Foot Health News Today
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Parental Support and Involvement Help Kids Get More Active
01/14 - IPFH
If parents encourage their kids to be active and engage in physical activity with them, it may be possible to stem the tide of childhood obesity, a recent Canadian study suggests. Researchers surveyed parents’ attitudes about exercising; how much they encouraged their children to be active; and how often they exercised with their kids. They gave children pedometers to count their steps as a measure of physical activity during the nine-day study. Children—particularly boys—were more active when their parents encouraged them and participated in activities with them. Increased parental support and engagement was associated with children taking an additional 632–1381 steps/day. IPFH encourages parents and children to be as active as possible, to take care of their feet and to use an integrated approach to selecting appropriate footwear for their chosen activities.
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Painful Foot Osteoarthritis Affects One in Six Adults Over Age 50
01/9 - IPFH
Painful foot osteoarthritis is more common and more debilitating than previously thought, according to a study of more than 5000 adults over age 50 in the UK. More women are affected than men, and the condition is more common among people who do manual work. Three-quarters of study participants with diagnosed foot OA reported disabling symptoms. Read more about how arthritis affects the feet and what you can do about it.
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When It Comes to Walking, More is Better
01/7 - IPFH
The more you walk, the less likely you are to die early, according to a recent study. Exceeding the current US guidelines of 2.5 hours of physical activity per week yields "substantial health benefits," the authors write. The study of more than 42,000 mostly middle-aged adults found that those who walked more than the basic recommendation had a one-third lower chance of dying--particularly of stroke, diabetes or heart disease--during the three-year study period. Those who met but didn't exceed the recommendation had an 11 percent lower chance. IPFH urges everyone to get active--and walking is usually the easiest way. To ensure you are as comfortable as possible, practice good foot hygiene daily and wear the right, properly fitted footwear.
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Walking Lowers Risk of Heart Disease in People with Pre-Diabetes
01/2 - IPFH
Walking just 2000 steps per day lowers the risk of heart disease by 10% in people with impaired glucose tolerance--also known as "pre-diabetes," according to a recent international study in The Lancet. In addition, no matter how much--or little--people walked at the beginning of the study, each 2000-step increase per day resulted in an 8% reduction in cardiovascular risk. IPFH encourages everyone to get active, particularly thise at risk for diabetes and other chronic diseases. Two-thousand steps is the equivalent of walking about 20 minutes at a moderate pace. Get the right walking shoes, try them on with the right padded socks and any insert or orthotic, as part of an integrated system, and you're on your way.
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Only Half of People with Type 2 Diabetes Expected to Reach Blood Sugar Goals
12/19 - IPFH
A striking 75% of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes say they're not concerned about complications; 60% don't increase their level of exercise after their diagnosis; and half don't make any dietary changes, according to an international survey of both doctors and patients. The authors say lifestyle changes are being "ignored," putting people at risk. If you have diabetes, IPFH urges you to take your medication, eat right, get moving and take care of your feet to avoid foot ulcers and other complications.