24 Seven August 2021

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EDITOR IN CHIEF
Joan Herrmann
—
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lindsay Pearson
—
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Matt Herrmann
—
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Chris Giordano
Andrea Valentie
Oliver Pane
—
CONTRIBUTORS
Naz Beheshti
Lorie Gardner, RN, BSN, NBC-HWC
Gayle Gruenberg, CPO-CD, CVPO
Joan Herrmann
Anant Joshi, DPM
Linda Mitchell, CPC

FROM THE EDITOR
—
In a world where beauty is often defined
by how we look, it can be challenging to
see ourselves in a positive light. We’re sold
products to make us thinner and prettier,
always telling us that we are not good the
way we are. These messages can destroy
a woman’s self esteem and lead her to
undertake a variety of unhealthy practices.
I recently had the opportunity to speak
with Michelle Phillips, a celebrity makeup
artist, who has worked for many years
helping women look good on the outside. But
it’s what she has witnessed doing that job that
has led her to now help women transform
their inside first. Michelle has seen some of
the most beautiful women in the world beat
themselves up picking out what they believe
are their flaws or inadequacies. According to
Michelle, no matter how externally attractive
they are, they never feel beautiful. She has
come to believe that beauty is not a size, it’s
not a specific look or a certain age … beauty
is an attitude!
In our conversation, Michelle and I talk
about ways we can learn to see who we truly
are at our core, and we present strategies
to cultivate self love and a positive way of
seeing ourselves.
Listen to the conversation with Michelle:
www.cyacyl.com/shows/michelle-phillips.
— Joan Herrmann

MICHELLE PHILLIPS
ISSUE NO.130

INSIDE THIS
ISSUE
ON THIS MONTH’S
COVER
FOUR WAYS TO RAISE YOUR
HAPPINESS SET POINT
BY JOAN HERRMANN
PAGE 12
MICHELLE PHILLIPS INSPIRES WOMEN TO NOT JUST
LOOK AMAZING, BUT TO BE AMAZING.
LISTEN TO MICHELLE ON CYACYL:
www.cyacyl.com/shows/michelle-phillips
BEFORE WE CAN PRESS RESET,
WE HAVE TO PRESS PAUSE
BY NAZ BEHESHTI
PAGE 18
AWAKEN TO THAT POWERFUL MIDLIFE YOU:
SHIFTING TO MIDDLE AGE AND BEYOND
BY LORIE GARDNER
PAGE 24
TURN OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITIES
BY LINDA MITCHELL
PAGE 28
WORDS ARE POWERFUL
BY GAYLE GRUENBERG
PAGE 32
ORTHOTICS FOR CHILDREN
BY ANANT JOSHI, DPM
PAGE 36
AUGUST 2021
24 SEVEN MAGAZINE

NEED NEW AD

ISSUE
NO.130
AUGUST
2021
WHAT
MAKES
YOU
HAPPY?
Just about everyone wants to be happy. Aristotle said,
“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the
whole aim and end of human existence.” If happiness is
something we strive so hard to attain, and if it is truly the
end all and be all of life, then why does it elude so many?
Written by Joan Herrmann

