Foot Efx: taking away the pain

The foot has 26 bones, 33 joints,

107 ligaments and 19 muscles and tendons. It is no wonder why

your dogs ache at the end of a long day. There are numerous

over-the-counter arch supports, creams and ointments that

claim to ease foot pain, but for Johan Backlund, these

remedies were the equivalent of snake oil. Backlund’s foot

pain inspired him to “walk into” a new career after suffering

more than six months with severe heel pain. “When I was 37 I

got a lot of heel pain,” he said.

From there forward, he spent the next six months going to the

doctor’s, and when foot stretches and custom orthotics failed

to quell his foot pain, he decided to visit a store that

carried custom arch supports. After purchasing a pair, within

two weeks his heel pain diminished. “I then decided that I

wanted my own store,” he said.

Backlund, a former pilot, opened up the Good Feet Store in

July 2003, but in January he climbed on board with the

franchise “Foot Efx.” Instead of a “high-flying” career, he

now stays grounded in Murrieta with his wife and young son and

daughter. His new career as an arch support specialist enables

him to spend more time with his family.

Foot Efx carries 15 different styles of arch supports in three

different levels of support and a variety of flexibility and

rigidity. For the ladies, the arch support fits firmly in most

backless sandals. Arch supports range from $40 to $200, and

Medicare and many health insurance policies are accepted, he

said. “This business requires that people are educated on what

we do,” Backlund said. And by reading Foot Efx literature, one

learns that the foot actually has four arches consisting of

the inner and outer longitudinal, transverse and metatarsal

arch. Sixty percent of all people have a flat foot, 20 percent

have high arches, and the remainding percentage has normal

arches. “Foot problems don’t happen to one group more than the

other,” he said.

Backlund said that the most common foot ailment is plantar

fasciitis, an overuse injury affecting the sole of the foot. A

diagnosis of plantar fasciitis means an inflammation of the

tough, fibrous band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the

base of the toes.

“Ninety-five percent of foot problems come from ill-fitted

shoes,” Backlund said. “We’re putting too much stress on our

body parts.”

Additionally, 65 million people seek medical treatment for

back pain each year, Backlund noted. And proper arch supports,

along with properly fitted shoes, could diminish those

problems. “We have people with heel and back pain who walk out

without heel and back pain,” he said.

Foot Efx carries athletic, leisure and dress shoes yet carries

no fashion shoes. Backlund explained that fashion shoes go out

of style within a few months, but his store offers classic and

consistent styles. “You are on your own when you go into a

shoe store,” he said. “The best thing to do is custom measure,

and we size you properly.”

Foot Efx also carries shoes, socks and a line of footcare

products for diabetics. Backlund reminds seniors that the

Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Bill may provide diabetic seniors

with a pair of custom-fit diabetic shoes and a pair of

heat-molded inserts. He said this bill was passed due to

countless foot amputations that could have been avoided by the

use of properly fitted shoes. “We go out and do diabetic

footcare education workshops at senior homes and community

centers,” he said. “This is something very important to get

out to the community.”

Foot Efx also carries arch supports for babies learning how to

walk and for children involved with sports. “They provide a

prevention for sports injuries and such,” he said.

Foot Efx is located at 25021 Madison Ave., Ste-103 in

Murrieta. For more information, call (951) 304-7799 or visit

http://www.footefx.com.