SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR FEET

[Music] this is national foot health week a week set aside each year to serve as a reminder to everyone that their feet deserve care and consideration throughout the entire year have you become acquainted with your feet are you aware of the services available today to ensure you of healthier happier feet how many of you have your teeth chest and general health checked regularly and have never been to a chiropodist or given any special attention to your feet would you believe that most people men women and children spend more time and money on their hair than they do on their feet sound feet are the foundation of good health did you ever stop to think what your feet do for you they go to work first when you rise in the morning are responsible for supporting every pound of weight you carry and for moving it wherever and whenever you decide to move until you retire yes when you stop to think about them they do a lot for you but what do you do for them while you answer that question however if you are like most people you don't do nearly enough why do I say that because surveys show that 72% of all persons over the age of 2 in this country have some form of foot disorder the United States Department of Labor and the American College of Surgeons have issued statistics which state that sore feet cost industry in this country a minimum of 100 million dollars a year a survey made in an Ohio public school system showed that over 70% of the graduating seniors had foot disorders amazing as all this may seem the real tragedy of it is that most of it can be corrected why isn't it because people don't stop to think that they have only one pair of feet to last a lifetime they are not properly informed as how to care for the feet and they do nothing about early symptoms of corns calluses or just plain tired aching feet until they can no longer walk it is also true that until tropi T was established as a profession there was no organized attempt to deal with foot problems and little was known as to the causes of what disorders or how they should be treated property is a rapidly growing profession today of specialists trained in the treatment of the foot in health and disease and even though there are over some thousand chiropodists throughout the country the demand for more is heard from every direction the chiropodist today is a well trained specialist in the healing arts profession he is required to have two years of Precure operty college before entering the professional school and must spend four years in an accredited karate school upon successful completion the degree of Doctor of surgical karate is conferred in addition to his knowledge of foot care he is also well informed on how the feet and legs function as a part of the body as a whole so that he is able to recognize systemic disorders that manifest themselves in the feet and thus work in hand with medical doctors to the individuals best interests let's look in on chiropody today and see just what they are doing here we find the doctor in consultation with a patient on her first visit the interrogation is quite extensive as foot disorders other than injuries can be related to anything from childhood diseases to her present appetite now we go into the examining room for the physical part of the examination the doctor systematically checks for any pathology and circulation motion muscle tone neurological response or any condition that would indicate a functional disorder many times this information is not sufficient to get at the cause of the trouble and the chiropodist must resort to other methods of gaining information the x-ray is of great value in showing him many things he could not otherwise see the x-ray is also helpful in determining the correctness of the shoe worn by the patient many times laboratory work is necessary to aid in diagnosis blood tests and other chemical analysis help in many ways to complete the diagnosis while cultures such as these permit the identification of microscopic organisms that allow him to effectively treat skin diseases that do not respond to usual treatment you're chiropodist has many special aids for diagnosis such as the device here used to measure the degree of muscular imbalance he also uses special equipment to test the function of various muscles that must work in harmony to assure proper foot function you have probably heard it said a problem once stated is half solved this is also true in the treatment of the feet once a diagnosis is made the battle is half over the treatment is all that remains a chiropodist being limited by the laws of the state in which he practices well many times find the treatment indicated to be beyond his field this is especially true since many body disorders have their first signs and symptoms appearing in the feet some cases are referred to the patient's family physician as no cure can be effective if it is not corrected at its source a great majority of cases however have their source in the feet and legs and here is where a correction must be done many modes of therapy are employed to bring about the particular correction desired here is a victim of polio myelitis receiving a hydrotherapy treatment this has been very effective in helping to restore function to the involved muscles the use of electric currents have proven their worth in many disorders in this patient it is assisting in developing a muscle balance between the muscles of the leg that control the foot air it is being used to destroy a severe fungus infection at a short time ago made walking painful and difficult for this patient this diathermy machine is producing heat deep in the joint of the sprained ankle infrared ultraviolet and others are employed to assist in returning feet to help sometimes this road to health is long and to save the patient the cost of time and money appliances are employed that permit continuous treatment without the frequent visits to the Carabas this boy five years of age is most fortunate in having a mother who was sufficiently concerned about the condition of his feet to bring him to a chiropodist unlike many others he has feet that are weak in their supportive structures what appears perfectly normal when it is not carrying weight however when the weight of the body is applied to the foot the weak structures give way and the foot completely breaks down now this records showing the foot when bearing weight compared with non-weight-bearing allows for a visual record and taken periodically shows the progress being made by this treatment after several treatments to properly condition the foot a cast is made of each foot in the position to be maintained on weight-bearing x-rays are used to assist in this determination an appliance is then made to conform to the cast which will conform exactly to the foot and as this boy grows his feet can only grow one way a right way as the structures accommodate this correct position appliances will be eliminated and a healthy pair of feet will replace what might otherwise have been a lifetime of pain and discomfort let us view some typical cases that did not receive attention early enough to make complete return to health possible now these patients express many regrets that they were not aware of how to care for their feet and where to find advice and assistance until the damage had exceeded the point of cure however through the modern methods of treatment these people are completely relieved of pain and often it is possible to greatly increase their function it is a common occurrence to see a painful face feebly enter and a happy expression spry ly exit some of the more serious conditions undergo surgery air to the many recent advances in the field of foot health have made possible the correction of many chronic illnesses and have brought about more successful results in the treatment of injuries foot health is rapidly gaining interest in the public school systems in some states regular foot examinations are compulsory in most states it is entirely at the discretion of the local Board of Education it is felt that with a foot health program much is to be gained through education while this is a new part of the health program reports show that foot problems are being reduced since it has been statistically proven that foot health is an expense item to industry many plants are providing a foot health program in connection with their general medical program hospitals throughout the country are rapidly recognizing the need for specialized foot care for their patients reports show that what clinics and hospitals have and diabetes alone reduced amputations from 19% to 4% yes more and more in every field of endeavor we are finding an ever-increasing need for more doctors to care for the multitude of existing foot problems how many of you are probably wondering why it has taken civilization so long to get acquainted with their feet the answer is relatively simple our foot problems have come from our civilization for example the habitat of the American Indian was kind to his feet grasslands and desert not the hardwood floors and concrete pavements of our civilization an Indian who went to New York City on a lecture tour found his feet aching before the day was half over and had to change his moccasins for white man's shoes be conscious of what your feet do for you recognize the warning signs of tired aching feet and legs and follow these ten basic rules or foot health yes bathe your feet once or even twice a day and dry them thoroughly and use foot powder afterwards never wear the same pair of shoes two days in succession and change socks or stockings once or twice a day cut your toenails straight across and not shorter than the flesh we're all leather shoes both soles and uppers and pick the right shoe for the right occasion be sure you have the proper size shoe the proper last shoe and the proper size son or stocking limber up your feet at intervals they have muscles to remember wiggle your toes don't needlessly get your feet wet and don't let them stay wet from perspiration cultivate good posture and give your feet proper support with all leather shoes examine your own and your children's feed at frequent intervals guard against illness don't be in a bathroom surgeon if your feet need attention and saw the qualified to Rapid East [Music] [Applause] [Music]