Special shoes and footwear options

There are a number of different types of shoe that, unlike most retailer shoes, are designed ergonomically with the health of the feet as a priority. These shoes can be generalist shoes like comfort fitting and wide fitting shoes, or special purpose footwear constructed with a certain “need” in mind.

Generalist healthy footwear covers a broad scope of shoes and boots that do not pander to the whims of fashion, but rather look at the needs of the feet. Shoes falling into this category are designed around the requirements of a foot and its need for protection and support. This means that the shape of this type of shoe is governed by the foot and not current styles. It means that the fit will be comfortable but supportive.

Shoes falling into the above category often go under the name of easy-fit, comfort-fit or healthy-fit shoes and they have plenty of padding, good strong outer soles and well formed inner soles with supports for the arch and foot structure. Many come in different width fittings and not just length fittings. They are often made with multiple fastening positions and velcro style pull over flaps that are easy to open and close.
A further development of this type of shoe is the walking shoe or hiking boot. This is intended for prolonged periods of walking, standing, climbing and moving over uneven and often wet surfaces. These shoes use all of the features of the easy fit shoe above, but they are more robust, capable of taking knocks and being subjected to challenging conditions. Some of these shoes will be made of special fabrics that are waterproof, but still allow moisture to evaporate out from within the shoe.


More specialist shoes, along with orthotic inserts, can be used for people who have a foot or leg problem that can be corrected or alleviated by the use of customised footwear.

This type of footwear is used to adjust some feature of the foot or lower leg stance by, for example, providing a corrective arch support as part of an insole. Doing this may remove the need for a surgery and the result could be a return to a more active life.

Some foot problems can be uncomfortable and even painful and medical orthotic inserts can be fitted inside a shoe to resolve the problem. These inserts will not work in all cases, however if a foot problem is diagnosed early enough an orthotic may be a satisfactory long term solution.
In all cases the ability to buy shoes that fit correctly is of vital importance and this is something that very few of manage to do successfully. One reason for this is the desire to place fashion (where width fittings are rarely available) ahead of purpose. But the other reason is that few people ever bother to accurately measure their own feet and use a proper size chart to determine their correct shoe fit. Doing this, particularly with children from a young age, can help avoid a lifetime of troublesome and irritating foot problems, problems that should never arise.

For more help in finding the correct shoes and shoe fittings you can use the references included in this posting.

Different aids and equipment that wil be covered

Lots more information about different devices and aids will be appearing here over the next few weeks. So here are some brief summaries of some of the things that will be making an appearance.

To start with, different types of bathroom chair. These range from general utility chairs like the ones found in a shower room to more permanent chairs with a specific purpose. This purpose may be acting as a lowering and elevating bath use chair, a fixed and foldable chair, or a chair that offers a high-seat facility over a toilet.

Rails, steps and grab handles, all of which can offer security and confidence, and reduce the occurrence of falls. They also do this at a comparatively low cost.

Special loofers, brushes and washing devices that make both cleaning and holding these implements easier for those who find it hard to stretch or grip.

Dependency beds and beds that have electric adjustment to facilitate easy movement and position changing. These beds can have numerous adaptations including security “cot” sides, or be on movable casters. Accessories including over-bed tables and toppers enable these beds to be customised to any user.

Chairs which include riser recliner or lift and tilt style easy use chairs, plus high seat chairs and lifter seats that can be powered or work based on pressure systems and a lock.

Matting and anti-slip flooring that can be permanent or moved in and out of certain areas when needed.

Seat accessories like rolls and bolsters to support the back and memory foam cushions and padded back and seat rest to remove pressure points. There are even mini elevator legs to lift the height of a seat.

Shoes designed to make walking easier, more comfortable and healthier by encompassing orthopedic design, proper support areas and materials that are breathable, long lasting and good to look at.

Supports for weaknesses and recovering injuries that include strapping, braces and numerous medical supports. These can be used on limbs, around joints, or for other parts of the body like the neck. Numerous aids are also available to help exercise different muscle groups, or give motion to a joint.

Memory aids which can come in the form of pill boxes differentiated by time, or talking watches and clocks that can be used to signify that something needs doing.

Medical devices like home blood pressure testers, cholesterol monitors and digital thermometers.

