toe-post Birkenstock Gizeh.I've got two pairs of the Boston ones, but they're for indoor use and have never had trouble with these for the last 8 yrs since they were bought). I find it quite strange when Birkenstocks normally have the same soles, so I can't understand how my feet can't adapt to the Gizeh style when the Boston ones which I wear at home are really comfortable. Ok, the walking distances are very different when you're at home, compared to how you'd walk outside.

photome

hogshead wrote: »

My JL silver ones have arrived but I've not worn them as I wondered what the diff between adults/kids were.
Having suspected & read that the kids ones don't tone whilst walking I guess they're going back.
Do the Avon ones def tone?

Do any of them really tone? or is it a marketing gimmick

dogstarheaven

ooh jennie... am going terribly wrong here in commenting on certain points in your reply. as you can see, i've made a mistake in putting my reply within your quote. can you (or anyone!) explain in very basic English (sorry!) how this is possible? I just want to insert my comments individual points. y'know, with the quote in a blue box, and my comment underneath in the normal white background. if you know what i mean! thank you for being so patient with me!

The_Old_Bag

hogshead wrote: »

My JL silver ones have arrived but I've not worn them as I wondered what the diff between adults/kids were.
Having suspected & read that the kids ones don't tone whilst walking I guess they're going back.
Do the Avon ones def tone?

I am a size 6, and the Avon 4/5 arrived this week and fit.
Not perfectly, but much more comfortable than normal flip-flops, and miles better than the 6/7.

I am not qualified to say whether they do tone..... but within an hour of wearing them I can definitely 'feel' something in my arches, calves and around knee area.

As some posters have already commented I am sure these will not be "the" answer to people who have very specific foot/back/posture issues.
Clearly these are a generic 'healthy' piece of foot wear targeted at the mass market.

They do seem to have a fairly substantial sole to them, and therefore give a much more comfortable "cushioned" feel. When walking, I have the sensation that my heels are actually sinking a bit lower then the front of my foot.
One of the exercises I have done at the gym for years was to stand with my toes/balls of foot on a raised level (e.g. a reebok step) and raise myself up and then lower self down so heels are lower than toes..... so maybe this is part of how the flip-flop 'work' the foot and leg muscles?!

I cannot wear ballet pumps, or normal 'basic' flip-flops, even for very short periods of time.
So far ( only a few days now) I have found these very comfortable, and as I said earlier, I can definitely "feel" something - whether it will prove beneficial health wise or appearance I don't know yet.

At the end of the day, I think £10 for comfortable summer footwear is reasonable, and I may well order another pair