Orthotics

Here is a summary of what orthotics are about taken primarily from wikipedia.

Orthotics is is concerned with the design, development, fitting and manufacture of orthoses. These are fittings that support or correct musculoskeletal deformities and/or abnormalities of the human body.

The word orthotic is frequently used as an adjective (e.g. an orthotic insole) or equally as a noun (the orthotic) to describe or name a foot-supporting device or insole. It can also be used to describe a more complex device used to control joint motion.

The term “orthotic” is derived from the word "ortho", meaning to straighten. Sciences such as materials engineering, gait analysis, anatomy and physiology, and psychology contribute to the work done by orthotists, professionals engaged in the field of orthotics.

Those who benefit from a complex orthosis may have an orthopedic condition such as scoliosis or an injury like a fracture - or they may have sustained a physical impairment, or have a congenital abnormality such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy.

Differing orthoses may directly support the lower limb, upper extremity, or the spine. Orthotics proper involves devices made by technicians and fitted to the patient usually by a specialist in foot health such as pedorthist, orthotist, podiatrist, or chiropodist.

An orthotist, for example, is a professional who works by prescription from a physician to ensure the proper application of an orthosis to an individual who might benefit from the orthosis; this is essentially the practice of orthotics.

Care in the proper fit of any device that applies force to the body must be taken to ensure good results and to prevent unwanted problems from an orthosis that is too tight or otherwise uncomfortable.

Some nations require professionals engaged in orthotics (or those manufacturing and fitting orthoses) to be licensed or acredited.

There are of course simple orthotic inserts (in the form of insoles) that can be bought over the counter or online.

Buy an orthopedic product

With Christmas out of the way and the excesses of the season leaving many overweight, now is an ideal time to buy some kind of supportive product, be it a contouring bed or a pair of good orthopedic shoes to walk that extra weight off.

Now is also a good time to buy because the sales are on and it is possible to get some great deals on healthy lifestyle products like supportive mattresses, beds, chairs and shoes. These products always experience a lull over the Christmas period, so retailers are always keen to sell at this time and have lots of offers.
Another reason to think orthopedic

Putting on extra weight and getting older are two realities of life. One you can do something about directly, but the other is an inevitability of living. Even so, you can look after your body by making an effort to stay in shape and to keep your walking, sitting and sleeping postures as healthy as possible.

One way to do this is to buy ergonomic furniture that works with (and not against) your body and encourages a healthy alignment of bones and muscles.

Chairs that keep you in an upright yet comfortable posture are ideal and beds that use one of the more recent technological materials like visco elastic memory foam are also good. These beds are cheaper than ever at the moment and their benefits to good sleep and a refreshed start to the following morning are well documented. Check out the internet for the best deals.

Finally one way of getting into shape, encouraging good posture and getting some pleasure at the same time is by walking. Good walking or hiking shoes make walking easy on the feet and have ergonomic designs that support, cushion and assist the feet in the bending and weight bearing motions of walking. Now is a good time to buy.

Gel bed review

I have added another post to the sub-blog about the composite gel - memory foam - spring bed (by Kaymed) that I bought earlier in the year. This http://gel-beds.blogspot.com/ will take you to the latest report where you can get my current thoughts on this bed.

Hiking jacket, boots and wicking T shirt

Several weeks have passed since I purchased the hiking gear and I have now worn the boots, jacket and T shirt in a variety of weather conditions and on some very variable terrain.

The jacket really is great and the more that I wear it the more impressed I am by it.

The manufacturer is Keela and it really does live up to “and beyond” my expectations. At the time I thought that £100 was a lot of money for this garment, but now I feel that it was excellent value for the money. Only last week I found yet another hidden pocket that I previously did not know existed and the clever way that you can access the various pockets whilst keeping the jacket in weatherproof mode is clever rather than (as I suggested before) gimmicky.

The boots do not score quite as highly as the jacket in my book. They are made by Salomon and, whilst they are very comfortable and waterproof – and for that matter breathable, I do have some reservations about them.

The main problem is the quality of the grip in muddy, leafy or slippery underfoot conditions.

This problem may in part be of my own making as I bought these boots based on a recommendation from the seller that was based on my description of their anticipated use.

At the time I did not envisage doing much walking in the rain, let alone walking in 3 or 4 inch deep mud, or a slippery mush of leaves and dirt. I think that it may therefore be possible that my application of these boots is harsher than their use is made for, but even so their inability to give me a good footing when my wife’s similar (and by another manufacturer’s) boots do, gives me some disappointment.