General aids that help in everyday activities ranging from writing and using kitchen utensils to reading and making phone calls.

Robotic devices that can alert someone of a problem, accident or emergency, or vacuum the home at the press of a button.

Wheelchairs, walkers and strollers that can give mobility or help retain mobility for those who have trouble getting around without assistance. Strollers now come in a massive choice of styles and wheelchair can be purpose built for participation in a range of sports.

Mobility scooters that may be pavement or pavement and street legal with extended coverage, quality suspension, lights, carry containers and levels of stability that make them a safe and comfortable way to get around.

Equipment for moving (or even handling by a therapist) which covers everything from the home stairlift to “people cranes” that can lift someone from a bed to a chair or even hold them in an upright standing posture.

Bathroom disability equipment

Bathroom help in the form of lifts, chairs, rails etc can be more than valuable to anyone whose movement is in any way inhibited. These special aids make using the bathroom safer and easier which increases the confidence of the person wishing to take a bath, have a shower, use the toilet or wash with the hand basin.

The bathroom is a sometimes neglected room when it comes to people with mobility challenges. Stairlifts, scooters and some other expensive aids are always the first to be considered, but few have the same practical benefit that making the bathroom safe and usable has.

To find out more about the kinds of equipment available search the internet for terms like “bathroom disability”, “shower seats”, “bath lifts”, “safety rails” etc and consider the practicality of each type of device on merit and in the context of the person who will be using it.

More mobility aids

The last post covered rollators, so this one will supplement that by offering a small bit of extra detail covering some of the other mobility accessories and how they can be used.

Different walking frame options include the zimmer frame and the two front wheeled variation of this old style “lift and move” walker. The more advanced three and four wheeler rollators are much more versatile, but they require more confidence to use.

The other main walking and mobility options are wheelchairs, scooters and different variations of walking stick which may be single or come in pairs.

There is the opportunity to use not just one, but two or more of these mobility aids. For example, a mobility scooter can be used for a trip to a nearby store, following which walking sticks could be used to move around inside the store – having left the scooter parked outside.

Equally a walking stick (or sticks) could be used for moving around the home or garden, but a rollator used to walk along a street to a friends house (i.e. for a longer and more taxing journey).

Each of these mobility aids has different potential uses and each can serve its owner in more than one way and in different situations and circumstances. The needs of an individual will also alter any change as they get older and more dependent on external aids.

Rollator

A rollator is a wheeled walking frame. It can be used by an elderly person or anyone who struggles to walk and requires more support that can be offered by a walking stick.

A rollator is really a development from an old style walking frame where the person using the frame lifts the frame and moves it forward before taking a step forward. Using this kind of frame is secure, but it makes progress very slow and it can be hard for many people to lift the frame in order to move it in the walking direction.

The rollator overcomes the issues above by using wheels on its legs. A “proper” rollator will have either three or four legs with wheels on each of them, but an alternative hybrid version comes with four legs and wheels and only the front two. This type of frame is worked by using a “tipping” action when the frame is pushed forwards.

The three and four wheeler versions often have handle-bar style grips equipped with low pressure brakes and this means that all that is required to move the rollator forward is a gentle push. The application of the brakes brings any motion to a stop and the brakes have a lock function which means that the rollator can be held in its position at any time.

Many rollators have baskets and even small seats built into their frames, so they can be used for more than just walking around the house or garden. Most will fold-up or break down for easy transportation.

Sauna heaters for the home

Following on from the last post here is a bit more information about the different types of heaters and stoves that can be selected to generate the sauna’s heat.
Firstly, saunas require a hot dry low humidity heat. This means that the kind of dry heat produced by a naked flame or fossil fuels is best, however this is rarely practical in a home environment. The safe and clean alternatives are an electric stove or an infrared powered heater.

Stoves

Most heaters for sauna kits and home based saunas use an electric stove. This kind of heat has a hot plate that is heated to a very high temperature and rocks (known as hot rocks) are place on this heated plate. The result is that the rocks fill the room with a hot dry heat that would not be bearable if humidity were introduced.

This kind of stove is clean and energy efficient to run and it requires no special flu or ventilation. The only necessity is an electric supply. It is easy to clean and different power outputs of stove will work with different room sizes.

