Page 3 - Uncategorised

As we approach the end of 2022, we’re delighted to share with you that two members of our team have taken their charity fundraising for Cancer Research UK past the £1,000 mark. 

Over the last two years, Lynne Switzer (Warehouse Supervisor) and Laura-Jane Smith (Packaging Operative) have been raising funds by selling our excess and resalable warehouse stock at key times over the year.

And this year, we’re proud to say the pair of them - with the help of our community - have raised £499.50 over three sales!

Combining that with the £553.50 they raised in 2021, their first year of running the sales initiative, means they have raised a grand total of £1,053.50 for Cancer Research UK over the last two years.

What our team had to say...

This is what Lynne had to say: “Sadly, I lost two people I cared about to cancer last year and I really wanted a project I could throw myself into and raise funds for a charity that is close to my heart.

“The work Cancer Research UK do is invaluable - both for patients and for loved ones, like family and friends - and I’m so pleased by how FootActive and the community have supported this initiative.” 

And Will Munro, our Chief Operating Officer, also added: “Both Lynne and Laura-Jane have found a fantastic way of utilising stock that would otherwise be thrown out and we couldn’t be prouder of the work they continue to do to raise money for Cancer Research UK.” 

We can also confirm that we will be holding more charity fundraising events during 2023, with our next excess stock sale being held at some point in the Spring. Stay tuned across our various digital channels for more information.

If you wish to join our fundraising efforts, you can donate to Cancer Research UK by clicking this link.

Searches for slippers are on the rise and it’s the same year in, year out.

At the start of November and early December, many of us are looking to buy slippers. It’s the same year in, year out: whether it be for a Christmas present or treating themselves to something warm as the cold nights draw in and we become more inclined to stay at home.

It’s true, there is often nothing better than a long weekend at home, staying cosy in a comfy pair of slippers.

But, what are the benefits of wearing slippers?

There have been studies into whether wearing slippers can protect you from the common cold and flu, with Dr Ron Eccles, ex-director of Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre, studying the issue as far back as 2006. He believes that if the temperature of your feet drops, it can cause a change in the whole body which leads to your nose becoming cold. This then increases the likelihood of a full-blown cold developing. Following this theory, slippers primarily keep your feet warm, and, therefore, protect you from developing a nasty cold, or even flu. Long live the slipper.

However, in this article, we’re taking an impartial look at the matter, looking beyond our simple creature comforts, and asking whether the humble house shoe can actually do more harm than good.

The top 5 benefits of wearing slippers at home

Before we really get into the gritty details, we should acknowledge that there are in fact a range of positives we can experience when we wear slippers, most of which contribute to mental relaxation. So, here they are:

1. Comfort

One of the primary reasons people opt for slippers is the unmatched comfort they provide. With their soft materials and cushioned soles, slippers offer a gentle embrace for tired feet, making them an ideal choice for leisurely strolls around the house. Unlike barefoot walking, which can lead to discomfort on hard surfaces, slippers provide a layer of protection and support that eases strain on the feet.

2. Hygiene

Beyond comfort, slippers

As part of an initiative to help people get information on Foot Health we have partnered with the National Pharmacy Association.  We feature in the latest publication on Your Health Your Pharmacy, here: https://www.yourhealthyourpharmacy.co.uk/put-your-best-foot-forward-with-an-orthotic-insole/ 

Preceding the coronavirus pandemic there were persistent strains on the NHS, particularly with extended wait times at GP surgeries, which has had a considerable impact on patient care and the nation's health.

Many of these visits to the GP are for minor illnesses, accidents or queries, that could more appropriately be dealt with by pharmacists, who themselves are highly skilled professionals, at the frontline of healthcare and oversee more than 1.5 million daily patient visits and dispense annually over 1 billion prescriptions.

NPA community pharmacies offer many practical benefits versus GP surgeries; located on almost every high street, having longer opening hours and not requiring an appointment.

Being part of the community and visited on a frequent basis, the local pharmacist is uniquely trusted by their patients.

