Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis affecting one in ten Canadian adults. It can affect any joint but commonly occurs in weight-bearing joints such as the knee. The cartilage (firm, rubbery material) that covers the ends of the bones in normal joints acts as a shock absorber. Over time, the cartilage may wear away in some areas decreasing its ability to cushion the bone. As this happens tendons and ligaments stretch, causing pain. As the condition worsens the bones may rub against each other.

Osteoarthritis can be caused by many factors including heredity, obesity, injury or joint overuse.

Unloading Knee Braces – Non-Invasive Options

A safe, non-invasive viable option is an Osteoarthritis Unloader knee brace specifically designed to treat OA. It stabilizes the joint, reduces pain and helps to build stronger muscles allowing patients to return to the activities they love whether that is everyday living or sports. OA braces relieve pain by redistributing the weight bearing load on the painful or affected compartment of the joint to the healthier or unaffected compartment. Increased function studies have shown that wearing an OA brace can increase daily functions and decrease pain. Patients diagnosed with OA who wear a knee brace will generally feel better in the morning, be more active during the day, and rest more comfortably at night. Braces cannot cure osteoarthritis and may not be right for everyone, however, it is a viable and successful solution for many people.There are many different types of OA braces designed for all activity levels. One of the programs offered at Soles in Motion is the 30 Day Free Trial OA Program so you have the opportunity to feel its success without incurring any costs.

No matter what your ability, I believe that with the proper treatment plan, you can reduce your pain and achieve your goals. Education is key in making an informed decision. Keep your joints moving.

These popular winter sports are a great way to stay active.  Although the incidence of injury in both skiing and snowboarding is relatively similar, on the body where these injuries occur are considerably different. Skiers tend to injure the lower extremity – most commonly the knee – while snowboarders are more likely to injure their backs and upper extremity – specifically areas such as the wrist.

The most common knee injuries in skiing are the MCL (medial collateral ligament) and ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).  They occur for different reasons based on the skier’s skill level, the most common being when the knee tilts inwards and the lower leg is forced forwards. This often happens during a fall or when catching an edge.  Preventing knee injuries when skiing is multifactorial. With the pediatric and youth skier, appropriate strength is required before jumping into ski boots. This also is true for the adult skier. Areas of specific focus should be in the hip stabilizers, knee stabilizers, hamstrings and lower back.  Knee braces are designed to prevent injury during skiing and provide support and stability after an injury to keep you on the slopes.  There are several different kinds of knee braces for ligament protection – light weight, designed to fit with ski boots, provide the highest level of twisting and lateral movement.

The most common snowboard injury is the wrist.  The upper body is used to help generate turning forces on the board. In the event of a loss of balance and a subsequent fall, the instinctive reaction of a snowboarder is to outstretch a hand to try and break their fall. This mechanism is commonly known as an ‘FOOSH’ ( Fall Onto an Out Stretched Hand).  There are wrist braces designed to provide maximum protection for the wrist while allowing a range of motion to match your needs.  Made of carbon fiber, they are incredibly strong and are designed for high impact sports.

Soles in Motion services and products are an excellent solution for everyone who wants to be healthier, more active and in less pain.  Whether you want to ski, skate or do your daily chores.  Our team works together to implement the best solution for you.  Soles in Motion also offers a 30-day free trial program on our Osteoarthritis hip and knee braces to make sure they are going to work for you before you commit to purchase.  We are dedicated to making sure our products work.

Custom-made orthotics provide individual correction specific for your foot problem. There are different types of orthotics. Functional orthotics are used to correct problems with a person’s foot mechanics such as overpronation (the foot rolls inward) or supination (the arch is too high and the foot rolls outward) Accommodative orthotics are designed to fit and protect the foot generally from where it functions via cushioning and specific unloading and to relieve pain and pressure in the foot. They improve tolerance for the weight bearing tasks of daily life and typically used with diabetic patients.

Generally speaking, your feet should NOT hurt. Pain indicates that something is wrong. Come in and see us at Soles in Motion and experience how we come up with the right solution for your individual needs.