Infrared heaters

Infrared heaters work in a totally different way. The heater does not warm the air or generate any convection heat at all. Instead it uses a mild and healthy form of radiation that heats up any object that its rays fall upon. This means that by having infrared heaters directed towards the benches where the participants sit it is possible to make the sauna goers feel hot in the same way that direct sunlight makes the skin feel warm.

An added bonus of this form of heating is the low running costs and immediate effect once the heaters are switched on. The sauna room will also remain at a normal temperature even when the heaters are all on.

Saunas

15 years ago, anyone wishing to enjoy a sauna had to visit a club, Spa, or leisure centre. Home saunas were new and very expensive. Today though, a home sauna is affordable and practical. There are different stoves and heaters and they are very affordable provided that you have the room to fit one.

In other parts of the world you can buy a sauna kit that takes the form of a material component sauna kit, or a prefabricated sauna kit with walls and a roof. Both types can be fitted into a room, or built into an outbuilding, loft or cellar. These kits are flexible and easy to assemble and adapt to any space. You can buy them off the internet or from shops and stores.

The cheapest and most popular sauna kit is called a “material component kit” and it is made up of timbers that are cut to size. These components are then trimmed and they fit to the walls, ceiling and floor. Kits of this type include everything required to assemble the sauna plus a stove or infrared heater.

It is necessary to have some wood working or DIY skills to undertake a sauna building project, but the self-build tasks are simple ones.

An alternative to stove heaters are the new infrared heaters. These are low energy (cheap to run) heaters and they use infrared rays to heat up the skin.

Sauna material kits can be built in two or three days. Prefabricated saunas can take little more than a couple of hours to put together. Both need a power supply, but ventilation is rarely necessary.

The cost of a sauna kit will vary depending on its area, number of seats and type of heater (or heaters). Enhance the sauna with features like bench backrests, towel rails and lighting etc will add to the cost.

Custom made mobility aids

Most mobility aids are perceived as equipment like scooters, bath rails and other apparatus that take away the need for, or assist in the achievement of, some form of activity. This is not however always the case and a good example is that of footwear.

Although the modern world has seen many advances and the cost of many products reduce, it has also seen a reduction in the quality and build of those same products and shoes are but one example.

Most people have two feet of different sizes and poor fitting shoes actually accentuate those difference by leaving one foot loose and the other overly tight. This can result in injuries, abrasions and long term changes in the shape of the feet.

The way to overcome this is to have shoes that are purpose and custom made, i.e. handmade shoes based on the size and shape of the individual feet. Naturally this is not a cheap option, however it ensures that the shoes have a perfect fit and in the case of people who experience pain or discomfort with their feet, they can be a God send.

Handmade shoes rely on the experience and expertise of a craftsman to assess and measure the recipients feet and than mark out and cut the fabrics and materials from which the footwear will be made. All of this is a time intensive process that costs money, but the result is a pair of shoes that will be a perfect fit.

This approach to getting shoes is most beneficial to anyone with foot problems that affect their mobility – either as a result of pain or affecting the way that the feet and legs can work.

These custom shoes can have special areas of padding, include extra targeted areas of support, and they can be built for walking or general comfort.

If you have a long term foot related problem it will be advisable to seek medical advice on the options for treatment and orthotic solutions.

Supports for injuries

In line with many other technical and medical innovations the way in which injuries are now treated has changed dramatically over the last 20 or so years.

At that time bandages, casts and heavy metal braces were used for bone, joint and ligament treatments and they were uncomfortable, itchy, impossible to adjust and did nothing to help mobility and the carrying on of day to day life.

Things are now very different and a new generation of limb and body supports make rehabilitation a much less unpleasant and inconvenient process. Many injuries are treated with special elastic sleeves like those used for hamstring strains, whilst more serious joint and ligament damage can see these flexible sleeves supplemented with frames and hinges that can help or limit the movement of a knee or wrist.

Modern lightweight, antibacterial, washable, heat retentive and elasticized fabrics are used for most of the “sleeve like” supports that are intended for arm and leg rehabilitation. These sleeves can be easily put on or removed and most have easy-to-use hook and loop adjustable straps to let the wearer vary the pressure and tension.

