When he was a teenager, William Van Marel, Jr. took up a rather unusual hobby. Under the instruction of his neighbor and the local shoemaker, Wilhelm Jansen, Van Marel carved traditional Dutch wooden clogs, or klompen, out of basswood harvested from the nearby woods.
After moving to Iowa in 1956, Jansen began shipping his wooden clogs across the United States. At the same time the Orange City shoemaker crafted shoes locally, fitting townspeople as well as the Pride of the Dutchmen, the local marching band. Jansen carves his klompen according to the wearer’s needs, physically modifying his wooden shoes to aid foot problems such as bunions or high arches.
Since Jansen’s passing thirty years ago in June, Van Marel has now taken it upon himself to keep the tradition alive.
Proper foot support is of utmost in importance in foot health. For information regarding appropriate footwear or other podiatric issues, consult Dr. Jeff Wachtel, D.P.M., of Wachtel Family Foot Care. Dr. Wachtel will provide you with your foot and ankle needs.
The Importance of Proper Foot Support
Walking is an everyday function for both men and women, and in order to keep your body’s balance in order, you are going to need shoes that provide the proper kinds of support.
Poor foot support can cause pain and discomfort in the lower back, hips, knees, neck and shoulder. It also can lead to emotional stress, and physiological changes in the body. In order to avoid these problems, you must have proper foot support.
The arch is the most important part of the foot, which is where most of the support and balance of your feet lies. The arch of your foot varies in height, and as you age, this height can change. Proper foot support will help musculoskeletal issues, which causes inactivity or disability.
When looking for shoes that give proper support to your feet, you should refrain from wearing ill-fitting shoes. If footwear is too tight, this can affect the body’s posture, stress, bone deformities, and other foot and back pain. Therefore, it is important that shoes fit well in order to avoid these complications.
For more information about the Importance of Proper Foot Support, follow the link below.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office in Lansdale, PA. We offer the latest in diagnostic and treatment technologies to meet all your needs.
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