The Background Of Shoe Inserts

Shoe inserts can be prescribed by orthopedic doctors for different reasons. These reason may include, but are not limited to: foot pain, joint pain, daily comfort, injuries, athletic strains, and much more. It’s possible for these shoe inserts to even contain support for ailing arches.

The Purpose And Production Of Shoe Inserts

There is one main goal that runs parallel with the purpose of using shoe inserts: correcting lower limb problems and issues. Shoe inserts are basically used to assist with re-aligning the foot into the right position.

The production of shoe inserts has changed quite incredibly over the years. When first produced, the process of creating a shoe insert began with plaster. Plaster casts were made from a particular patient’s foot with plaster strips. These strips were wrapped around a patient’s foot for accurate fitting purposes, and then left to dry and harden. After hardening took place, the doctor would send mold and a prescription to an orthotics lab to create a shoe insert.

But now, times have changed. Specific companies that include, but are not limited to Delcam and Tom-Cat now have digital foot scanners to create a virtual cast. After a 3D model is created, it is then sent to the same type of lap to produce a shoe insert.

The Different Opinions Of Shoe Inserts

Runners and those who exercise on a regular basis are use to foot pain, and may eventually search for some sort of assistance i.e. shoe inserts. It’s been said that custom inserts will not only make your foot feel more comfortable, but will actually aide in placing the foot where it should be while you’re walking, running, etc.

As it’s noted that these inserts could potentially make your feet stronger, it’s not surprise that custom prescriptions are becoming overly popular. These prescriptions are mostly coming from podiatrists, with sales rising twelve percent annually within the past five years.

Athletes are noted as being the reason in the recent boom of the shoe insert, but it seems that some believe the inserts actually work against you. For instances, it’s been stated by one runner that knee strain only increased after he used custom-made shoe inserts. What’s the explanation behind this? It’s believed that his knee injury occurred due to the fact that there was limited shock absorption in his Achilles tendon.

Whether you’re an athlete, a runner, a walker, or someone who just has foot pain in general, you may wish to explore the idea of shoe inserts. With any new or aging product, the same logic applies: different results with occur with different patients. However, it will be smart to get a professionals opinion i.e. a podiatrist’s before making any expensive decisions.

Michaels Jordan’s Beginning, Before Acting

Michael Jordan, now fifty years old, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Universally known by just his initials—MJ—he his noted as being the world’s greatest basketball player of all time. He began his basketball career at the University of North Carolina, before joining the NBA and playing for the Chicago Bulls in 1984.

Jordan officially retired from the Chicago Bulls (for the second time) in 1999, but then returned to basketball in 2001. This time, he was part of the Washington Wizards and played with them for two years.

Other Career Interests

Michael Jordan is no stranger to the entertainment business. First an athlete—basketball, and then a small stint as a baseball player—Michael has also been involved in several endorsements deals, iconic commercials, and film.

He starred in the 1996 feature film Space Jam as himself, is noted for the popular success of Nike’s Air Jordan tennis shoes, and has starred in dozens of commercials for different business including, but not limited to: Hanes, McDonalds, Ball Park hot dogs, Coke, and more. Let’s take a look at a few of these iconic commercials.

The Commercials

• Hanes

A popular commercial starring Michael Jordan is the Hanes commercial; however, there has been more than just one. Still airing today, Michael can be seen in several different commercials endorsing the famous underwear. Most of these commercials have different men showing Michael their underwear, proving that they are in fact wearing Hanes. A recent spot has Michael sitting on an airplane, while another passenger details the flexibility of the Hanes underwear.

• McDonalds

Michael has been seen in several different McDonalds’ commercials over the years, as well. One particular commercial doesn’t actually star Michael, but does have two of his co-stars from Space Jam playing basketball against two other pros—Sylvester and the Tasmanian Devil. This commercial endorses Michael’s own burger meal—Michael Jordan’s McBacon Deluxe. Taking place in the 90’s, this meal was only available for a limited amount of time.

• Coke

In one of his older commercials, Michael endorses Coke. The commercial is quite comical and plays on his abilities as an athlete. This commercial shows Michael using a six-pack of Coke as if it were a basketball. He wraps the cans around his back, as if performing a basketball trip, before slam-dunking the Coke cans into a tree house full of kids.