The NPA has now launched a post-pandemic, mission-critical initiative, geared at helping their patients and increasing the nation’s general health and wellbeing.

A number of common and critical issues have been identified, before and after the onset of Covid-19, with Foot Health being a key area of the initiative.

We are proud to be part of this initiative and will be continuing to add helpful and informative content to our website.

We all love a walking challenge.

We love strapping on our thermals and our walking boots and going on a long hike, whether that be with friends or family, or even just our beloved pets. 

In the UK, we’re blessed with so many great casual and challenging walking routes. The Three Peaks Challenge and Ten Tors Challenge are just a couple that stick out. 

But 2022 has seen the birth of a new walking challenge that trended across the popular social media channel, TikTok. If you’re not aware of it, it was the #victorialinechallenge.

It all started with the #victorialinechallenge walking challenge

Simply put, this trend was seeing multiple creators document their journey of trying to walk the entire Victoria line in London. 

Since starting earlier in the year, it has driven more than half a million video views. But it is Gabrielle Abordo, 22, who goes by the username Gabrielle Xsara on TikTok, that has amassed nearly half of that entire viewership.

The popularity of her content has led to her also walking the Waterloo and City line (1.5 miles), from Bank to Lewisham (6.4 miles), as well as the entire DLR line (24 miles).

We loved her content and videos so much that we had to reach out to her, to see how FootActive could help her in future walking challenges.

We’re excited to say that we are going to be collaborating with Gabrielle as she attempts to walk all of the London Underground lines - including the mammoth Central line, which is 46 miles long.

Yes, you read that right!

The numbers behind the UK's newest walking challenge

It’s an incredible challenge Gabrielle is taking on and as a result, we have done a little bit of digging to see just how gruelling it is going to be.

Turns out… what started off as a TikTok trend has now become one of the UK’s most difficult walking challenges.

Our research showed that the length of all the tube lines combined amounts to 316.5 miles (497.3km) crossing 428 stations, which would span the width of the UK at its widest point. 

Obviously

We’ve all heard of the term self-diagnosing.

For those unfamiliar with it, though, this is simply the process of an individual attempting to diagnose or identify a medical condition in yourself.

And since the rise of search platforms, like Google, it has become increasingly more prominent.

Back in 2020, a study showed that 59% of the UK said that they Google their health symptoms before consulting a doctor. The result of that is shown in a further report which outlined that the results of searches online cause stress in 74% of people.

As a specialist in arch support insoles for a number of foot-related problems, including Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendonitis, we recently looked into trending data to see what people most commonly are searching for when they attempt to self-diagnose their foot injuries.

As of July 2022, in the last 12 months there have been:

• a 250% increase in searches for ‘pain on top of foot near ankle’
• a 140% increase in searches for ‘warm sensation in foot no pain’
• a 110% increase in searches for ‘sudden foot pain without injury’
• a 90% increase in searches for ‘foot pain radiating up leg’

And according to our Director, Will Munro, it is these rises that are causing people to unnecessarily spend thousands of pounds on an incorrect solution.

He told us: “By misdiagnosing the issue yourself, you could end up treating it with something that isn’t going to make a difference. 

Alternatively, you could end up buying a bespoke product, for say £700, when really there is likely to be a cheaper product on the market that is much more suitable as well as affordable. 

Without this expert knowledge, search tools like Google may cost you time and wasted money, as well as allowing the health issue at hand to get worse while remaining untreated.” 

Let’s focus for a moment on that word: bespoke.

Quite often, we assume that a bespoke solution is the best solution. One that is tailored to the issues we have flagged. But what if those problems we raise are

Marathons are the ultimate test of human endurance. Full-length races span 26.2 miles with average finishing times ranging between 4 to 5 hours. 

These long-distance races can be incredibly taxing on both your physical and mental health, therefore it’s essential that you take the race seriously and start preparing for the big day months in advance.  

Crossing the finish line on the day of your marathon should be one of the most rewarding moments of your life. 

However, if you refuse to train for the event, it could also become one of your most unpleasant experiences. 

