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When we opened our first store in 1985 our goal was to provide customers with footwear that provided health and comfort.
Today we continue that philosophy by selecting footwear which promotes a more healthy and comfortable lifestyle.
We also strive to select manufacturers who have active environmental awareness programs.

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HFP Foot Facts -- Foot Ailments

Plantar Fasciitis - pain in the bottom of the heel and arch
- Source: American Podiatric Medical Association (www.apma.org) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Possible Causes
  
  - Improper footwear
  
  - Weight gain
  
  - Bony overgrowth of the heel bone
  
  - Muscle imbalance
  
  - High or low arched foot
  
  - Excessive activity
  
  - Trauma
  
  - Stretching and inflammation of fascia on bottom of foot
  
  - Tightness of the muscles on the back of the leg
  
  Precautions
  
  - Warm up and stretch properly before exercise
  
  - Exercise and stretch daily
  
  Recommendations
  
  - Do not walk barefoot or in backless shoes
  
  - Wear shoes that have a strong, supportive arch and firm heel
  
  - Finn Comfort and Birkenstock offer the best support system
  
  - Kenkoh massage sandals may help reduce the pain and speed recovery time
Blisters - a painful, fluid-filled lesion
- Source: American Podiatric Medical Association (www.apma.org) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Possible Causes
  
  - Ill fitting shoes
  
  - Stiff shoes
  
  - Wrinkled socks against the skin
  
  - Excessive moisture
  
  - Foot deformities
  
  Precautions
  
  - Keep feet dry
  
  - Always wear socks a a cushion between feet and shoes
  
  - Wear proper fitting shoes
  
  - Do not pop blister, carefully open a corner of the blister closest to the bottom of foot with sterilized utensil like sewing needle, drain, apply antibiotic and cover with bandage immediately
  
  - Treat a mild blister with soap and water; cover with antiseptic ointment and protective dressing
  
  - Check blister regularly to ensure it doesn't get infected
Shin splints - pain in the lower leg
- Source: American Podiatric Medical Association (www.apma.org) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Possible Causes
  
  - Increasing distance, inclination, or walking time to fast
  
  - Over pronation
  
  Precautions
  
  - Rest, ice, and massage the lower leg at first sign of pain
  
  Recommendations
  
  - Try over the counter arch supports
  
  - Kenkoh massage sandals may help reduce the pain and speed recovery time
Tendoniitis - pain along a tendon or the back, front or sides of ankles
- Source: American Podiatric Medical Association (www.apma.org) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Possible Causes
  
  - Increasing distance, activity, walking time
  
  - Overuse
  
  - Wearing worn out or improperly fitted shoes
  
  - Walking on hills or inclination
  
  Precautions
  
  - Rest
  
  - Ice
  
  Recommendations
  
  - Try over the counter arch supports such as the Birkenstock Blue Footbeds
  
  - Kenkoh massage sandals may help reduce the pain and speed recovery time
Bunions - big toe points toward second toe causing bump on edge of foot
- Source: UCLA Health System (www.uclahealth.org) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Possible Cause
  
  Often caused by narrow-toed, high-heeled shoes. These compress the big toe and push it toward the second toe. Occur more frequently in women and sometimes run in families.
  
  Symptoms
  
  - Red, calloused skin along the foot at the base of the big toe
  
  - A bony bump at this site
  
  - Pain over the joint, aggravated by pressure from shoes
  
  - Big toe turned toward the other toes
  
  Treatment
  
  When a bunion first begins to develop, take good care of your feet and wear wide-toed shoes. This often solves the problem and prevents the need for any further treatment. It may help to wear felt or foam pads on the foot to protect the bunion, or devices to separate the first and second toes at night. These are available at drugstores. You can also try cutting a hole in a pair of old, comfortable shoes to wear around the house.
  
  Recommendations
  
  - Finn Comfort, Birkenstock, and Think! footwear offer nice wide toe boxes with superior support and comfort
  
  - Kenkoh massage sandals may help with tiredness and/or pain
Hammer toe - deformity of the toe, in which the end of the toe is bent downward
- Source: UCLA Health System (www.uclahealth.org) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Possible Causes
  
  Usually affects the second toe, although it may also affect the other toes. The toe assumes a claw-like position. The condition may occur as a result of pressure from a bunion. A corn on the top of a toe and a callus on the sole of the foot develop, which makes walking painful.
  