Most of these supports work by using what is seen as mild compression against the injury or painful area and this kind of support can work for ailments like tennis player’s elbow. Joints and muscles also get an advantage from this kind of support and the heat that these sleeves retain in the limbs improves circulation which encourages recovery and repair of the damaged area.

Prices of these supports are also very affordable and this makes them an economic as well as a good medical option.

Different types of bed

Although most discussions about beds tend to focus on the mattress and the material that it is made from, i.e. memory foam, springs etc, the primary buying concern for many people is the type of bed.

In the same way that there are many different types of mattress construction, there is an equally, if not greater, number of bed frames.

These frames range from divan style beds to temporary futons and everything in between. What you want will depend on the use that you have for it.

If you want a bed for a main bedroom you may want a divan that offers extra storage, or you may opt for some kind of bed frame where you buy the mattress separately. When this is the case there is a pretty wide choice of alternatives.

Frames can be made from wood, metal or some of the polyurethane/plastic hybrid materials that are strong and easy to clean. Equally, they can be cheap and cheerful or expensive and of a high build quality.

A simple frame may be tubular and largely covered by bedding. More expensive frames can be based around different styles like the four poster, the French or the Sleigh style. In these cases the frame become a design feature of the bed and the room in which it is located.

The other bed type is the futon or sofa bed. In reality these should be two distinctly different bed constructions, however the names are often (and incorrectly) interchanged.

Both these beds types are intended for use during the night and storing or converting during the day. The original futon was just a mattress that folded up, but modern version (and sofa beds) have a metamorphosis that sees them become a chair or sofa during the day.

To find out more us e the link included earlier.

Health beds

Very few people give a whole lot of thought to their mattress or bed, but in actual fact these items of furniture are amongst the most important products that we will ever buy.

A good bed can last for between 10 and 15 years and during that period most people will average spending about 8 hours per day lying on it. This means that a mattress is pretty important to our health and well being.

There are many different types of mattress filling and they vary from coiled springs, which have been around for many years, to slow recovery foams. You can discover more about these fillers and how they work else where, but for now here is a summary that gives a basic explanation.

Most mattresses that have been based on springs provide a bouncy springy support that can be very hard, very soft, or anywhere in between. Many thought that the firmer mattress was better for the body and that it helped the back, but ideas change.

These days some new mattress fillers in the form of special foams have become the norm. These foams and mainly one called visco elastic memory foam have revolutionised the bedding industry.

Memory foam is what is frequently described as “a slow recovery” foam. This means that, rather than springing back to its original flat profile when someone gets off a bed, the foam slowly (almost in slow motion) springs back up to its original flat outline.

This may seem odd, but it means that a mattress made from this material wraps around anyone on it and does not spring, oscillate or bounce when they move their sleeping position.

This means that a second person sleeping in the bed will not be disturbed and it also means that the upwards pressure to spring back to its original shape is less than a mattress made from regular springs. All told this makes for a very different sleeping experience and one that many sleep experts consider superior to other forms of bed.

Which type of bed or mattress will suit you is of course down to your preferences. Some people like hard beds, some like soft beds and in the same way some people will be partial to a memory foam bed and other will not. To find out more you can go to a local bed store and try out some of their widely varying beds.

Healthy lifestyle – taking a sauna

There are many different ways of enjoying a healthy lifestyle and one of them is to do something that detoxifies the skin and gives the body an opportunity to sweat profusely.

When it comes to doing these things, taking a sauna is as good a way as any and it is one of the few environments where sweating is seen as desirable and healthy rather than something less pleasant.

Most saunas use a dry heat that means that the sauna room has low humidity which makes sweating easy. It if of course possible to have a damp sauna room by throwing water on the sauna’s hot rocks (that sit on the stove or heater) for those who want high humidity. This however is not the norm when it comes to relaxing in a sauna room.

The ideal way to take a sauna is to do it in a number of short 15 to 30 minute sessions, each followed by a period of cooling off. Some people like to dip in a cold pool or bath between sessions and the Fins will happily roll around and immerse themselves in snow if the weather allows.

You can discover all that there is to know about saunas and how to get the best from them by taking a look at sauna-kits.net and you can easily build a small compact home sauna from one of the many DIY based kits that are readily available.

Alternatively, many health centres and health clubs are equipped with sauna rooms and, although they do not offer too much privacy, they are more than adequate.