T
There is a pervasive myth that we
can be happy when we achieve (fill in the blank). I’ll be
happier when I lose weight. I’ll be happier when I get a
better job. I’ll be happier when I have more money in the
bank. I’ll be happier when I get married. And the list goes
on and on.
But happiness doesn’t depend on achievements, goals,
money, relationships or anything external. None of these
things will make us happy for the long haul. They provide
a short-term spike in happiness followed by a quick
return to normal, where we begin the search externally
for the next big thing. For many, this becomes the cycle
of their life. So, why does this happen?
Recent research has shown that we each have a
happiness set point, which is based 50 percent on
genetics; 10 percent on circumstance; and 40 percent
on intentional activity, such as habits, thoughts and
behavior. This set point is where we are most comfortable,
and where we tend to hover. When we get what we want,
we are elevated and feel happy for awhile, but then we
return to our set point.
To achieve true happiness, we must raise this set point!
The science of epigenetics teaches that we have more
control than originally thought over our genes, that they
can be influenced by changing our habits. So when you
factor in the genetic component, up to 90 percent of our
set point can be influenced by our habits. That gives us
tremendous power over the way we feel.
According to Marci Shimoff, author of Happy for
No Reason, people who are truly happy have an inner
state of peace and well being that doesn’t depend on
their circumstance. They have different habits. She
recommends that to elevate our set point, we have to
practice what she calls happiness habits.
Here are a four ways we can make change that lasts:
Don’t believe everything you think. The brain is
wired to pay more attention to whatever it perceives
as threatening to survival. Specialized circuits register
negative experiences immediately in emotional memory.
This is known as the negativity bias and is what most
of us experience daily. Out of our 60,000 to 70,000
thoughts per day, approximately 80 percent are negative.
Our patterns of thought ultimately determine how happy
we are in life. Become mindful of them and make sure
they serve you well.
Savor positive experiences. According to Dr. Rick
Hanson, author of Hardwiring Happiness, “The brain
is like Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for
positives ones.” Experts say it takes 20 seconds for a
positive experience to stick long enough to create a new
neuro pathway in the brain, much longer than it take for
a negative experience to stick. Spend time enjoying the
little things; eventually they will make a big difference.
Practice gratitude. Be grateful for what is working. We
get more of what we focus on, so focus on what works.
Look for the tiny things usually taken for granted and
feel appreciation for them. Write at least five blessings
down daily in a gratitude journal.
Forgive others. We cannot be happy when holding on
to anger and resentment. Forgiveness is a process that
includes letting go of negative emotions, thoughts, and
behaviors, and replacing those with positive thoughts,
emotions, and behaviors toward the offender. As Paul
Boese said, “Forgiveness does not change the past, but
it does enlarge the future.” Release the pain and let it go.
About The Author
JOAN HERRMANN
Joan Herrmann is the creator of the Change Your Attitude…
Change Your life brand and host of the radio show and podcast,
Conversations with Joan. She is a motivational speaker and the
publisher of 24 Seven magazine.
To Learn More Visit:
www.JoanHerrmann.com

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August 2021 Issue
Before We Can Press Reset,
We Have to Press Pause
Written by Naz Beheshti
F
Finding a state of clarity and
awareness in a setting designed to encourage mindfulness
— a yoga studio, a meditation session, whatever works for
you — is a good start. Bringing that clarity and awareness
with you into the rest of your life, especially to your most
challenging moments, is the powerful, ultimate goal.
When mindfulness becomes part of our very being, it
becomes portable. We can take it with us anywhere. When
mindfulness informs our life choices, small and large, it
becomes mindfulness in action. Once we get in the habit
of making strong choices, the ripple effects travel far and
wide. One mindful choice begets another. In business,
active choices produce sounder strategy and a stronger
vision and culture.
First, however, we have to break the cycle of disconnection
and distraction. We have to step away from the noise of
the world, from the noise of our minds. When we find
ourselves slipping into stress, into self-sabotage, into
sleepwalking mode — anything that disconnects us from
our authentic Self — we must pause. Organizations often
need to pause as well. Under the pressure of competition
and high turnover, we can find ourselves defaulting into
crisis-management mode, putting out individual fires and
losing sight of the big picture.
Sometimes that pause is literally just a pause: taking a
moment to gather ourselves before a crucial meeting or
presentation. Sometimes that pause is a walk in the park,
a weekend retreat, a sabbatical. My six-week trip to India
was an extended pause. I needed to step back, reassess,
and renew. The small steps I had taken to be happier and
healthier were a start, but not enough. My life needed a
deliberate jolt for me to achieve the liberation I craved.
I was struggling with heartache and feeling complacent
and trapped in my corporate career. I longed to deepen
my mindfulness practice, connect with my higher Self,
and start a new life. My trip was both a pause and a
catalyst — a conscious effort to shake up my life. It was a
much-needed reset.
However long or short, the pause sets the stage for the
next step. It carves out space and time for us to breathe.
A conscious breath is the best way to become present and
aware. Try it now. Take a deep, steady breath and then
slowly exhale it all out. How does that feel?
Taking a mindful breath is like hitting the reset button.
It calms us both physically and mentally and gives us
a moment to reason and gain perspective. It is about a
physical breath, yes — but so much more. We also allow
our thoughts and feelings to breathe, our heart and mind
to reconnect. We become aware of our bodies and of how
our thoughts and emotions manifest physically.
We are now ready to make a mindful choice. The path
to a conscious choice is straightforward but rarely easy.
That hard truth was brought home to me on my very first
night in India.
My destination was Rishikesh, a small town in the
Himalayan foothills known as the “Yoga Capital of the
World.” First, I had to fly into New Delhi, the capital
of India, a teeming city often cloaked in heavy smog. I
arrived at three in the morning, exhausted from the long
flight. After waiting in vain for the hired car service, I
headed to a van at the front of a line of taxis. The driver
was hunched over the wheel. I tapped on the window and
startled him out of his slumber. He frantically rolled down
the window, looking disheveled and disoriented. My gut
told me not to get into the car, but I was desperate to get
to my hotel.
I quickly regretted my decision. The driver seemed to
literally be asleep behind the wheel. He weaved in and
out of traffic and brushed up against the median of the
poorly lit street. My heart racing, I dug my nails into
the upholstery, sure this night was going to be my last. I