Submitted by Jen Estabrooks, Co-owner, General Manager, Soles in Motion, 121 Ilsley Avenue soon to be moving to 133 Baker Drive, Dartmouth 902-468-7911 (solesinmotion.ca)

Happy Walking!

Soles in Motion 

As part of our commitment to the treatment of OA, Soles in Motion is offering a no risk 30 day trial on our Osteoarthritis Unloader Knee Braces. By unloading the affected compartment of the knee, the unloader brace offers people with knee OA a safe, proven, low-risk treatment that will reduce your pain and improve your mobility.

We have seen the results and are confident you will be able to maintain or return to an active and healthy lifestyle as a result.

Unloader OA Knee Braces are:

• scientifically and clinically proven to reduce pain and improve mobility
• adjustable to the patients’ symptoms and progression of the OA
• custom made for comfort and performance
• designed for all levels of activity including sports and daily

Soles in Motion focuses on providing you with the best solution to improve your lifestyle, mobility, and activity level no matter what their ability.

Call Soles in Motion at 902-468-7911 and book a no obligation appointment with one or our Certified Brace Specialists, Jen Estabrooks or Scott Lee to see how we can help you!

The most expensive shoes: Ruby Slippers from House of Harry Winston: $3.000.000. This Ruby Slippers is the most expensive and as well as spectacular and splendid slippers in the world. This slippers is the achievement of Ronald Winston, the designer of the House of Harry Winston. The beauty of design coming from 4,600 rubies of 1,350 carats. This shoes has adorned the feet of Judy Garland.To read more

Superstition says that to dream of losing a shoe predicts an illness. This may originate from an old rural superstition from the UK that advises to burn a smelly old shoe in the home to avoid infection in the house. Dusty shoes indicate an unexpected journey and shinny shoes mean happiness in love.In the Western world, tossing old boots in the wake of departing ships was thought to insure a sailor’s safe return home. This tradition is carried out in modern times by tying shoes to the car bumpers after a wedding. This action is said to:1, assure a happy home life; 2, keep a husband from wandering; 3, and all the roads a family takes will always lead back to the home.Read more wedding traditions on wonderfulwraps.com

Shoe dreams deal with walking certain paths in our lives. If you are wearing tight Shoes, the road you are traveling is hard, and much sorrow is involved. Comfortable Shoes indicate you are in a good place in your life and success is around the corner. Guess where to go in comfortable shoes! Come on in and check out our summer collection!

• Back braces remind the wearer to avoid undesirable movements
• Back braces help to achieve proper posture
• Back braces stabilize the pelvis and spine

A very common myth is that wearing a back brace weakens the abdominal muscles and causes poor body mechanics.  Back braces are designed to help the wearer achieve proper posture and increase awareness of the position of the pelvis and spine.  This constantly reminds individuals of their body positions, making it easier to avoid undesirable postures while in the healing or strengthening process.  By increasing the intra-abdominal pressure, a back support acts much like the stays and support rings of a barrel.  If the support rings are tightened a stabilizing effect is achieved.  A properly designed spinal support stabilizes the spine and acts in the same way.  There are many types of back braces. It is important that the correct brace is selected for the condition or injury but as well, it is as important that the brace fit the shape of the individual.  When the patient cannot avoid certain activities, such as work, then the use of a brace is an important part of the treatment process.  It is important that you be assessed by a professional who takes all aspects of your health, lifestyle, and body type into consideration.  Most insurance companies cover braces if prescribed by a medical professional.

Soles in Motion also encourages you to come in and talk to us, let us assess your gait and the footwear you are wearing, these too may be contributing to your pain.  We are here to help and keep you moving no matter what your abilities!

Submitted by:
Jen Estabrooks,
Co-owner, General Manager,
Soles in Motion,
133 Baker Drive, Dartmouth 902-468-7911 (solesinmotion.ca)

Spring marks the end of winter and the transition to summer. The Earth’s axis is angled between its closest and furthest position from the Sun, when temperatures are the most extreme. You can finally ditch the winter layers. 