Steam showers can be an alternative to saunas, however they rely on high humidity and a wet environment to do the detoxifying job.

Products for those with mobility limitations

In the last post I discussed some of the provisions that can be made for different level access using ramps and lifts and how these aids can be temporary or permanent.

This time I am going to give a quick review of some of the different products that can help, assist and enhance the life quality of anyone with reduced mobility.

Firstly, in bathrooms there are a number of aids that can make life easier and they start with bath lifts that can have swivel chairs and be controlled by motor, hydraulics or inflatable seat pads. Toilets can be height adjustable or have a motorised lifting and lowering seat. The can even include self-cleansing systems. Then there are numerous rails, bars, cushions and pads which make the bathroom safer.

Mobility scooters and wheelchairs are a big mobility area that between them have revolutionized those with limited mobility’s ability to get around.

Wheelchairs can be manually or electrically powered and scooters come in a range of designs that have 3, 4 or 5 wheeled versions. They can be for pavement only use, or suitable for roads and highways. These scooter have many optional extras that include features like lights, luxury seats and storage compartments.

Mobility within the home can be eased with a stairlift. For many older people, or those who have trouble getting up stairs, reduced mobility can force a home move. However with a stair lift or a perch lift (the standing up alternative) a two storey property can be easily negotiated with safety and comfort. Modern stairlifts can navigate bends and turns and they do not obstruct the stairs when not in use.

Finally ramps provide access in and out of buildings and vehicles for those using wheeled personal transport. Ramps can be an easier option than a stair for those who are unstable on their feet and they can be fixed or portable for extra flexibility.

Ramps and access for wheelchairs and mobility vehicles

With more and more people using different types of mobility vehicles like scooters, gaining access to buildings and different levels is a critical requirement in most western countries. So much so that regulations and strict controls now govern and specify access requirements to which new developments have to comply.

A large part of disability access relates to ramps and lifts and as a result of this there are many different permanent and temporary solutions available. These solutions range from ramps that are permanent constructions and create threshold access to buildings, to lightweight folding ramps that can be attached to the tailgate of vehicles.

Here are some examples.

Most permanent ramps are constructed of concrete, but the temporary or short term options are far more interesting.

Today many ramps need to be portable and this requires them to be light and either demountable or folding.

This has resulted in a number of clever solutions that see ramps that have a telescopic opening and closing action and even ramps that fold down into an attaché case like carrying box.

Many ramps can cater for different heights and lengths and, whilst some are of an adequate width for a wheelchair, others have two separate tracks that are set up at their point of use.

These ramps are made of many different materials from aluminium to high strength lightweight plastics and all can be set-up or dismantled in a matter of minutes. Many will even fold down to a size that allows them to be carried on trains and buses or easily stored in the boot of a car.

Quick summary

This blog will be an ongoing resource linking to other sites that cover the subjects described in each new post.

So far the areas that have been included cover subjects like wheelchair and mobility scooters in all of their forms (e.g. sports versions, 3, 4 and 5 wheeled versions etc).

Bathroom aids, stairlifts and perch lifts have also been covered and access ramps are on the way.

Numerous aspects of health and some more unusual subjects like breathable clothing have been touched on too.

Sports wheelchairs, e.g. basketball

A few years ago the expression “disabled” started to become politically incorrect. For one thing, many people who were categorized under this heading did not like it and for another, many felt that they were “able” to do everything that an “able bodied” person could do.

On the face of it the last statement seems slightly optimistic, however with adaptations, changes in rules, and Hi-Tec equipment, even someone in a wheelchair can play just about any sport.

30 years ago wheelchairs were nearly all the same, the only defining difference was that some were motorized. But things have changed.

Today you can buy not only sports wheelchairs, but wheelchairs dedicated to specific sports like basketball or tennis. These wheelchairs have strong yet lightweight designs, incredible dexterity and manoeuvrability and they have features that make them purpose designed for a specialised sporting application.

One of the best examples of a wheelchair sport is also the oldest, i.e. basketball.

Wheelchair basketball has actually become a separate sport in its own right and it is even played (in wheelchairs) by able bodied teams. The wheelchairs are light, very strong and have leg and front body guards that wrap around the lower front section of the frame. Their rear wheels slope outwards from top to bottom to provide extra stability, and they will have one or two extra castor wheels at the back of the frame to prevent the wheelchair from falling over backwards during sudden acceleration.

