We walk all over them, but most of the time there’s no complaint – until it’s too late.
“If the Shoe Fits … The Secrets of Walking for Health,” a free, information-only presentation about feet, shoes and the science of selecting the right fit to last a lifetime, will be offered four times – twice each on two days – in September in Pierce County. Participants in the workshops hosted by Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center will learn about how and why feet change and how shoes should be evaluated for long-term benefit.
The presentation will be held on:
• Sept. 15 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Pierce County Annex Main Meeting Room (2401 S. 35th St. in Tacoma) and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Senior Center (9112 Lakewood Dr. SW. in Lakewood). Organizers are asking for participants to RSVP for this site at 253-798-4090.
• Sept. 17 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the County-City Building’s seventh-floor conference (903 Tacoma Ave. in Tacoma) and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Summit branch of Pierce County Library (5107 112th St. E. in the Summit area).
The average woman will own 450 pairs of shoes in a lifetime. Men will own about half that many. Yet few people have their feet measured professionally, trusting only their feel. A lifetime of ill-fitting shoes can result in pain and discomfort in our later years, according to officials of Aging and Disability Resources.
“We talk all the time about aging in place,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources. “The most important way to age in place is to stay physically active. Owning the right pair of shoes makes all the difference in the world if someone wants to keep moving. Good-fitting shoes are the best way for families to support their loved ones –and themselves – into their later years.”
“If the Shoe Fits… The Secrets of Walking for Health” will be presented by Bobby Lozier, a pedorthist certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics. He will speak about foot anatomy, balance and circulatory issues, shoe design and features, shoe fit, how feet change, diabetes and foot care, health issues that are revealed in feet and specialized pedorthic products.
Additional information about the workshops is available at 253-798-4600.