Ball Park Hot Dogs

Another earlier commercial in his career, Michael has endorsed Ball Park hot dogs. Again, this commercial plays on the athlete’s abilities as a basketball star. Taking place on an actual court and during a game, Michael can be seen doing his famous slam-dunk jump routine in order to catch a hot dog.
Famous for many different attributes, Michael Jordan is clearly a household name and an icon. Though he made his start and name as a basketball player, it’s interesting to know that younger audiences may recognize him from his numerous and popular commercials. Many of these commercials can still be seen today, whether on TV or the Internet.

Flatforms do exactly what the portmanteau suggests: they are platform shoes which are also flat. A trend back in the eighties (think Bowie), they have raced back into fashion in the past few years (especially for women) and are now an eclectic fashion piece. Flatforms however are like marmite: some hate them and some love them, but an even bigger proportion just don’t know what to think about them. If that last one is you, then here is our simple pro/con guide to help you figure out whether for you, flatforms are fashion genius or a fashion nightmare.

Pro: They're just as comfortable as flats

Never again will you be nursing your bunions at the end of the day, as flatforms are pretty much as comfortable as any other flat pair of shoes. While they can feel a like awkward at first, once you are used to wearing them they are just as easy to wear as ballet flats or Oxfords. Flatforms are great because they give you all the benefits of heels without any of the pain—because let’s face it, even wedges can hurt after a little while. Flatforms however will feel as good on hour one as they do on hour twelve. What more can you ask for?

Con: The can be a little... ugly

While a good designer can make flatforms appealing, many flatforms are just plain... ugly. In a race to be on trend, many stores have turned out flatforms that are anything but trendy and highlight all the worst aspects about this sometimes clumsy shoe. Therefore finding a pair of flatforms that makes the awkwardness of their design work can be a little bit of a challenge.

Pro: They're on trend

Flatforms are currently back in fashion for women, and work well with the coming summer trend of maxi skirts. Their eclectic and slightly strange styling works well with the Urban Outfitters crowd, and they will certainly add something different to your outfit. For men, flatforms are probably the preserve of only the most brave or flamboyant. If you want to give them a try however, don’t let others stop you!

Con: It's a long way to fall

Flatforms feel quite strange to wear at first, and until you perfect walking in them you may be at risk of tumbling over. If you fall in flatforms, it's pretty easy to wrench your ankles horribly because of the strange angle as which they will probably hit the ground. To avert this, try wear flatforms made from light materials. Most of the oddness that one feels when wearing flatforms comes from feeling like you have weights attached to your feet, so make sure you opt for a feather-light pair. It's the best way to make sure you don't end up unfashionably falling head over flatforms.

The verdict?

Flatforms can certainly be a winner, but it all depends on individual styling. Flatforms can look awkward and ugly just as often as they look edgy and wild: it all depends on how you wear them. So think carefully before buying a pair and make sure you invest in flatforms that are stylish as well as comfy!

They’re clunky

Nobody could ordain to call Litas sleek and unassuming: they are statement shoes whose presence cannot be overlooked. For some, that makes them an appealing fashion accessory as they add drama to otherwise plain ensembles. To other however, Litas simply look like massive centaur hooves which unnecessarily detract from otherwise good outfits. As a Frankenstein hybrid of an ankle boot, platform and traditional heel, Litas don’t really fit into any particular category of shoes.

They’re adaptable

The large surface area of the Litas makes them a perfect canvas on which to paint, with a multitude of different patterns and designs having become available since the shoe debuted in block mustard yellow. From sequins to stars and stripes, Litas come in hundreds of different colours and patterns which range from subtle to gaudy. Many Lita haters don’t have much against the design of the boot itself, rather the ostentatious patterns which the shoes can come in.

They’re comfy

Many Lita lovers praise the boots specifically because they are relatively comfy for a pair of high heels due to the high platform on the boots. While the heel reaches up to a towering 5.25 inches, the strain on the foot lessened by the unusually high 2-inch platform which softens the angle at which the foot rests. This means that Litas are good to wear all day everyday: a great thing for their lovers and a disastrous thing for their haters.

