Foot Help for Healthcare Workers

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we salute the many doctors, nurses and first responders who have been working long hours on the front lines during the COVID 19 pandemic. Being on your feet for extended periods of time without a break can cause foot pain and exacerbate several common disorders such as bunions, flat feet, corns, calluses, blisters and plantar fasciitis. Constantly being on the move can lead to sweaty feet which increases your risk for fungal infections. Below are some ways that healthcare workers and others whose jobs require them to stand or walk for significant periods can find relief and decrease the potential for foot and ankle discomfort.

  • Wear good shoes. The right shoes are a healthcare worker’s good friend. Shoes that fit properly and have sturdy arch support are key. A cushioned insole and padded heel cup will increase comfort. No slip soles are also essential for preventing slips and falls. You can make your shoes more comfortable by adding Gel Heel Cups or Memory Foam Insoles.
  • Keep an emergency supply kit handy. Pack a pair or two of extra socks and change when you notice your feet feel damp. This will limit the amount of time your feet spend in a moist environment and hopefully help you head off a case of athlete’s foot. Foot powder will also be helpful. It’s also a good idea to have some Gel Moleskin to apply to sore spots and prevent painful blisters from forming.
  • Take breaks. Even on busy days if you can find a few minutes to sit down and take the weight of your feet, you’ll fare better in the long run. Put feet up if possible.
  • Rotate tasks. If your workplace and the work you have to complete allows it, try to alternate tasks with co-workers. Not only will this help keep you mentally fresh, changing your physical position and movements will help prevent fatigue and repetitive pressure in one part of the body.

Thank your healthcare workers for all that they have bravely offered to your patients during this trying time.

For all workers with tired and achy feet, check out our complete selection of helpful foot products on our online catalog. All items are easily ordered online. Contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723) if you need assistance.

Getting Back in the Game with Walking or Running

As many parts of the country are starting to re-open and we’re seeing more days of nice weather, we at Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads know that many people will be looking to increase their exercise, especially if COVID 19 disrupted your normal fitness routine. One good way to do this is by starting a walking or running program. There are several pros to these forms of exercise:

  • It allows you to workout and maintain a safe social distance
  • It’s free
  • You can do it practically anywhere—even indoors if you have a treadmill

As with any sound exercise program, however, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind:

Start Slowly—doing too much too soon is a surefire way to incur injuries. The best plans are those that begin with a low level of intensity of activity for a relatively short period of time and then build up gradually to more strenuous, longer walks/runs.

Take Care of Your Feet—of course, a pair of good quality running or walking shoes is a prerequisite for this type of exercise. If you currently have shoes, inspect them to make sure there are no signs of wear. Be sure that your footwear addresses any chronic foot problems that you have. If plantar fasciitis or flatfeet are a concern, for example, you’ll want to make sure your shoes have excellent arch support. We offer several products that can help, including: our Plantar Fasciitis Arch Sleeve and Arch Steppers. Our Full-Length Orthotics can help correct foot imbalances and promote the proper alignment of feet for decreased pressure on painful areas of the foot and ankle and improved biomechanical function. If you suffer with heel pain, you might appreciate our Gel Heel Cup which provides comfortable cushioning with every step.

Deal with Pain Promptly—if your new walking or running plan results in new or increased foot or ankle pain, contact your Podiatrist to schedule a telemedicine or in-person visit to evaluate the source the of your discomfort. Some problems, such as “runner’s toe,” where your toe gets bruised from the repeated pounding up against the front of your shoe, are not harmful and can be relieved with a product like our All Gel Toe Cap. Your foot doctor will be able to prescribe the correct treatment for your foot problem.

We have many products that can increase comfort when walking or running. See all of our products on our online catalog. All items are easily ordered online, and we are offering free shipping on orders of $25 or more. Contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

Diabetic Patients Need to Offload Pressure

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we know that many patients have been reluctant during the COVID crisis to get the care they need for medical conditions. Diabetic patients, however, cannot put off seeking treatment for developing or worsening wounds or ulcers. Regularly inspecting your feet for signs of potential problems such as:

is essential. You should report any unusual or concerning symptoms to your Podiatrist promptly.

Preventing Sores

One important way to protect your feet if you have diabetes is to not allow consistent pressure on one part of your foot. Many patients with this disease experience abnormal levels of oils in the skin of their feet which can make it more vulnerable to breaking down. If you notice a sore spot, consider Gel Callus Cushions, or Gel Dancer’s Pad (Sesamoid Pads). Both of these feature a cut-out area that can surround a sensitive spot and redistribute weight around the affected area.