This sport has been played for several decades and it remains the most popular attraction at the Paralympics and other international sporting events. Wheelchair basketball also has its own set of rules that make it very different from normal basketball. For one thing direct contact is allowed and impacts, crashes and injuries are common.

Bathroom help - useful aids

As we get older using the bathroom and the various items of furniture within it can become more and more of a problem.

Stepping in and out of a bath, standing for several minutes in a shower, leaning over a wash basin and using a toilet can all be taxing and physically demanding activities.

These same tasks can be a difficult for anyone with a physical disability or anyone who has a large build.

In short, the bathroom can easily become something akin to an obstacle course for someone without the benefit of youth and good health.

Solutions

Despite what may appear to be the bleak picture painted above, a bathroom can easily be made less of a challenge by adding numerous aids and modifications, all of which make its functional furniture easier to use. For further information about these aids continue reading below.

Here are some examples of the bathroom modifications that can be made.

Walk in baths are one of the most useful items for anyone finding the process of getting into a bath a problem. They have a side door that opens to a leave a step over ledge that is only a few inches above the floor level. These baths have to be filled when the bather is in the bath, however they have fast fill and fast drain systems to speed things up.

Chairs, seats, stools, rails and steps are excellent additions to a standard bathroom that need not cost the earth, but that can make a bathroom easier to negotiate. Rails can be positioned at strategic points around the bathroom, inside showers and adjacent to toilets and wash basins, whilst seats can enable showering and washing to be done whilst sat down.

Steps can be an aid in getting into a high base level shower and grab rails can be fixed either side of a toilet and next to a bath.

As well as standard seating, a seat can be a part of another item of bathroom furniture.

Two good examples are lift-seats for toilets, where the seat can be raised or lowered by remote control using an electric motor, and a bath seat. Bath seats (also known as bath lifts) can enable someone to sit down on the seat on the bathroom side of the bath, then swivel so that they are above the bath, before being lowered down into the bath. The reverse motion allows them to leave the bath, and all powered by an electric motor. A cradle device can fulfil the same function.
Cushions along with protective and impact absorbing floor surfaces can all have their place inside a bathroom. All can add comfort, or protect against serious injury in the event of a fall. They also add a sense of security and confidence to the mind of the person using this important room.

For anyone looking at a completely new bathroom fit-out for a mobility restricted person, options can include a shower toilet that provide a hygienic washing system and even body driers that blow jets of warm dry air as a substitute for a towel.

Commodes may be able to offer a solution when it becomes necessary to bring the toilet to the individual and not the other way around. These may sound unpleasant, but modern commodes are hygienic, easy to empty and easy to clean. Some will even double as shower chairs which makes them a practical solution for two different challenges.

Thoughts on orthopedic products for the New Year

Now is the perfect time to think about buying an orthopedic “life enhancing” product – and they come in all manner of shapes, forms and sizes.

Christmas is now out of the way and the excesses of the season have left many people overweight and out of shape. This means that now is an ideal time to buy something like a body contouring mattress, a pair of orthopedic shoes or a rise and recline chair. Your body will appreciate this kind of product and it will also make getting back into shape easier.

At the beginning of any new year the sales are on and it is easy to get good deals and special offers on many lifestyle products including mattresses, beds, chairs and shoes.

More reasons to think orthopedic!

Every new year means being one year old than at the same time the previous year and this means that the body requires more care, more support and more consideration. Getting older is one of the sad realities of life, but there is a lot that most of us can do to help the body fight this aging process.

Good posture, a healthy lifestyle and sensible eating are just some of the factors that can prevent aging from affecting mobility and activity levels and these can be supported by ensuring that walking, sitting and sleeping postures are as healthy as possible. Orthopedic chairs, beds and shoes can all help attain these goals.

Mobility devices like stair lifts and scooters can also make life easier without having a direct relationship with reduced mobility or disability. Many older people use mobility scooters to travel to shops and retail complexes, but then leave the chair in order to walk around the store.

The same can be true of chair lifts. More home accidents occur on the stairs than just about any other domestic room, so using a chair lift can be seen as a safety precaution every bit as much as it can seen as mobility device.