Top Tips for Painless Summer Travel from Phil Vasyli, Podiatrist and Founder of Orthaheel and Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear
San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) July 23, 2013 -- Summer is in full swing, which ushered in one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. Wherever the destination might be, summer is a time to relax and enjoy life by embarking on a well-deserved vacation. A good pair of supportive shoes, such as those from good-for-you brands Orthaheel and Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear, is the first step to walking all-day in comfort, transforming a tired traveler to a breezy wayfarer.
The flip-flop, an icon of summer, has for decades been the easy choice for warm weather getaways and weekends on the go; however, it isn’t always the most supportive or healthy choice. In contrast, Orthaheel and Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear feature biomechanical orthotic technology, restoring the foot’s natural (neutral) alignment, enabling the feet, ankles and legs to function as efficiently and dynamically as they were intended – a necessity for travel.
“Non-supportive shoes, such as traditional flip-flops, can cause a common foot injury known as plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot and heel,” said Phillip Vasyli, podiatrist and founder of Orthaheel and Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear. “Flip-flops and many flat sandals leave feet prone to common muscle overuse injuries, which can be easily prevented with the right footwear.”
Whether arriving by land, sea or air, the proper footwear is crucial to an enjoyable summer vacation. In warm summer weather, supportive sandals can make it easy – and comfortable - to walk distances pain-free. They are also a must for people who have experienced prior pain. From the chic Orthaheel Anna fit for a fashion forward city, to the bohemian Weil Renew t-strap sandal and the aptly named Orthaheel Bali sandal ideal for an island getaway, relish summer in both style and comfort.
Tips to keep your feet in tip-top shape during summer travel from leading Australian podiatrist and founder of Orthaheel and Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear, Phil Vasyli:
Air travel: Feet tend to swell not only in hot destinations, but during plane flights. Sitting immobilized in one spot at high altitudes poses the threat of circulation issues, not the least of which is swelling of ankles and feet. To help minimize these uncomfortable travel hazards, remember to fly with breathable shoes that you can easily slip off when you get up in the air and put back on when swelling comes down just before you disembark.
Sightseeing: On an average day, people take 8,000 to 10,000 steps, causing calf muscles to lift up and joints to tense. While on vacation, sightseeing often drastically increases the amount one walks thus increasing the chances of getting foot and leg pains and injuries from minor (blisters and calluses) to major (shin splints and plantar fasciitis).
The following exercises are designed to help travelers go the distance:
• Stretching for the Achilles tendon. Stand on the edge of a step to perform a negative stretch for tendons – bend knee for 25 seconds to stretch Achilles tendon– then straighten. Repeat up to 5 times whenever tightening occurs
• While seated and barefoot, squeeze your foot as if you have a small marble under the ball of your foot. This stretches and helps strengthen the muscles that run under metatarsals that hold feet muscles together
The Orthaheel footwear collection ranges in price from $59.95 to $99.95 and is available at Dillards, http://www.orthaheelusa.com, and select retailers across North America.
Orthaheel Spring/Summer ’13 Lookbook: https://www.dropbox.com/s/05r0h06u68f0lxu/OHSS13%20Catalog_Email%20Version.pdf
The Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear collection ranges in price from $89.95 to $129.95 and is available at Dillards, http://www.weilbeing.com, and select retailers across North America.
Weil Spring/Summer ’13 Lookbook: https://www.dropbox.com/s/r374gw1kaujj4y4/WeilSS13_Look%20Book_email%20version.pdf
About Weil Integrative Footwear
The Weil Integrative Footwear Collection is created in collaboration with Vasyli LLC, whose founder, Australian podiatrist Phillip Vasyli, is among the worlds leading producers of orthotics. The line’s primary styles include sandals and casual and walking shoes for women. Each design incorporates the proprietary AMS Aided Motion System footbed technology developed by Vasyli.
The Weil Integrative Footwear collection ranges in price from $66.95 to $159.95 and is available at Dillard’s and select retailers across North America. For more information and to view informative videos on the health benefits of walking and the Weil Integrative Footwear, please visit http://www.weilbeing.com.
Dr. Weil donates all of his after-tax profits from the sale of the Weil Integrative Footwear products directly to the Weil Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting integrative medicine through training and research.
About Orthaheel
Australian Podiatrist, Phillip Vasyli introduced the award-winning Orthaheel brand in 1991 in order to reach an even larger audience of people struggling with heel, knee, leg and lower back pain. Guided by “think tank” advisors, new technologies in Vasyli Medical orthotics will continue to provide the foundation for the Orthaheel brand. In addition to orthotics, Orthaheel’s unique technology is a built-in staple for its collection of shoes, sandals and slippers. Orthaheel offers the only sandals recommended by both the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and America’s leading wellness doctor, Andrew Weil, MD. Invented by Australian podiatrist Phillip J. Vasyli, Orthaheel offers shoes and orthotics for women and men with unique technology that is clinically shown to reduce over-pronation, which can improve foot function and relieve associated pain.
For more information and to view informative articles written by Phillip Vasyli, please visit http://www.orthaheelusa.com. The line ranges in retail price from $59.95 to $99.95 and is available at zappos.com, Footsmart.com and select retailers across North America.
Amy Cunha, BIG PICTURE PR, http://www.bigpicpr.com, (415) 362-2085, [email protected]
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