They’re social media friendly

Sidell’s main gripe with Litas is that they have become a hit with the most hipster of social media crowds possible: Instagrammers. The dramatic, gargantuan nature of the shoe makes them well-suited to photographing, and trendy young things of every inclination have been snapping pictures of themselves in their Litas over the past three years. While this trend is annoying to say the least (it is conformist, not unique), one should not judge a pair of shoes by those who choose to wear them. Litas may be beloved by the Urban Outfitters crowd, but that is not to say that they cannot be appreciated by other people too.

They’re not going away

Lita haters need to face facts: it has been 3 years since Litas first appeared on the fashion scene and they aren’t going away. In fact, Sidell’s article proves that Litas have actually achieved a degree of longevity and legitimacy in the fashion world. With that in mind, one has to disagree with the proposition that they are the world’s ugliest shoes. Sure, Litas do not conform to traditional aesthetics but that makes them dramatic as opposed to ugly. As with most things in life, it is all about moderation. Litas are loud by nature, so there is no need to add an ostentatious pattern on top to make them scream even louder. That is when they cross the line from chic to hideous.

Get your shoes professionally sized

The first step to successfully shopping online actually starts on the high street. Go into a normal shoe shop and get them to measure your feet and give you your shoe specifications. That doesn’t just mean size: make sure you find out about the size of your instep and arch, plus the width of your foot. Knowing everything there is to know about your feet is a good place to start and it means you will be able to chose shoes with supplied measurements more carefully.

If You Know Your Brand, Stick To It

If you know a size 8 in a certain shoe fits you like a glove, then it is usually a safe bet that a size 8 in that brand of shoe will also be a great fit. Certain shoes or brands have standardised measurements that mean all their shoes run true to a particular size, so if you already own a pair then you can be much more secure about buying them online as on the whole they are more likely to fit as your imagine. While this is not always true, especially when not comparing like for like (boots to ballet flats for example), as a general rule it is something that can help you out while shoe shopping.

Make sure you read the product description and size guides

Most shoe websites will provide a size guide if their sizing deviates from the standard or to compare US/UK/EU shoe sizings. It is worth checking out the size guide before buying to ensure that there is no information you need in there. Also pay particular attention to the product description: online stores will often mention the measurements of shoes or mention if they run small/large for their size.

If they don’t fit, actually send them back.

If worst comes to worst and you order a pair of shoes that don’t fit, make sure you send them back. Many people out of sheer laziness wear ill-fitting shoes that cause a host of problems later on, instead of just switching to a more comfortable pair. Sending shoes back can be a hassle, so make sure you check out the returns policy before you buy anything. Certain online stores make it easier than others to return items, and many will even reimburse you for shipping so that you don’t end up out of pocket.

Don’t be afraid to try them on in-store and then buy them cheaper online

Many stores have different sales periods for their online operations than they do for their brick-and-mortar shop, meaning that sometimes a shoe can be cheaper online than it is to buy in-store. If so, the best course of action is probably to go and try it on to find the best fit and then go home and buy it cheaper. That way you get the best of both worlds: a shoe you know fits and a shoe that is a steal!

Seasonal switch-up

Summer is a precarious time for feet because winter shoes tend to have better support than their summer counterparts. Snow boots and lace-up shoes are often well-built, with ankle and arch support which makes them comfy and healthy to boot. However when the summer rolls around, people tend to wear shoes without any support at all—which can cause serious damage in the long run. What may look like a perfectly nice pair of ballet flats might actually be something which causes serious harm to your health.

The worst possible scenario for feet is unseasonably warm weather: if you suddenly switch from wearing boots everyday to wearing flip-flops, you can do your feet real damage. Your muscles are like elastic, if you do not stretch them over a long period of time then they become slack and hard to stretch. Suddenly changing shoes means forcing your muscles to suddenly change the position they’ve been in for months. This can cause stress and damage to both your achilles tendon and your plantar fascia. In a slightly ironic twist, those that have flat feet have particular problems with flat shoes because they often do not have the necessary orthopaedic support for their particular feet problems.

Wearing out your shoes

Another problem with flat shoes is that constantly wearing them can be bad for all different types of health issues. Wear gladiator sandals all summer long and you are likely to end up not just with sore feet but also with back pain and sore knees. Why? Well this happens because flat shoes like sandals or ballet flats provide almost no support and therefore are not forgiven by your arches and ankles. Furthermore, sandals (especially well-worn pairs) in particular encourage people to shuffle instead of taking distinct steps—which is terrible for both your knees and your back.