have experienced harrowing taxi rides in New
York City and in the Middle East, where it is
typical to drive on the sidewalks. They paled
in comparison.
When the driver finally pulled into what
appeared to be an abandoned alley, my
stomach lurched. I imagined the worst and
braced to make a run for it or to defend
myself. Thankfully, two people were walking
in our direction, so I hurriedly rolled down
the window and asked if they knew where my
hotel was, the map shaking in my hands. We
were just around the corner from the hotel.
The driver had turned one street too soon.
Trembling, I gathered my luggage, made it to
the hotel, and collapsed on the bed of my dingy
room.
As I struggled to regroup, my mind ran in
circles, which happens to all of us in stressful
or fearful moments. I was tempted to chastise
myself for climbing into the taxi against my
better judgment; to chastise my-self for being
paranoid and distrustful; to tell myself that
this was a bad sign; to convince myself that
I should be grateful for my job and not yearn
for something more. In the end, I resisted the
urge to fall into the rabbit hole. I was here for
a reason. I realized my only task was to return
to the moment at hand.
I paused. I observed what was happening
in the room, in my mind, and in my heart,
without judgment: I’m sitting on a bedcover
with stains on it. The room smells like mildew.
I’m halfway around the world from home. I’m
exhausted, alone, and afraid. I wasn’t harmed.
I’m closer to Rishikesh and will be there soon.
I will be okay.
That pause is a small, essential first step. It
seems so simple but can be so difficult. The
gravity of the rabbit hole can be hard to resist.
As our thoughts spin and accelerate, we feel
ourselves pulled in. The pause creates space
for us to breathe, to return to the moment, to
return to ourselves and our intention.
Mindfulness is sometimes conflated with
bliss. We see someone effortlessly striking
a cross-legged lotus pose, eyes closed, face
beaming with contentment. Sometimes, that is
the image of mindfulness. Yet we really need
mindfulness when the journey gets messy
and the path ahead is unclear. Sometimes
the picture of mindfulness is a dingy hotel
room in New Delhi after a terrifying taxi ride.
Or a pristine boardroom during a heated
debate. Mindfulness is too valuable a tool to
From The Story
“The gravity
of the rabbit
hole can
be hard to
resist. As our
thoughts
spin and
accelerate,
we feel
ourselves
pulled in.”
be left in the meditation room or on the yoga
mat. As leaders, we must incorporate mindful
principles into both our individual practice and
our organizational practice.
How often do you find yourself unable to
pause? Unable to break the cycle?
Say you notice that your performance at
work has hit a wall. You are no longer on your
game in the way you would like to be. This is
not a time to scold yourself, but rather to pause,
to reassess, to reset. You might find yourself
irritable and prone to losing your patience. This
is a sign you have depleted your reserves, that
you have not devoted sufficient time to keep
the well of your resilience full. This is a time to
pause, to reset, to restore.
Or perhaps, as I did, you might notice yourself
sliding into autopilot. You sleepwalk through
your day, relying on quick fixes to boost your
energy. This is a time to pause, to step back,
to remember your purpose and return to your
intention.
Resetting starts with a pause, even if that first
step can sometimes feel like a stumble.
About The Author
NAZ BEHESHTI
Naz Beheshti is the author of Pause, Breathe,
Choose: Become the CEO of Your Well-Being. She
is an executive wellness coach, speaker, Forbes
contributor, and CEO and founder of Prananaz, a
corporate wellness company improving leadership
effectiveness, employee engagement and wellbeing,
company culture, and business outcomes
Excerpted from the book from Pause Breathe
Choose: Become the CEO of Your Well-Being.
Copyright ©2021 by Naz Beheshti. Printed with
permission from New World Library —
www.newworldlibrary.com.
To Learn More Visit:
www.NazBeheshti.com