The big problem with these boots is that the tread clogs up very easily and consequently becomes a smooth slippery surface. With my wife’s boots the smaller gaps between the projecting tread seem more able to eject any collected debris as she walks. This means that I sometimes feel my foot starting to slip on terrain that she has a vice like grip on. All told “slightly” disappointing.

The wicking T shirts are excellent. They do the job very well and, in combination with the jacket, it is very easy to manage your bodies heat so that you never feel too hot or (so far at least) too cold.

Hiking boots and wicking clothing

Since my last blog I have worn the hiking boots that I mentioned a few more times and they really are good.

Wicking T shirts and Jacket

I also got a couple of wicking T shirts which, to my surprise, really do seem to keep you dry. I think that they are just very good at drying or evaporating sweat, however, whatever the mechanism, they do work.

The key feature to these T shirts is the materials that they are made from which are all man-made fibres and this means that they cannot absorb water. This also means that when you sweat the water molecules cling to the fabric (rather than absorb in to it) and then evaporate away quickly. Simple, but effective.

An expensive waterproof and breathable jacket that I got hold of has yet to be put through its paces properly. I have been out in it in light rain and it certainly kept me dry, but it has yet to face a down pour. This winter should give me ample opportunity to test it to its limits.

The breathable properties of this jacket are something that I have yet to be convinced of. I have no doubt that, if I simply wore the jacket on a bare body, it would wick sweat and water vapour away, however quite how this process can work when someone is wearing several layers of clothing is something that I need to experience to believe.

This jacket is interesting in several other ways too.

It is an “all bells and whistles” jacket with vented areas in the underarm zone, adjustable cuffs, several pockets for phone, maps etc, a wicking lining, some kind of “snow” protector, a very adjustable hood that folds away into the collar, various tighteners and pulley straps, double zips that allow the top of the jacket to be zipped up whilst the bottom is open, and separate zips and cuff attachments to enable a fleece to be fitted (zipped in to) the inside of the jacket. The list goes on, but how much is gimmick and how much is usable clothing technology remains to be seen.

I will come back to this jacket and no doubt the boots and T shirts as I discover and experience more.

Walking footwear

I recently bought a pair of pretty expensive hiking boots and it is interesting to contrast the wearing characteristics of this kind of footwear with regular good quality shoes.

Naturally these boots are more robust than regular shoes and they are weatherproof and breathable. However, they are also much more structural in their construction and this means that there is, e.g. very little flexing of the sole.

Initially this seems almost at odds with sneakers or trainers, but the value of this soon becomes evident when you wear them on rough or rocky terrain.

Very little of the harshness of the surface actually reaches the foot and the combination of a tough and comparatively inflexible sole along with a higher upper makes them very supportive.

So far my experience of this kind of boot is limited to a couple of walks, the longest being eight or nine miles up hill in one direction and down in the other. But the walking surface was variable, a bit of road, a bit of rough bridle path, and fields, so there was a good mix of things to experience.

The other feature of this kind of footwear (that I touched on) is the high upper that extends to the point just below the ankle. This takes away a lot of unnecessary muscular and balancing work from the muscles in the feet and lower leg and consequently makes walking less stressful. Put simply you can walk for longer without tiring, strain, or injury.

To obtain more information about this and other kinds of shoes and boots, do a search on hiking boots or walking shoes, or check out an outdoor activity retailer.

If you are thinking about buying some serious walking footwear, inform yourself first before you spend your hard earned money.

Gel mouse mat

A while ago I mentioned a gel mouse mat that I was trying out and, having had it for about 3 months, I am now in a better position to comment about it.

The mat is basically circular, but with one side flattened out and including the addition of a raised gel pad.

You rest your wrist, or ball of the hand, on the pad, thus elevating the level of the fingers as they wrap around the mouse.

I have persisted with this mat since buying it, but I honestly cannot say that I find it any more comfortable or easy to use than a regular flat mouse mat. In fact I would go as far as to say that it can actually make my wrist ache if I am using it for prolonged periods of time.

I assume (possibly incorrectly) that there are some ergonomic and muscular advantages to this kind of set-up, but in truth I have not checked out the facts.

Whether or not I will continue to persist with this mat I have yet to decide, but in my case at least I do not feel that I have gained any real advantage from using it.