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When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

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Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had foot problems for a while, and I went to a podiatrist who suggested I wear crocs. Said that shoes were a modern creation and that our feet weren't designed to need them. It was an unmitigated disaster. So I went to a different podiatrist. She said "let me guess, you went to Dr. So-and-so?" and I replied yes, she said "Yeah, I don't agree with him. Shoes are modern, but so are floors." My feet are much happie…

I put running insoles in a pair of really cheap steel-toes that I have to wear at work, and it made all the difference in how my legs and feet felt at the end of a shift.

Similar to an old trick for gastro workers. Take two pairs to work and swap them half way. Your feet will feel a lot better at the end of the day.

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#42
post #4

Tangent. People are still getting conned when it comes to shoes. Custom designed soles, with padding in the "right" places based on the shape of your foot, in order to "absorb impact" or "correct overpronation". Which is nonsense and unnecessary unless you have foot deformities. Your foot is perfectly capable of absorbing impact and whatnot. This is all marketing aimed at gullible new runners who want to go from couc…

I've had foot problems for a while, and I went to a podiatrist who suggested I wear crocs. Said that shoes were a modern creation and that our feet weren't designed to need them. It was an unmitigated disaster. So I went to a different podiatrist. She said "let me guess, you went to Dr. So-and-so?" and I replied yes, she said "Yeah, I don't agree with him. Shoes are modern, but so are floors." My feet are much happie…

I’ve never understood the argument that floors and pavement are the cause of modern foot problems due to their hardness. It just doesn’t add up.

Sure, running barefoot through a well-maintained soccer field is going to be lower impact than running on pavement. But ancient humans didn’t evolve on soccer fields.

If you ever try running through unmaintained land barefoot, it’s terrible on your feet! Uneven terrain, branches and rocks everywhere... you wind up putting a ton of stress on your feet, far more than you do walking around a house barefoot.

I think it’s far more likely that a) modern life causes children not to develop strong feet from an early age, or b) that evolutionary pressures for well-functioning feet have disappeared.

In any case, I’m glad the insoles solved your problems. I just wish the field of podiatry did a better job of root cause analysis.

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#43
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had foot problems for a while, and I went to a podiatrist who suggested I wear crocs. Said that shoes were a modern creation and that our feet weren't designed to need them. It was an unmitigated disaster. So I went to a different podiatrist. She said "let me guess, you went to Dr. So-and-so?" and I replied yes, she said "Yeah, I don't agree with him. Shoes are modern, but so are floors." My feet are much happie…

I’ve never understood the argument that floors and pavement are the cause of modern foot problems due to their hardness. It just doesn’t add up. Sure, running barefoot through a well-maintained soccer field is going to be lower impact than running on pavement. But ancient humans didn’t evolve on soccer fields. If you ever try running through unmaintained land barefoot, it’s terrible on your feet! Uneven terrain, bran…

I think it's as much to do with the flatness as it is the sheer hardness. If interior floors were cobbled and at angles, our feet would be required to work a lot more and our stance would change to fit. We'd also probably wear thinner and more flexibly-soled shoes.

As it is, a constant flat hardess, coupled with shoes, only serves to constrain the foot and work singular positions.

I know if I'm on foot standing all day in the workshop (concrete floor) my feet hurt a lot more than if I'm out walking on the street for the same sort of duration.

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#44
post #6

I'm 49 and I'm sure I remember there still being machines in stores when I was 7 or 8. Is that possible? I don't recall them actually in use - but they were visibly present. (I'm in the UK) EDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe-fitting_fluoroscope#Regul... Looks possible.

I'm glad you asked as I'm only a few years younger than you and I have a distinct memory of these too - perhaps in Clarks stores? Must've been, for me anyway, up until around 1985, but that seems so late given how long at that point they'd been deemed dangerous?

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#45
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Harder surfaces are actually easier to run on than dirt trails. You get much more of the energy you put down with each footfall back. This is important because your foot is basically a spring and designed to recover some of the energy put into making each step.

