Atlas Biomechanics : How can foot callus be prevented?

Atlas Biomechanics : How can foot callus be prevented?:  Foot cushion pads are an inexpensive treatment option for many patients. It can help prevent surgery and more expensive treatment alternati...

How can foot callus be prevented?

 Foot cushion pads are an inexpensive treatment option for many patients. It can help prevent surgery and more expensive treatment alternatives. How can foot callus be prevented?

How can foot callus be prevented?

1. Eliminate ill fitting shoes. Shoes can be either too tight causing pressure or too loose causing friction. Either way, by wearing a proper fitting shoe will help decrease callus formation.

2. Eliminate high heel shoes. High heel shoes will cause toes to be pushed up (dorsiflexed) and shifts the bottom fat pad off the metatarsal bones. If one must wear high heel shoes, wearing a callus pad or metatarsal pad will help.

3. Wearing socks. Socks will cushion the foot, preventing the friction and pressure causing foot callus.

4. Correct abnormal gait. If one walks, jogs or runs wrong, then the pressure or friction will cause a callus. Wearing a corrective orthotic such as our heat mold orthotic will help decrease callus formation.

5. Prevent foot callus formation by wearing a callus pad to the affected area. Foam, felt or gel callus pads redistribute pressure and friction off the callus area.

Atlas Biomechanics manufacturers a full line of medical grade foot pads. These include U shaped callus pads, Oval callus pads, Dancer’s / Sesamoid pads, Corn pads, Ball of Foot / Metatarsal pads and Morton’s Neuroma pads.

Teri Green

Atlas Biomechanics

Atlas Biomechanics : Heel Lifts for Unequal Limb Length in Polio Patients

Atlas Biomechanics : Heel Lifts for Unequal Limb Length in Polio Patients:  Polio patients usually have a short leg and or scoliosis that can be treated with a common in shoe heel lift. This leg length discrepancy i...

Heel Lifts for Unequal Limb Length in Polio Patients

 Polio patients usually have a short leg and or scoliosis that can be treated with a common in shoe heel lift. This leg length discrepancy is permanent. Polio patients commonly will have lower back pain, hip, knee, and ankle pain due to the unequal leg length (short leg). Medical providers can easily treat the patient’s discomfort with a simple shoe heel lift. Usually, a heel lift that is dispensed is about 1/4 the limb length discrepancy. The proper height depends on the patient’s comfort level and how long they have had the short limb.

In shoe heel lifts are placed on the short limb side underneath the shoe’s insole. This allows the heel lift to sit firmly at the bottom of the shoe. Optimum control and comfort to the patient is then achieved. In shoe heel lifts can be manufactured from cork and EVA/rubber blend. They come in different heights to correct the leg discrepancy.

Atlas Biomechanics produces in shoe heel lifts here in the USA from medical grade rubber/cork and eva/rubber. They come in heights of 1/8″ (3mm) heel lift, 1/4″ (6mm) heel lift, 3/8″ (9mm) heel lift and 1/2″ (12mm) heel lift. An adjustable heel lift, that allows the heel riser to properly fit the short leg is a common type for polio patients. The 1/4″ heel lift is our most popular short leg lift for polio patients.

Teri Green

Atlas Biomechanics

About Atlas Biomechanics: We are a woman-owned sports medical manufacturer of heel lifts, foot pads, and heat mold orthotics.

Atlas Biomechanics : Hockey Skate Custom Orthotics ( Ice Skate Arch Sup...

Atlas Biomechanics : Hockey Skate Custom Orthotics ( Ice Skate Arch Sup...:  Custom orthotics in hockey ice skates are used to increase the stability of the ankle, foot and knee. In the foot, it especially controls t...

Hockey Skate Custom Orthotics ( Ice Skate Arch Supports ) and Gait Cycle

 Custom orthotics in hockey ice skates are used to increase the stability of the ankle, foot and knee. In the foot, it especially controls the subtalar, midtarsal and ankle joints. If any of these joints are not in their most efficient  joint positions, then the ice skater will not have the most effective skating power.

The typical ice skater’s lower extremities never goes through a complete gait cycle. A skater ideally should have limited foot mechanics between the midstance and the beginning of propulsion, with slight knee flexion during the entire contact phase. When initiating a turn, an hockey skater will maintain their control by directing the inside knee medially and transferring the load inward to the foot’s medial edge. By internally rotating the tibia, a closed kinetic chain pronation of the foot will occur, which transfers the pressure through the skate boot through the blade’s inside edge.