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Awaken To
That Powerful
Midlife You:
Shifting To
Middle Age
And Beyond
Written by Lorie Gardner, RN
I
It is easy to fall into the trap
of adopting a mindset of decline when you hit
middle age. Your body may start to remind
you of some less than desirable aging changes,
such as weight gain, loss of muscle mass, the
appearance of “fine” lines and wrinkles, and
brainpower that becomes a tad questionable!
When you were younger you may have taken
your body, mind, and spirit for granted. You
may have received compliments about your
body’s capabilities, your looks, and brainpower.
These may have provided great satisfaction for
you and a feeling that you got very used to or
took for granted.
Then middle age changes occur, your body
and mind start to change, your role(s) may

change, and before you know
it you don’t feel as relevant
and powerful. Where do
you receive your sense of
satisfaction when those
compliments and power
have nearly disappeared?
Pondering a New Story
of Middle Age
Mary Oliver is a wonderful
poet who has a quote for you
to ponder: “Tell me, what is
it you plan to do with your one
wild and precious life?” It may
be time to:
Take a look at how you
want to age.
Take control of your destiny
and thoughts about your “one
wild and precious life”!
Assess all of the external
sources (that can be fleeting)
you have relied on for a sense
of satisfaction and happiness
and start to dig into some internal sources of
contentment.
Loosen the hold that your youthful self has
on you and create a new story of joy, meaning,
and optimal health despite the aging process.
You may want to review your thoughts and
feelings about aging and determine whether
you have more negative or positive thoughts. Do
you have an outlook of slowing and declining
about aging or do you have a growth mindset?
Do you need to receive praise and approval for
the way you look or what you accomplish to
feel good? This can zap you of energy and the
ability to thrive and grow as you age.
A Change in Focus
What if you could change your focus to
the possibility of a better way to age? A shift
from what the world has you thinking about
to tapping into your powerful inner self. That
amazing inner self may just give you all the
answers and inspiration you need to age with
joy, meaning, and good health. The first step is
to identify your sense of self-responsibility and
ask yourself some important questions:
Do you provide yourself the same amount
of attention that you provide others?
Do you let your responsibilities be
your excuse to not care for your own needs and
get that much-needed quiet time?
From The Story
“That amazing
inner self may
just give you
all the answers
and inspiration
you need to
age with joy,
meaning, and
good health.”
Do you fear being alone or having quiet
time?
Do you look “out there” for all of your
answers or can you sit with yourself and identify
your needs and how to fulfill them?
It may be time to shift your thinking to
finding your answers within.
You Are Creative, Resourceful and Whole
Take a look at what things you can do that
make you feel powerful. Were there any qualities
you had as a young person that you have lost or
forgotten about? Tap into those and see if you
can resurrect them and use them in a way that
works in your life now.
What brings you balance and energy and
do more of that? Is your mind on overdrive
or is it relaxed and clear thinking? Your mind
and thoughts can create havoc or peace! It is
worth being aware of your thoughts and how
they affect you. If your mind is weak or out of
balance, situations are more difficult. If your
mind is strong the same situation becomes an
opportunity.
Midlife Struggles
There is no doubt midlife can come with
struggles, disease, and more. But if you decide
to work on your mindset and your sense of selfresponsibility
to develop more resiliency, you
may not struggle quite as long. In addition,
when you combine a positive mindset with
a powerful sense of self, you are on your way
to tapping into your spirit, a dimension that
can provide such joy and meaning and even
improved health despite a disease or disability!
About The Author
LORIE GARDNER
Lorie Gardner RN, BSN, NBC-HWC, founded
Healthlink Advocates, Inc., to assist people with
all aspects of their healthcare. As private nurse
patient advocates and board-certified health
and wellness coaches, they partner with clients
seeking assistance navigating the complex
healthcare system and those seeking selfdirected,
lasting health improvements aligned
with their values.
To Learn More Visit:
www.HealthLinkAdvocates.com

