When we travel for vacation, we usually pack at least three pairs of shoes thinking of function – dress shoes for dinner out, walking shoes that can be in a form of flats and/or sneakers and sandals as a go to footwear to wear around.
While fashionistas in general put style first as the first requisite for their choice of shoes, Vionic, a fresh new brand of footwear puts technology and medical science first when designing footwear.
Renowned Podiatric Surgeon David Armstrong and Sports Physical Therapy Specialist Brian Hoke, both of the Vionic Innovation Lab shares travel tips for your trips this summer.
Air travel: Sitting and being immobilized in one spot at high altitudes poses the threat of circulation issues, not the least of which is the swelling of ankles and feet. To help minimize these uncomfortable travel hazards:
- Fly with shoes that allow you to loosen up the laces, such as jogging shoes: loosen them when you get up in the air and then tighten again when swelling comes down after disembarking.
- Functional sandals can make it easy – and comfortable – to walk distances pain-free while minimizing swelling. They are also a must for people with prior pain.
Sightseeing: On an average day we take 8,000 to 10,000 steps, causing our calf muscles to lift up and our joints to tense. While on vacation, sightseeing can drastically increase the amount we walk. The following exercises are designed to help travelers go the distance:
- Stretching for the Achilles tendon. Stand on the edge of a step to perform a negative stretch for tendons – bend knee for 25 secs to stretch Achilles tendon– then straighten. Repeat up to 5x whenever tightening occurs.
- While seated and barefoot, squeeze your foot as if you have a small marble under the ball of your foot. This stretches and helps strengthen the muscles that run under metatarsals that hold feet muscles together
Vionic which considers itself a fashion outsider is on the “inside” when it comes to breakthrough technology.
Thanks to Orthaheel technology which is based on 30 years of podiatric medical success, the Vionic line of footwear has been designed with proper arch support, heel cushion, sole, etc – basically good-for-your-health-and-looks shoes (designed by a podiatrist and recommended by the APMA and Dr. Andrew Weil) that are ideal to travel in.
Great for airplanes to minimize swelling, great for boats to maximize balance, and ideal for walking which is what they were designed for.
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