The verdict?

Wearing any type of shoe exclusively for a long period of time is bad for your feet: your muscles need variation to keep them in top shape. Therefore you should mix in flat shoes, heels, boots and trainers to make sure your feet and especially the muscles in your feet are in great shape. As for flats, you should try and make sure that the flats you wear have at least some sole, arch and ankle support. Wearing a pair of crazy heels or flimsy sandals is okay now and again, just make sure you don’t wear the same pair over and over again.

For many anthropometric historians, the secrets of human history can be garnered from measuring bones or looking at records of the height of 17th century soldiers: in these small data points they can extrapolate everything from the health to the height to even the climate of people from centuries ago.

Yet the greatest mystery for anthropometric historians today is why some parts of the world of ‘growing’ while others are stagnant or even shrinking. ‘The American anomaly’ is the true puzzle: while Americans were once the tallest people on earth, their growth has stagnated in the past few decades. In the same century that the Dutch have grown 7 inches, American men have only grown half an inch and American women have actually shrunk by a third of an inch. So what is it about genetics and geography that causes people from different places to be of different heights?

The Science of Height: When we Grow, What We Wat and How We Live

Height is a combination of genetic and environmental factors, which over time compound to create different average heights in different societies. While you are likely to be tall if your parents are too, environmental factors can make a massive difference in little more than a generation. Humans have 3 distinct phases were growth can be altered: in infancy, in pre-pubescence and in the mid-teens. Any form of ill-health or malnutrition in these phases can adversely impact height, which is probably why North Koreans are now 3 inches shorter than South Koreans.

Because of this, societies that are richer and healthier are generally taller. This also helps to explain why we as humans have a psychological preference for taller partners and even taller leaders: taller people are more likely to be wealthy, healthy and better off by any number of factors. Yet if we accept the premise of riches equalling height as true, why are Americans (who have been the richest society on earth for several generations) just not growing?

The History of Height: Why Americans Were Once Giants on the Earth

Many presume that the correlation between height and wealth is linear, and that humans have been growing on average up until modern day. However this is not actually true: humans in antiquity were once as tall as they are now and actually have varied massively in height over the past few centuries. The ‘shortest’ people in known history on average was actually those of the 17th century, when it is thought that the ‘Little Ice Age’ created social conditions that successively shaved height off the previous generations.

It is here that America comes in to play as the anomaly of the study of height: while the rest of the world was getting shorter, Americans were on average the tallest people on earth. Aided by uncramped conditions, relative equality of nutrition and good health, Americans in the 18th century were at least 3 inches taller than their European counterparts. Even American slaves were taller than their African ancestors, taller than Europeans and equally as tall as American freemen. Yet in the mid-19th century, Americans simply stopped growing whilst simultaneously Europeans outgrew them by several inches.

This is especially apparent in people who markedly above or below average height.

A recent study by evolutionary psychologist Gert Stulp from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands has attempted to finally put a number on what the ideal height difference is men and women and what the 'perfect' height is for men and women. In classic fashion, it seems men and women certainly do not agree on what constitutes the perfect gap.

The woman's ideal

Women it seems like to be quite far away from their perfect man, as the 'ideal' gap for women turned out to be an astonishing 8 inches. This means the average 5ft 6" American woman would most perfectly suit a man who was 6ft 2". This aligns quite well with what women on average termed to be their ideal height, a cool 6ft 3". It seems the dream of a 'tall, dark and handsome man' is not just a stereotype: it is what women actually want. This is even more startling considering that 6ft 3" is a whole 6 inches taller than the average
male.

The man's ideal

Men also put their ideal woman's height at taller than average, but at the less extreme 5ft 9". The key difference is that men prefer to be much closer to their female partner, and only desire a small 3 inch difference in height. Interestingly, men are also generally less bothered than women about reversing the typical gender height roles. The women surveyed on average were more likely than the men to be unhappy with the woman in the relationship being taller. On average however, men still wanted to be the taller partner in a relationship.

So what does it matter?

The research was commissioned primarily to investigate how men and women feel about height differences, especially when the traditional roles are reversed. While most researchers tend to explain our 'man-taller' preference through evolutionary imperatives, some anthropologists are forwarding a different idea. Height massively factors into what we describe as masculine and feminine, and therefore extremely tall girls and extremely short guys present a challenge to the way we traditionally categorise what is masculine and feminine. This is also represented statistically in the fact that over 90% of couples are in 'male-taller' relationships.