  The condition may be congenital (present at birth) or acquired by wearing short, narrow shoes. The condition also occurs in children who continue to wear shoes they have outgrown.
  
  Treatment
  
  Mild hammer toe in children can be treated with foot manipulation and splinting the affected toe. Properly-sized footwear or wide toe-box shoes usually provide comfort and can reduce aggravation of hammer toes. The protruding joint can be protected with corn pads or felt pads, corrective footwear, or other foot devices. Exercises may be helpful.
  
  Positive results have been seen with a combination of wearing Finn Comfort or Birkenstock footwear and Kenkoh massage sandals. Finn Comfort and Birkenstock footwear promotes the proper gripping of the toes, and the Kenkoh massage sandals relaxes the affected area and improves blood flow.
Flat feet
- Source: Mens Health magazine (www.menshealth.com) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Symptoms
  
  - Pain after long periods of standing.
  
  - Difficulty standing on the tiptoes of the affected foot.
  
  - Foot aches, particularly in the heel or arch area, and may have swelling along the inner side.
  
  - Lower-back pain may accompany these foot symptoms.
  
  Causes
  
  Heredity and severe cases of diabetes, arthritis, or injury to muscles and tendons of the foot.
  
  Recommendations
  
  Wear footwear like Finn Comfort or Birkenstock with "soft" footbeds to provide support. Also, wearing Kenkoh massage sandals may help to restore circulation and nerve function to the foot, which may assist in alleviating the tiredness and pain.
High arch
- Source: Mens Health magazine (www.menshealth.com) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Symptoms
  
  - Rigid, bony foot that is hard to fit into shoes.
  
  - You are prone to ankle sprains or twisted ankles.
  
  - May experience generalized pain in the following areas: under the ball of the foot, the top of the instep, and your heel area.
  
  Causes
  
  Heredity.
  
  Treatment
  
  - Wear shoes with a deep toe box that provide lots of cushioning and support.
  
  - Avoid very rigid shoes.
  
  Recommendations
  
  - Orthotics may help some people.
  
  - Wearing Finn Comfort or Birkenstock footwear with their superior support systems may allow the foot to relax.
  
  - It's always helpful to wear Kenkoh massage sandals for relaxation as well.
Morton's neuromas - thickening of nerve tissue between third and fourth toes
- Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine & National Institute of Health (www.nlm.nih.gov) and Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Causes
  
  Morton's neuroma is more common in women than men.
  
  Experts believe the following may play a role in the development of this condition:
  
  - Lack of metatarsal support
  
  - Tight shoes and high heels
  
  - Abnormal positioning of toes
  
  - Flat feet
  
  - Forefoot problems, including bunions and hammer toes
  
  - High foot arches
  
  Symptoms
  
  - Tingling in the space between the third and fourth toes
  
  - Toe cramping
  
  - Sharp, shooting, or burning pains in the ball of your foot (and sometimes toes)
  
  - Pain that increases when wearing shoes or pressing on the area
  
  - Pain that gets worse over time
  
  Treatment
  
  - Padding and taping the toe area
  
  - Physical therapy
  
  Recommendations
  
  - Only wear footwear with metatarsal support. Our top brands are Finn Comfort, Think!, Mephisto, and Birkenstock.
  
  - Orthotics that have metatarsal support, such as Birkenstock Blue Footbeds, can be worn with shoes which have toe boxes wide enough to allow your feet to move freely.
  
  - Kenkoh massage sandals may be used - sparingly, at first - to deal with the pain and to assist in promoting pain relief.
Metatarsalgia - painful inflammatory condition in metatarsal region
- Source: Happy Feet Plus footwear professionals
  
  Symptoms
  
  - Often described as "walking with a pebble in my shoe"
  
  - Calluses may be present under the ball of the foot (metatarsal head)
  
  Possible Causes
  
  - Imbalance between the outside and inside arches of the foot
  
  - Excessive pressure on the ball of the foot over a long period of time
  
  - Improper fitting footwear such as women's dress shoes or other restrictive footwear, footwear with narrow toe box, shoes with elevated heels
  
  - Participating in high impact activities without proper footwear or arch support
  
  - Thinning of pad pad in foot due to aging
  
  - Osteoarthritis
  
  Prevention & Treatment
  
  - Footwear with higher, wider toe box
  
  - Footwear with deeper heel cup, pronounced metatarsal support
  
  - Avoid standing for long periods on hard surfaces
  
  - Gently stretch Achilles tendon and calf muscles