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ISSUE NO.130 AUGUST 2021
TURN
OBSTACLES
INTO
OPPORTUNITIES
Written by Linda Mitchell

O
Obstacles present themselves daily.
We always have the choice to maintain a calm emotional state
or become rattled. Whether it’s relationship conflict, a health
setback, traffic jam or a lost job, those same two possibilities
exist. Which do you routinely choose? The key is to maintain
your composure as much as possible. But how?
Life transitions, challenges and chaos are all different types
of hurdles, but each present a chance to turn obstacles into
opportunities. Carefully choose your thoughts, mindset and
emotional response in every situation. Try these tips in the
midst of difficult challenges.
Be defiant. On some level, composure is the result of defiance.
It’s the refusal to allow a situation to knock you off center or
intimidate you.
Take responsibility. Something powerful happens when you
choose to take responsibility for a situation: you have the power
to change course or work through things. The result is feeling
less stress and anxiety.
Stay present. In times of turmoil, keep your attention
on your current task. Stay in the present moment. Focus
on what you want to have happen rather than on possible
negative outcomes. To stay present when your mind wanders,
concentrate on your breathing and all the good still available
to you. Practice gratitude for the positive moments, events and
people who make you smile. You can only think about one thing
at a time. Use that fact to your advantage and stay centered on
the positive.
Center on solutions. While some people are masters at
concentrating on their challenges, successful people keep their
emphasis on solutions. The more you practice this, the more
adept you’ll become. What you focus on expands! Amplifying
challenges clouds your vision. Fear, anxiety and anger limit
your ability to see every option and often the most elegant or
simple solution may elude you. You’re at your best when you
stay poised and positive. Self-care and support from others are
of great value here.
While putting these tips into practice, it’s important to
stay objective. Objectivity is the ability to see the situation
accurately, without the influence of emotion, prejudice, or bias.
When you’re observing, you see what’s truly there. When you’re
perceiving, your vision is skewed because you’re witnessing
through the lens of emotion.
Practice objectivity and find more opportunities with these
tips:
Avoid quick reactions. When frightened, a deer either freezes
or runs. Running is a strong instinct, not a thoughtful process.
In fact, it’s so strong that deer often flee from one threat only to
run straight into something more ominous like a busy roadway.
Reacting quickly is the result of instinct. We do it too. Your boss
infuriates you, so you quit. Your spouse makes a mistake and
you verbally unload on them. Reacting quickly is rarely the best
option. When faced with obstacles, take time to thoughtfully
respond rather than react. Honestly assess the situation before
choosing an action.
De-personalize the situation. What advice would you give
a friend? Objectivity is easier to find when you take your ego
out of the equation. Obstacles seem smaller when they feel less
personal. Although we should always try, few people can be
objective at all times. We’re all products of our past, erroneous
thinking and limiting beliefs unless we’ve done the work
to create better choices. The ability to see the truth lays the
groundwork for overcoming obstacles and seeing opportunities.
Above all, your mindset matters. When we believe we have
options and opportunities we absolutely do. When we believe
we don’t, it’s a self-fulfilling-prophecy. As Christopher Reeve
said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to
persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Turn
your obstacles into opportunities and be your own hero!
About The Author
LINDA MITCHELL
Linda Mitchell is a certified transformational coach, reinvention
expert, speaker, LMT and energy healer. For 20 years she has
operated from a deep desire to help people who feel stuck,
overwhelmed or ready for change to move through life transitions
and challenges with more ease, grace and purpose.
To Learn More Visit:
www.LivingInspiredCoaching.com