Avoiding friction from footwear is another way to avoid blisters and sores on your skin. Flip flops, although helpful for preventing fungal infections at the pool, can cause irritation between the toes. Our Gel Sandal Toe Thong Cushion solves the problem, surrounding the thong part of the shoe and eliminating uncomfortable rubbing. You can also use our Gel Moleskin or Moleskin Sheets, both of which can be custom cut and placed anywhere on your foot that is rubbing against your shoes.

In some cases, toe deformities such as bunions and hammertoes, may become the source of secondary issues such as corns and calluses. Products like the Slip-On Felt Bunion Pad and One Toe Gel Crest Pad can help offload pressure and prevent wounds from forming.

View all of our helpful products on our online catalog to find out what we offer. All items are easily ordered online, and we are offering free shipping on orders of $25 or more. Contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

Re-Vamp Your Family’s Diet

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we know that COVID 19 has brought many challenges to families. We hope all of our customers are staying healthy and taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. In an effort to focus on positive outcomes during this time, we want to suggest that this may be a good time to make a move toward healthy eating habits.

Eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet with an appropriate number of calories for each member of the family has many health benefits for your feet and the rest of your body, including:

  • Losing weight if you are overweight or maintaining a healthy weight
  • Helps prevent many disease including: arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure
  • Can decrease inflammation, a symptom of many joint disorders
  • Increase your ability to stay active and focused

Roadmap to Better Habits

Start by doing some research online about what makes a healthy diet. If you have children who are learning at home, see if you can tie in healthy eating to a science or health class. The USDA website has special sections on healthy eating. Check out https://www.choosemyplate.gov/. Some tips to try:

  • Since grocery shopping isn’t as easy as it’s been in the past, this is a doubly good reason to plan menus ahead of time. Get family member input on what makes a healthy meal. Hint: at least half your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables, one quarter with lean protein and one quarter with whole grains or starches.
  • Discuss healthy cooking methods like broiling, grilling and roasting. Keep fried food to a once in a while treat or consider air frying which uses less fat to cook foods. Teach your children some basic cooking skills and let them help with age appropriate tasks in the kitchen.
  • Explore international cuisines that use different spices and cooking methods that fit the healthy model you’ve developed. Choose a different country to “visit” at the dinner table each week.

Enjoy the time you spend cooking and eating together as a family. Hopefully, this will help create some new family rituals that will continue after the virus is long gone.

If you have foot health care needs, review our online catalog. We’re here for all your foot pad needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

Pandemic Survival: Emotional Health Tips

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we are hoping all of our patients are taking the necessary steps to avoid the virus and stay physically healthy. But what about emotional health? This time of pandemic can create stress and anxiety for adults and children. The good news is that this is an area you can actually have control over. Below are some suggestions that will help.

  • Stick to a Schedule—although many adults are not going into the office and children are home from school, it is still beneficial to maintain a routine. Endless hours of free time, hanging out all day in pajamas and mindlessly flipping through television stations can increase depression and fuel scary thoughts. Try to get up at the same time each day (at least Monday-Friday). Eat meals at regular times. Set a schedule for doing schoolwork or office work. Try to keep as much normalcy as possible—for instance, if you usually walk your children to the bus in the morning, take a quick walk around the neighborhood with them before settling into work.
  • Get Enough Sleep—insomnia is linked to depression and with all there is to worry about it’s no wonder sleeping well may prove difficult. Be sure your family engages in some physically active pursuits such as working in the yard, exercising, etc. This will improve sleep quality. Have a wind down routine—reading, warm shower, prayers, etc. that signals time for sleep. Strive for 8 hours nightly.
  • Plan for Positive Activities—be sure your schedule includes time for connecting with family and friends that you are no longer able to see. Phone calls and even better, options that allow you to see the person as well such as Zoom, What’s App and Facetime, will be grounding and make everyone feel better.
  • Maintain Personal Care—making sure children are brushing their teeth, bathing on schedule, changing into clean clothes, combing hair, etc. will help improve everyone’s mood. Ditto for making beds and staying on track with keeping bedrooms and common living areas clean and organized.

Making these efforts will have a twofold benefit. First, it will improve emotional health during this challenging time and second, it will help everyone be ready to smoothly transition back to regular school, work and life routines when the virus passes—which it will!