YOU FEEL HAPPIER!

Exposure to sunlight increases the hormone

serotonin in your brain, which makes you feel happy. There are more hours in the day – more time to get out and move, get things done. 

YOU FEEL ENERGIZED

Exposure to sunlight decreases the chemical melatonin in your body during the day and increases it at night, which helps you sleep better. 

TREES SUDDENLY HAVE LEAVES & PLANTS TURN GREEN

Spring brings growth back to plants and trees. A successful spring leaf growth ensures a cool canopy to relax under during the hot summer.  It’s amazing what a little sunlight, moisture and warm soil can do for plants and grass. Plants convert sunlight into energy and produce the pigment chlorophyll, which turns them green. And it’s not just nice to look at—a study found that people who saw green before a challenge came up with more creative solutions. Spring’s green plant life will hopefully do the same!

FLOWERS BLOOM

Colorful flowers bloom in the spring, signaling to the bees that they are ready for pollination. And science has proven that looking at buttercups can make you happy. Not sure dandelions do the same!  A study found that people in yellow rooms at cocktail parties were more lively and talkative. Spring’s yellow flowers could also lift your mood. 

THE SNOW IS GONE & YOU CAN OPEN YOUR WINDOWS

Increasing temperatures means that snow and ice will no longer plague your getting out and about.  Open your windows to allow the breeze to refresh your home.

Best of All – YOU CAN FIT YOUR FEET INTO A BURST OF SPRING COLOR!

Nothing will make you feel better than coming into Soles in Motion and watching our spring collection grow – it is arriving daily!  Colors and styles to make your feet happy and make you want to shake off the winter blahs and get moving!   See you soon!!!

Any form of exercise can help depression. If this depression is due to injuries over the winter months or being less active, we can help.  At Soles in Motion our belief is that as a community of people wanting to feel good, we can do anything we set out to do.  Yes, we sell products, but we believe in those products and we believe they will help you to move in a healthier direction.  From the proper footwear to an Osteoarthritis Knee Brace we want to help you be happier and healthier.  Because strong social support is important for those with depression, joining a group exercise class may be beneficial. We can recommend groups suited to your activity level whether it is for fun or for the more serious athlete.

Come on in to Soles in Motion and be part of a growing community of “Let’s Get Moving” people.

 More than twenty years ago wife and husband team, Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup, discovered their first product in a tiny store in Europe. They realized that a simple pair of clogs would not only change their lives, but that of everyone who might wear them.
Today, Dansko is a 100% employee owned company based in West Grove, Pennsylvania.  The company employs 180 people and has recently opened a new 200,000 square foot Distribution Centre located near their corporate offices.

Their motto is that every Dansko product must meet the highest standards for comfort, support, durability, fit and performance. From initial sketches to final inspection, hundreds of steps take place before a pair of our shoes will make their way onto your feet.

After reading about this great company, we are excited to bring you Work Wonders™ footwear. We have just received them in store. Come in and try on a pair!

Work Wonders™ footwear are lightweight, slip-resistant shoes which will give you the comfort and support you need to sprint down the halls. Work Wonders™ footwear have wipe-clean uppers and a quick wipe down keeps them spotless.*

* content from WorkWonders.Dansko.com

The ultimate customer experience is when you feel welcome, not pressured, but not ignored.

At Soles in Motion customers come to us for attention, knowledge and specialized service. We are good listeners and want to take time to identify your needs by asking questions and getting to know you. Customers don’t just buy products or services, they buy good feelings and solutions.

Our Soles in Motion Staff love what they do and look for ways to make doing business with us easy. If you are looking for footwear, we measure your feet, both on our educating scan system and with the brannock device. We will also watch your gait (the way you walk) so we can bring out the best footwear suited to your feet. And we love good looking shoes so we strive to dress up your feet to be noticed, whether it is for running, walking, or shopping! You deserve the best service no matter where you go but at Soles in Motion we guarantee it!