August 2021 Issue
Words Are Powerful
Written by Gayle M. Gruenberg, CPO-CD ® , CVPO
D
Do you make mistakes? Are there
things you try to do, feel you don’t do them well, and think
you are a complete and abject failure because of it? When this
happens, do you give up, fall into a depression, retreat into
yourself, possibly for days at a time, hesitant to come out and
try again? What do you say to yourself at these times? Do you
say things like, “I’m so stupid!” or “I’m not good enough” or
“How could anyone love me?”
We are so good at beating ourselves up. If we listen to how
we talk to ourselves, the words we say and the tone we use, we
would cringe if we ever overheard someone speaking that way
to someone else. How many times a day do you recriminate
yourself mercilessly for some small, perceived mistake? You
may not even realize that you’re doing it. And you may not
realize the effect that it has on you – your mind, body, and
spirit.
Consider these Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) about
yourself as poison. Imagine that you’re injecting yourself with
a highly toxic substance every single time you think a negative
thought about yourself. Even one tiny drop of a poisonous
negative thought takes hold and spreads like lightning,
infecting and infusing all other thoughts, emotions, impulses,
and every part of your body with its toxicity. It enters your
blood, nerves, and breath and invades your tissues. You create
narrow neural pathways that shut out any other thoughts or
feelings. You stop caring for yourself physically. You retreat
from contact with other people. Maybe you stop working. You
become negativity incarnate.
Now what would happen if you mindfully caught yourself
having those negative thoughts the moment you have them and
consciously turned them into Automatic Positive Thoughts?
What if you remembered to forgive yourself, and that you
are human, a fallible being, who can learn from making
mistakes? What if you asked yourself, “Is that negative thought
I had about myself actually true? Am I really a useless waste
of space?” What if you said to yourself, “No it isn’t and no
I’m not?” Then added, “I am a worthwhile person, with value,
strengths, and talents. I make mistakes and I learn from them.
I am exceptionally good at the skills I have; I don’t have to be
excellent at everything. I can get help with things I don’t do
well.”
Your body would relax. Your mind would clear. Your cells
would flood with endorphins. You would bring oxygen to your
brain, muscles, and tissues. You would create neural pathways
that allow for creative thinking and possibility. These pathways
would get strengthened, and your brain would literally
change. When you change your brain, you change your life.
Gone are the days of automatic self-recrimination, shaming,
and hiding from the world. Now you can move through the
world with confidence, grace, and a feeling of great capability.
About The Author
GAYLE M. GRUENBERG
Gayle M. Gruenberg, CPO-CD ® , CVPO is the chief executive
organizer of Let’s Get Organized, LLC, an organizer coach, and
the creator of the Make Space for Blessings system.
To Learn More Visit:
www.LGOrganized.com