Higher level hockey skaters will have a more subtle dynamic and the reverse is true for the beginner. When a hockey ice skater has an over pronated or unstable foot structure, they may a harder time turning as the medial arch of the foot may collapse within the skate boot before the edging force can be transferred.

Some indications you may need a hockey ice skate orthotic arch support.

1. Foot and or Ankle pain or fatigue with ice skating.

2. Weak crossovers.

3. Difficulty making a turn.

4. Knee and or Low Back pain or fatigue while skating.

5. Chronic fatigue or pain directly after skating.

A hockey ice skate orthotic should allow greater control with turning and crossovers. Usually, persons with ice skate custom arch support orthotics notice longer stride length and more explosive leg power. Ice skate custom arch supports should be thin for ease of placement, 3/4 length for toe room, semi rigid for control and adjustable for modifications. The best place for a hockey orthotic is under the skate’s insole for comfort, control and proper placement.

A heat moldable, direct contact orthotic from Atlas Biomechanics achieves all the above goals. It is only 1.3mm thick, fabricated with just a hot water bath, heat gun or toaster oven. Duplicate a lab built custom orthotic in less than 10 minutes.

Some Benefits of Our Heat Moldable Orthotics

*3/4 semi rigid sport orthotic shell.

*12mm heel cup for added control

*Medium profile (Sport Orthotic) to fit in most ice skates, gym, and casual shoes.

*1.3 mm thin. *Completely heat moldable and reheat formable.

*Proprietary material used to ease of mold.

*Total custom contact fit.

Teri Green

Atlas Biomechanics

About Atlas Biomechanics: We are a woman owned sports medical manufacturer of Heat Moldable Orthotics.

Atlas Biomechanics : Cork Adjustable Heel Lift with built in Varus/Valg...

Atlas Biomechanics : Cork Adjustable Heel Lift with built in Varus/Valg...: Atlas Biomechanics has developed a total new type of heel lift. We manufacture the only cork adjustable heel lift with a varus or valgus hee...

Cork Adjustable Heel Lift with built in Varus/Valgus Heel Wedge

Atlas Biomechanics has developed a total new type of heel lift. We manufacture the only cork adjustable heel lift with a varus or valgus heel wedge built into the device. This type of adjustable heel lift is more stabilizing to the short leg. We are the only ones producing such an in shoe heel lift.

Atlas Biomechanics Adjustable Heel Lift with varus or valgus heel wedge

*Three removable 3 mm (1/8 inch) rubber cork layers.

*Each layer is peelable to achieve the proper correction of limb length discrepancy.

*1/2 of the bottom layer can be peeled for varus or valgus correction.

The heel wedge part helps prevent pronation of the Subtalar Joint of the short limb.

Most short legs will have an inverted calcaneus, our heel lift brings the ground to the foot.

More stabilizing foundation to the short limb.

Rubber cork is durable, light weight and comfortable.

Easily fabricate either a Varus Heel Wedge or Valgus Heel Wedge.

Sizes: Small: women 4-7 Medium: women 8-10, men 7-9 Large: women 9-11, men 10-14

Teri Green

Atlas Biomechanics

About Atlas Biomechanics: we are a woman owned sports medical manufacturer of Heel Lifts, Foot Pads and Heat Moldable Orthotics.

Atlas Biomechanics : Mole Skin Foot Pads To Treat Blisters and Calluses

Atlas Biomechanics : Mole Skin Foot Pads To Treat Blisters and Calluses:  Moleskin foot pads is a simple cushion used to treat numerous foot problems for almost 100 years. Moleskin is an inexpensive foot pads that...

Mole Skin Foot Pads To Treat Blisters and Calluses

 Moleskin foot pads is a simple cushion used to treat numerous foot problems for almost 100 years. Moleskin is an inexpensive foot pads that are a thin felt cushion with an adhesive backing. The most common shape of a mole skin pad is the kidney shaped foot pad.

Foot calluses and blisters are usually caused by shoe friction or pressure on the skin. This is usually due to the shoe rubbing on a bone in the shoe. In the case of a callus, the underlying skin is trying to protect it self by growing more skin. Over production of this abnormal skin growth will cause a callus to form.

Blisters are also caused by a rubbing shoe from irritation or pressure. Instead of a callus formation, the skin will try to protect itself by forming a fluid filled sac.

By wearing a mole skin pad the abnormal shoe friction over a bone is dispersed upon the pad and not the skin. Many athletes will wear them to protect a boney prominence. Women who wear high heeled shoes also will use moleskin pads to prevent shoe irritation.