Of course, most marathon runners complete their race free from harm, but this is still a possibility you must account for. Let’s take a closer look at the dangers of running a marathon without training. 

Running a marathon without training is not a trend

Depending on your internet habits, you might have seen the recent surge in marathon training tips, and marathon running journeys, taking off on apps such as Instagram and TikTok. If so, you may have also seen a handful of influencers claiming to have run marathons without any training. You might be thinking, “that’s crazy!”, and you’d be right, it is crazy, and it’s not something that any athlete, running-enthusiast, or fitness coach would ever recommend doing.

As an influencer, it’s arguably quite dangerous and irresponsible to promote running a marathon without training to an audience who might be impressionable and less physically fit/experienced than you.

It’s great that more people are becoming interested in marathons, whether it’s to achieve fitness goals, reap the mental health benefits of perseverance, or even just to brag about it to their mates at the pub. However, big achievements like marathons shouldn’t be treated as a quick-win. Like any sport, running a marathon requires self-discipline and adequate fitness, which is an important part of the overall experience, and can only be achieved through the right training.

Here are the top reasons

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be an avid runner to complete a marathon. 

Many individuals who participate in the race choose to walk instead of run. However, do the same rules apply when it comes to training? Can you walk a marathon without preparing for it? 

The short answer is no. Although it may be possible, it is by no means advisable.  

Whether you walk or run, marathons cover an extremely long distance and it’s imperative that you take safety precautions to avoid the risk of injury. 

The goal of finishing a marathon isn’t completing the race in record timing but ensuring you do so without hurting yourself in the process. 

Bear in mind that when you decide to walk a marathon, it’s likely that you may take anywhere from six to nine hours, which exceeds the amount that is advised per day. 

It goes without saying that’s an awful lot of time to be on your feet, which means more possibilities for minor injuries, such as dehydration, blisters, or muscle strains. Therefore, walking a marathon without training is neither practical nor recommendable. 

Here are six of our top tips for training to walk a marathon.  

1. Create a dynamic training schedule 

Rather than jumping on the treadmill every day, it’s a good idea to incorporate a wide range of walking styles into your training plan. 

Whilst training to walk a marathon, you should aim for four to five days active days per week on average. Don’t focus solely on long-distance walking, try to incorporate other forms of training that can help you reach your endurance goals. 

Activities like CrossFit or yoga are very complimentary to a marathon training plan. 

2. Build your mileage slowly 

One of the most important tips to consider whilst training to walk a marathon is to build up your mileage steadily. 

As you’re competing at a slower pace, you may be tempted to cut training times short and bump up your mileage up too quickly. The strategy behind any great marathon training plan is to build

It could be argued that health is the most crucial element in anybody’s life. 

Good health is what allows you to get up every morning and do the things you love the most. It’s something that we should never take for granted. However, accidents do happen, and minor injuries can occur. 

At some point in our lives, we’ve all been guilty of letting minor injuries snowball into larger issues. 

This is especially true amongst runners, with statistics showing that, approximately, one out of every three recreational runners will experience a running-related injury at some point in their life.

So, why does this matter? 

First things first, if you’re going to take running seriously, you should take precautions which can help prevent injuries in the first place.

Let’s say you’ve noticed a sharp pain in the sole of your foot. We recommend you take it easy for the next few days and purchase some running insoles, such as our Sports, UltraLite or Performance insoles, which will support your feet during your next run.

Similarly, if you feel like you have a blister coming on, or it's already too late, you can heal your wounds faster with manuka honey plasters. 

Apart from taking preventative measures, it’s extremely important that you listen to your body carefully. This is one of the most common mistakes recreational runners make when they experience an injury.

Athletes that are disciplined and attentive, will make sure they never push their bodies past the brink. If you experience recurring pain or ache, either during or after your run, don’t ignore the situation.

You may only make it worse by triggering a more serious injury. Many of us will start going back to normal life once the pain has subsided. However, it’s important to give your injury the time it needs to heal. 

Failing to treat your injuries can result in a snowball effect. By ignoring your health issue and expecting it to simply fade away, you could risk making the situation much worse than it has to be.

Is the