August 2021 Issue
Orthotics for Children
Written by Anant Joshi, DPM
T
There is nothing like watching
your children play. Whether they’re tearing it
up around the park or imagining their own little
world in your backyard, it is great for their growing
needs. During the past year, due to COVID 19, children
have been less active than ever before.
Taking time to play as a family is a spectacular
opportunity for bonding—one that seems to be
slowly vanishing more and more in our age. A good
bout of activity is a benefit for everyone involved,
kids and adults! This quality time can also be an
opportunity to get a gauge of your child’s gait and
whether there might be any concerns that are worth
checking out.
Let’s face it, children are not always the
most forthcoming with information. During
playtime, though, they let that guard down and
it’s easier to see if they are walking with toes
inward or outward, or may have flat arches. And
if they complain of foot pain or start shying away
from activities they love for things that are less
impactful on their heels, that could be a sign
something is amiss.
Many times, gait abnormalities will be outgrown
as your child develops. These are still conditions
that should be monitored and checked by a
professional, however. When abnormalities do
not start to fade, and especially if pain becomes
an issue, treatment may be necessary. Sometimes,
this treatment involves custom orthotics.

Why would my child need (or not need)
orthotics?
We know that orthotics tend to have a
certain stigma to them. They are for older
people, right? Surely not for kids!
The truth, however, is that children can face
similar needs as adults when it comes to their
foot and ankle health. And when it comes to
correction for an abnormal gait or support for
the arch, forefoot, or heel, custom orthotics
may be the best option.
Each child’s case is different, and it will
take a full examination to determine whether
orthotics should be considered.
As we noted above, symptoms of gait
abnormalities, lack of arches, or pain will at
least initially set orthotics on the table as a
possibility. Additional signs might include
walking only on the toes or heels, consistently
stumbling or tripping over one’s own feet,
or wanting to be carried frequently due to
becoming tired easily.
Another factor that may influence a
diagnosis is family history. Do you or anyone
else in your family experience foot and ankle
problems, especially of a structural variety?
Your child might be predisposed to similar
conditions merely by matter of genetics.
Now, even with many of the above elements
present, orthotics are not immediately
recommended in a great number of cases.
Many children will show abnormal walking
patterns or have flat feet during their
childhood and will outgrow them. All that
is typically needed in these cases is regular
check-ups to make sure the condition is
improving over time. If it is staying static by
a certain age milestone, or becoming worse,
then intervention might be necessary.
In cases where some adjustment or added
support may be necessary, a shoe that is
designed more specifically for feet with those
kinds of needs may suffice in place of an
orthotic.
Long story short? Whether your child needs
orthotics will depend on several factors,
but we will not recommend them unless we
determine they are a viable and necessary
option.
My child needs orthotics. What now?
Let’s get this out of the way first: custom
orthotics are no longer the big, beige, clunky
foot prisons you might have seen in the past.
Most orthotics now come in the form of
From The Story
“Children can
face similar
needs as
adults when
it comes to
their foot and
ankle health.”
inserts that can be placed in your shoes. You
might have seen something similar in the
store—and we might even recommend those
sometimes for basic needs—but they will not
provide the type of individualized control and
support that custom orthotics can.
We have made custom orthotics for many
children, so we are well versed on techniques
that make it a pleasant experience. We use
plaster apparatus to create our molds. They
are effective and, honestly, kind of fun for kids
to stick their feet in!
With a bit of initial commitment, an orthotic
should become a natural fit in your child’s life.
You might find that they might have additional
energy, feel a bit happier, and be more active.
For young patients who already are active,
orthotics in their athletic footwear may
provide less pain and more confidence during
practice and play!
About The Author
ANANT JOSHI, DPM
Anant Joshi, DPM, DABPM, AACFAS, practices
at Advanced Foot Care of New Jersey in Woodland
Park. Dr. Joshi provides extensive podiatry
services including orthotics, foot injuries, and
sports injuries. Additionally, he offers diagnosis
and treatment for ingrown toenails, toenail
fungus, bunions, ankle pain, calluses and more.
To Learn More Visit:
www.footpainnj.com