As always, we are here for you. If you have any foot care needs, view our online catalog and feel free to contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

5 Ways to Stay Sane While Self-Isolating

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we hope all of our clients are staying healthy and taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the COVID virus. This challenging time has meant a lot of adjustments for people and we’d like to offer some suggestions for ways to pass the time that will help everyone make the best of this stressful period.

  1. Have a Feel-Good Movie-a-Thon—what’s your favorite genre? Romance, comedy? Rather than mindlessly flipping from channel to channel, look for movies with a positive message. If you live with others, ask everyone to share a favorite movie and tell why it impacted them.
  2. Finally Clean Out That Closet! Sort clothes into keep, give away and toss piles. Make note of items you need to replace in your wardrobe. Consider have a facetime or zoom session with friends and have a virtual swap. Show pieces that are up for grabs and put aside for when you get together to give to your friends. Don’t forget to go through your shoe wardrobe as well and toss styles that are worn or hurt your feet.
  3. Stay Fit—although gyms may be closed, it’s important to continue to get regular exercise. Enjoy neighborhood walks, especially on good-weather days. Get creative at home and set up your own fitness circuit using whatever exercise equipment you have. You can use water bottles and canned goods for weights. Try a thick book for stair stepping up and own. Look up new exercise routines online. For a quick fitness hit that’s fun with children, have a spontaneous dance party—crank up the tunes and have everybody show off their best moves.
  4. Preserve Precious Family Memories—how many of us have flash drives full of images or boxes of actual photos that have never been organized? Now is a great time to put photos in albums and organize digital images. Discover new ways to share photos. Let children help with this project and use the time to pass on stories about your family.
  5. Learn Something New—thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can learn just about anything from how to knit to speak a foreign language or make the perfect souffle. What have you always wished you knew how to do?  Many schools have switched to online learning. Why not explore new places around the globe as a family using the resources available.

At Dr. Jill’s we want you to know that we are here for you. If you have any foot product needs, don’t hesitate to contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723). Be safe and stay healthy.

Celebrate Foot Health Awareness Month

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we’re pleased to recognize Foot Health Awareness Month which takes place each year in April. There are many ways to improve the health of your feet and we offer hundreds of products to help alleviate pain and correct podiatric dysfunction (see our online catalog for a full listing). Below are some tips for taking good care of your feet.

Don’t put off getting foot pain evaluated.

Pain is your foot’s way of signaling that something is wrong. Calluses, for example, although they look like a thick patch of dead skin on the surface of your foot, actually indicate an excessive pressure or repeated friction creating a vulnerable spot that your foot wants to protect. Calluses can become quite painful. We offer several products that can bring relief and protect a sore area including, Gel U-Shaped Pads, Felt Callus Pad and Gel Callus Cushions. It’s important to talk to your Podiatrist to determine the underlying cause of a callus and correct it.

Keep an eye on toe deformities.

Toe deformities, such as bunions and hammertoes are progressive conditions. Your Podiatrist will want you to come in regularly for checkups in order to monitor these problems and determine if changes in treatment are necessary. To help with bunions, we suggest our Bunion Care Compression Sleeve or our Spreader with Bunion Combo. For patients who suffer with hammertoes, we recommend Foam Toe Separators and 1 Toe Gel Crest Pad.

Take care of toenails.

Good toenail care is an important part of a sound foot health regimen. Keep nails trimmed short, but not so short that the surrounding skin starts to overlap the nail, causing it to become ingrown. File toenails straight across, avoiding rounded edges. If, despite your best efforts, you do end up with a painful ingrown toenail, try soaking your foot in warm water several times a day and gently trying to massage the nail out of the skin. In the meantime, the All Gel Toe Cap and Gel and Fabric Toe Cap will help cushion and protect hurting toes.

Order soon and take advantage of our 15% Off your purchase and make sure to enter discount code MADEINUSA. Free shipping is also available on orders over $25. Our products are easily ordered online, or you can contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

Protect Your Feet During Home Workouts

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we know that across the country people are self-isolating in their homes due to the Coronavirus. Many people, however, are determined to continue with some form of regular exercise and this is a good idea. The benefits of exercise to your feet and the rest of your body are multiple:

  • Improving circulation
  • Maintaining flexibility and range of motion
  • Lower your risk of heart disease and hypertension
  • Reducing stress
  • Help maintain a healthy weight
  • Lowering cholesterol and blood sugar

Not Your Usual Exercise Routine

Without being able to visit the gym, play a team sport or even go to the store to buy new exercise equipment, staying fit requires some creativity. Fortunately, there are ways to continue to work out indoors. Consider some of these possibilities:

  • Just dance! Energetic dancing burns lots of calories and it releases feel-good endorphins as well. Dig out your old Dance Party game DVDs or just put on a favorite CD or station and get moving. This is a good activity to do with children as well. Mix it up with some freeze dancing and different family members taking turns at being DJ.
  • Use your media. There are an endless number of apps, YouTube videos and even TV exercise shows through which you can find a wide variety of different exercise programs. Whether you want to strength train, burn calories and lose weight or work on specific muscle groups, it’s all there. You may actually discover a new routine or two that you’ll want to continue even after isolation is over.
  • Set up an indoor exercise circuit. Use several rooms if necessary but set up stations for crunches, push-ups, etc. Use the hallway for lunges and the stairs for stepping. Need weights? Try soup cans or various size water bottles or milk jugs.

Keep Feet Safe

Indoors or out, follow appropriate precautions for your feet:

Remember with any new fitness activity, if your feet hurt, stop and contact your Podiatrist for directions. We offer products for all type of foot problems. To see our complete selection, view our online catalog. All products can be easily ordered online or contact us at (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

Taking Care of Deformed Toes Before Summer Shoe Season

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we know that it can be easy to ignore unsightly toe deformities such as bunions, hammertoes or crooked toes during the winter months when feet are pretty much kept out of sight. As summer approaches, however, and open-toe shoe styles start to hit the stores, many patients begin to consider how to correct a deformed toe. Fashion shouldn’t be your top concern, however. In many cases toe deformities can become painfully disabling, making it difficult to stand, walk and perform other daily tasks.

The first step toward correcting unsightly toes is by making an appointment with the Podiatrist. A foot doctor will perform a complete examination of your toes and feet, get a medical history, perform any necessary testing and then diagnose the cause of your deformity. A wide range of treatment options are available both conservative and surgical and the Podiatrist will determine the best course of action based on your individual case.

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we offer a number of products that can help with a variety of toe deformities. For toes that are crooked or overlapping try our Gel Buddy Splint. Choose small, medium or large, depending on which toes are affected. Our Bunion Night Splint will properly align the big toe and reduce bunion pressure while stretching muscles and tendons. If your Podiatrist performs a surgical correction of your bunion, the splint may be recommended for use after the surgical dressing is removed. Hammertoes can cause multiple difficulties. The downward bend of the toe or toes affected can make walking quite painful. A hammertoe can also result in excessive pressure and friction from footwear to the top or tip of the bent toe leading to corns and calluses. Our Gel Hammer Toe Cushions with Adjustable Crest Pad help with all aspects of this deformity. Relieving pressure and pain on the tips of the toes it also helps lift and straighten bent toes.

Now is the time to deal with toe deformities. To see our full line of podiatric products for toe deformities and other foot problems, go to on our online catalog. All items are easily ordered online, and we offer free shipping on orders of $25 or more. Contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

Virus Protection Important for Your Feet

Seems like everywhere you turn there’s more information about the Corona Virus. At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we hope everyone is staying healthy but think this is a good opportunity to stress the importance of virus protection for your feet. Many common foot problems such as warts, athlete’s foot and fungal toenails are transmitted by a virus or fungi. There are some simple steps you can take to help prevent infections in your feet. These include:

  • Keep feet covered. This is particularly important in public places such as town pools, nail salons and gyms where people tend to be barefoot. Foot infections are passed on by direct contact. Wearing shower shoes or flip flops will protect your feet.
  • Don’t share. Do not use someone else’s emery board, nail clippers, socks, shoes, towel or any other item that touches their feet.
  • Stay dry. Many infections tend to develop and thrive in damp conditions. If you notice your socks feel damp, change them. Be sure to completely dry your feet after showering—particularly between your toes. Use a foot powder if your feet tend to sweat excessively.

Fungal Toenails

Symptoms of a fungal toenail are discoloration, thickening of the nail and chipping or crumbling at the edges. Don’t ignore these signs. Left untreated, a fungal toenail can become painful. If you have reached this stage, we can offer relief from the pain while you get treatment. If your toe is hurting, we recommend our All Gel Toe Cap and our Gel and Fabric Toe Cap. Both of these products can ease the discomfort of toe pain and also protect your sore toe from impact and friction. These products are also useful if you have an ingrown toenail.

In addition to helping with painful toe conditions, we also offer products for crooked toes and hammer toes. To see our full line of podiatric products, go to on our online catalog. All items are easily ordered online, and we offer free shipping on orders of $25 or more. Contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).