You might not think about it a lot, but your feet serve as your foundation, carrying you throughout your day and supporting every step you take. Feet are important to our overall health in so many ways. But we don’t tend to give them the support or recognition they deserve. Here are a few things you might be taking for granted:   The skin on our feet is highly sensitive to touch and pressure. If you’ve ever walked barefoot on rocky terrain, you’ll know this. But we often underestimate the sensitivity of our feet because we (thankfully!) wear shoes that provide cushioning and support.&nb ..read more

It’s easy to be drawn in by a shoe’s appearance or brand name. What if we told you that shoes can do more than just look good?  Welcome to the new era of performance footwear where so-called ‘super shoes’ help athletes run faster than ever thought humanly possible. In fact, these shoes are so powerful that they have even been compared to doping in terms of their performance-enhancing abilities. While there are a lot of technical components that do not initially meet the eye, such as carbon-fibre plates that enhance forward propulsion or midsole foam that reduces energy loss while runnin ..read more

For every runner, there’s a piece of advice they wish they knew when they started out — but had to learn the hard way. We figured who better to offer advice on running than our run clinic instructors, and members of the Kintec running community! Run With A Friend Find a friend who's also a beginner to go running with. The time passes way faster when you're busy catching up, and when you just aren't feeling it, chances are you'll make the effort to get out the door to avoid letting down a friend. Find Proper Fitting Shoes Get fit in a proper pair of running shoes from someone who has t ..read more

Running is a form of exercise well known to have many physical benefits. However, research has also shown that running improves mental health similar to meditation. This is because runners can experience several different states of relaxation similar to meditation. One state is often described as a “flow state” while the other is known as the “runner’s high”.    The “runner’s high” is a feeling of euphoria and well-being that is often associated with long-distance running. This feeling is thought to be caused by the release of endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as ..read more

It’s November and the weather is turning.  Your runs now are taking place under the cover of clouds with rain falling onto both you and your feet; you’re going to need waterproof footwear. Why? Because without it you’re going to end up with wet, cold feet. Not only is that uncomfortable but can lead to blisters.   As a precaution, you’re searching for waterproof footwear but keep finding the term GTX showing up. In this article, we’re going to help you understand what GTX or GORE-TEX is, and how it’s go ..read more

Author: Dr. Michael Ryan Director of R&D, Kintec BHK, MSc, PhD, Certified Pedorthist Adjunct Professor, SFU, BPK Dept You don’t need an expert to tell you how fast your kids (and their feet) grow! In fact, it’s not unusual for children’s feet to grow up to two sizes in one year. No wonder parents feel like they’re always shopping for new shoes. With the added pressure of so many brands and features, it can be difficult to determine which shoes are best for your kids. Kid’s Growing Feet are Different Than Yours—Their Shoes Should be Too For starters, it helps to understand tha ..read more

You know Kintec as the expert in feet, ankles, and knees, but did you know we also have many braces for wrists and elbows too? There is a wide variety of braces available for the wrist or elbow, and the most helpful information to determine what brace would be best is a proper diagnosis from a health care professional, such as a doctor or physiotherapist. Because these joints are complex, it is important to ensure we are targeting the correct area for the brace to be effective. Elbow The most common injury that we see at Kintec in the elbow area is epicondylitis, otherwise known as “tennis e ..read more

For every runner, there’s a piece of advice they wish they knew when they started out — but had to learn the hard way. I know I did! So I wrote this blog to draw on my experience from helping lead Kintec’s trail clinics and from my own running journey to share some pearls that will help make running that little bit easier. Here we go!   Run With A Friend Find a friend who’s at a similar level to you (or ideally just that little bit faster to give you a push).  Running is inherently a solo sport but can be surprisingly social when going at the appropriate pace.  In fact, many coa ..read more

So you’re getting started as a runner – welcome to the club! Taking the first step and committing to a goal is wonderful, but in order to make sure you have a positive experience and don’t get injured, there are a number of things you can do to prepare. 1. Wear sweat-wicking materials Cotton is absorbent, like a towel; as you sweat, all that moisture will stay next to the skin. This is less than ideal for skin health and you can easily get chilled once you stop running. Make sure your running top, bottoms and socks are ‘technical’. READ MORE: Why Cotton is Rotten Technical apparel wi ..read more

With the recent wintry weather that we in BC have experienced, it is a perfect time to discuss appropriate footwear for winter conditions! Besides dealing with the risk of cold/wet feet, another issue that I’m sure we’ve all dealt with is slipping and sliding on slick terrain. Whether you are trying to shovel off the driveway without slipping or hiking to the peak of a mountain, I hope to provide some information on how footwear can help keep us all ‘active and on our feet’ over the winter months!  If anyone knows me, they are probabl ..read more