The information hopefully might help us reexamine just why we seem to find small men and tall women 'unattractive' in our culture, and perhaps even start working on changing how we perceive height. Heightism exists in all facets of society, as we innately react differently to people of different heights. However hopefully one day we will be able to recognise these reactions and base our opinions of people's worth instead of their size.

So what is A-Grow-Bics?

A-Grow-Bics is a gruelling workout routine that will certain help you trim your width, but what is it about the programme that supposedly adds to your height? The main way in which A-Grow-Bics can really help is that most of the exercises aim to help decompress your spine, making you stand taller. Bad posture, gravity and a range of other issues compress your spine over time, leading to a slight natural hunch that prevents you from standing as tall as you are naturally able. Combining everything from hanging upside down to pilates, A-grow-bics also makes claims that by doing interval training you can encourage the production of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) which will also make you taller.

Does A-grow-bics work?

Certain exercises can certainly decompress your spine to temporarily make you stand taller, but over time your spine will simply compress again and you will loose your gained inches. Furthermore, many medical experts have expressed distrust and concern over the methods used by Pierre to make his clients 'grow'. In particular, encouraging micro-fractures contrary to Pierre's claims will not actually add to your height and might even be harmful to your health. His use of sprint exercises to encourage the production of HGH in particular is said to be scientifically unproven.

Should I go for it?

A-grow-bics have great testimonials and people do seem to really get taller. Yet the main crux is that this height advantage is temporary, and it is at an unknown cost to your health. Exercise is good and encouraging yourself to stand taller is good, but that should not be at the cost of your overall health or your wallet. You can obtain many of the benefits of A-Grow-Bics at home by simply following a good exercise regimen and working on improving your posture. If you like the idea of A-Grow-Bics and want to try it at home, the best way is to simply improve your posture via exercise. Taking up Pilates or yoga (two disciplines A-Grow-Bics uses) will help you sit and stand taller, even if they don't literally add to your height.

Here are 3 crazy ways to get taller that we certainly would not recommend at home, no matter how short you are!

Growth Hormone

Many children suffer from growth hormone deficiencies and fortunately in the past few years their natural ailment has been proved curable with human growth hormone injections. However there are some who are willing to take on the possibly lethal side-effects of HGH in hope that it will help them grow taller, look younger and provide any number of untested benefits. The problem is that HGH only helps add height around puberty, and loses its ability to effectively add height once you have stopped growing.

This elementary fact however has not stopped many though from attempting to procure HGH illegally in hopes that it could have an affect on their height. Slightly ironically, many pills claiming to be HGH on the internet are often fake and are either placebos or other kinds of harmful chemical, meaning that attempting to obtain HGH without a medical prescription is a dangerous business. Being taller is great, but it should not cost you your life (or land you in prison).

Bone Surgery

Some people are so desperate to get tall that they’ll even resort to surgeries usually preserved only to sufferers of dwarfism. One British man hit the papers last year when he paid £34000 to be lengthened out by 2 and half inches, in a process that took months and a considerable amount of pain and effort. The price for the growth is not just money, but also time: the procedure works by breaking the thigh bone and then placing an artificial metal rod in the gap which is gradually lengthened over a period of two months.

The constant breaking and rebreaking of bone is extremely painful, and often leaves the patient unable to walk for months. While many cosmetic doctors have claimed that the procedure is no more dangerous than breast augmentation, orthopaedic surgeons usually warn against the procedure due to the risks inherent in any surgery - especially those that involve repeated compounding of bone.

Stretching

The rack was a medieval torture device that pulled people from head to toe in an attempt to cause tremendous pain, but some people are capitalising on that awful idea in an absurd attempt to get taller. Many dubious websites on the web recommend stretching by hanging from objects or utilising rack-like devices to literally stretch oneself out. However there is little evidence that such stretching can add inches to your frame, and in fact the only known consequences are that such routines actually damage your bones, can cause disabilities and can leave your body damaged beyond repair with all manner of problems - including bone stress, nerve damage and even paralysis.

Again, there are plenty of ways to look taller without actually harming yourself or your body. Adding inches can provide a number of benefits, but it should never cost you either your life savings or your actual life.