The most common areas using  moleskin on the foot are the metatarsals ( ball of foot ) and behind the heel. The posterior heel area is very susceptible to blister formation since the shoe riding up and down on the foot will cause skin irritation and possible blister formation. The ball of foot area gets a pressure from the ground and especially if the shoe does not have enough cushioning. People with a thin plantar fat pad especially can benefit from a moleskin foot pad.

Teri Green

Atlas Biomechanics

About Atlas Biomechanics: We are a woman owned sports medical manufacturer of Foot Pads, Heel Lifts and Heat Moldable Orthotics.

Atlas Biomechanics : 2020 Heel Lift Study For Post Hip/Knee Replacement...

Atlas Biomechanics : 2020 Heel Lift Study For Post Hip/Knee Replacement...: Heel Lift Study For Post Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery Patients Heel lifts have been used in post hip and knee replacement surgery patien...

2020 Heel Lift Study For Post Hip/Knee Replacement Surgery Patients

Heel Lift Study For Post Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery Patients

Heel lifts have been used in post hip and knee replacement surgery patients ever since the surgeries’ beginnings. Atlas Biomechanics' 2020 unscientific survey is from our practitioners who dispense our heel lifts.  Here are the results from the survey. Over 382 health care practitioners who dispense Atlas Biomechanics’ heel lifts responded to our survey request.

1) Practitioners dispensing heel lifts post hip replacement surgery.

Orthopedic Surgeons 35%, Physical Therapists 28%, Chiropractors 22%, Podiatrists 8%, Others 7%

2) Heel height discrepancy found.

9 mm heel height discrepancy 42%

6 mm heel height discrepancy 35%

12 mm heel height discrepancy 11%

3 mm heel height discrepancy 8%

Others 4%

3) Most common complaints of patients with leg length discrepancy post hip replacement surgery.

lower back pain 33%

knee pain 32%

unsteady gait 20%

ankle pain 10%

others 4%

4) Most common heel lift height dispensed

6 mm heel lift 34%

12 mm heel lift 22%

3 mm heel lift 23%

 9 mm heel lift 21%

Thank you to all of our practitioners who completed our survey and who use our heel lifts.

Teri Green

Atlas Biomechanics

About Atlas Biomechanics: We are a sports medical manufacturer of Heel Lifts, Foot Pads, and Heat Moldable Orthotics. Heel Lifts produced are 3, 6, 9 and 12 mm heights. We also produce cork lifts and adjustable heel lifts.

Atlas Biomechanics : Callus Foot Pads: Felt, Foam or Gel, What is the D...

Atlas Biomechanics : Callus Foot Pads: Felt, Foam or Gel, What is the D...: So what is the difference between foam, felt and reusable gel callus foot pads? The typical callus pad is typically manufactured from one of...

Callus Foot Pads: Felt, Foam or Gel, What is the Difference?

So what is the difference between foam, felt and reusable gel callus foot pads? The typical callus pad is typically manufactured from one of three materials. These materials are medical grade felt, foam and gel. All of them will off load a painful foot callus to decrease the pain and help prevent them from returning.

Lets discuss the felt callus pad. It is the most common material used in foot pads. The most common material for a  callus pad is a felt. Medical grade felt is produced from a blend of cotton and Rayon. The cotton/Rayon padding is compressed in to sheets called felt. The advantages of felt callus pads are that the material breathes with allows sweat to wick away from the body. Also these callus protectors are easily cut to form a more custom fit. Felt is denser than foam callus pads and will hold its thickness longer. Felt also allows the user to peel off the material to make the pad thinner. Felt callus pads usually come in 1/8" or 1/4" thickness and have an adhesive backing to all the pad to stick to the skin or into the shoe.

The second most common callus foot cushion material is a foam callus pad. Foam is produced from petrochemicals in to sheets that are cut to form the foot pad. Foam does not breathe as much as felt does.  Foam callus foot pads are more of a spongy and flexible than the felt.  A foam callus pad will compress faster than the felt one. Some patients prefer the foam due to its spongy feel. Just like the felt callus foot pads, the foam one also are produced in 1/8" or 1/4" thickness and have an adhesive backing.

Gel callus pads are the newest type to be produced. The advantages of the gel callus pad is how long it lasts. It can be used over and over again and it will not compress. The bottom of the gel foot cushion is sticky. The gel is not as spongy and soft as either the felt or foam material. Gel callus pads also cost more to produce. 

Teri Green

Atlas Biomechanics

Atlas Biomechanics: We are a woman owned sports medical manufacturer of Foot Pads, Heel Lifts and Heat Moldable Orthotics.