Harder surfaces are a mixed bag. Yes you run faster but your feet, ankles and knees take more impact and damage.

Not if you strike with your forefoot. If you are landing on your heels, then yes. Don’t do that.

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#46
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had foot problems for a while, and I went to a podiatrist who suggested I wear crocs. Said that shoes were a modern creation and that our feet weren't designed to need them. It was an unmitigated disaster. So I went to a different podiatrist. She said "let me guess, you went to Dr. So-and-so?" and I replied yes, she said "Yeah, I don't agree with him. Shoes are modern, but so are floors." My feet are much happie…

I’ve never understood the argument that floors and pavement are the cause of modern foot problems due to their hardness. It just doesn’t add up. Sure, running barefoot through a well-maintained soccer field is going to be lower impact than running on pavement. But ancient humans didn’t evolve on soccer fields. If you ever try running through unmaintained land barefoot, it’s terrible on your feet! Uneven terrain, bran…

I disagree with the first part, I have walked a bit barefoot and dirt/leaves is pretty soft. I imagine early humans looked where they were stepping.

That said, shoes have been found to go back 40,000 years at least

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#47
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had foot problems for a while, and I went to a podiatrist who suggested I wear crocs. Said that shoes were a modern creation and that our feet weren't designed to need them. It was an unmitigated disaster. So I went to a different podiatrist. She said "let me guess, you went to Dr. So-and-so?" and I replied yes, she said "Yeah, I don't agree with him. Shoes are modern, but so are floors." My feet are much happie…

I’ve never understood the argument that floors and pavement are the cause of modern foot problems due to their hardness. It just doesn’t add up. Sure, running barefoot through a well-maintained soccer field is going to be lower impact than running on pavement. But ancient humans didn’t evolve on soccer fields. If you ever try running through unmaintained land barefoot, it’s terrible on your feet! Uneven terrain, bran…

I think you nailed it that we don't put stresses on our feet and ankles and so those particular muscles don't grow. This of course leads to challenges in running, etc.

I bought these balloon pods for standing on [1]. They create an unstable surface which your feet and ankle muscles must overcome. Its incredibly challenging. Adding in exercises like squats or med ball twists really make you work. You can feel the muscles in your feet and ankles working!

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Yes4All-Balance-Pods-Hedgehog-Hand/dp...

I wish more doctors did more root cause in most fields.

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#48
post #11

So what could we use as a solution nowadays? UWB radar? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-wideband

My daughter has a pair of toddler shoes with a window in the sole so you can see where the toes are. It works, but I am not convinced it is necessary. You can tell pretty quick if the shoes do not fit by watching the kid try to walk.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/76/0f/ac/760fac925593ed258c93...

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#49
post #21
post #14

Interesting and also scary - I guess it was ok for customers, but the employees using the machines would probably over time get a serious amount of radiation literally in their face (from what it looks like)? If you think that nowadays while making X-rays the medical personnel will either wear lead-lined aprons or leave the room altogether...

Especially given this: > That 1948 study of 43 machines in Detroit showed ranges from 16 to 75 roentgens per minute. In 1946, the American Standards Association had issued a safety code for industrial use of X-rays, limiting exposure to 0.1 R per day. I'd be curious how much a typical modern dental x-ray emits, but we no longer measure in roentgens these days as we have better measures of the actual dose (sieverts).

With some hand waving 100 roentgens is equal to 1 sievert

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#50
post #4

Tangent. People are still getting conned when it comes to shoes. Custom designed soles, with padding in the "right" places based on the shape of your foot, in order to "absorb impact" or "correct overpronation". Which is nonsense and unnecessary unless you have foot deformities. Your foot is perfectly capable of absorbing impact and whatnot. This is all marketing aimed at gullible new runners who want to go from couc…

A good pod episode on this:

https://peterattiamd.com/irenedavis/

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