By Maggie F. Francisco Between exercising, walking, and standing for long periods of time, our feet handle stress and pressure on a daily basis. As a result, we might experience a number of issues from something simple like blisters and calluses to chronic foot pain such as tendonitis and plantar fasciitis (a condition where there is pain in the heel when walking). For some, they may suffer an injury to their lower extremities like their knees, hips, even the lower back. When this happens, it’s time to take a step back and think about the shoes you wear—and fortunately, there is a solution to address the problem. Last February 22, global leader in comfort footwear and orthotics Aetrex was officially launched in the Philippines at Res|Toe|Run, Glorietta 4, Makati. This event saw the introduction of its collection of ladies comfort shoes, the technologically-advanced foot scanner iStep Nova, and the Lynco Orthotics line. Heading the event were Philgear International, Inc. AVP Toti Wong and Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. VP for international business development Peter Malkin, who also gave a live demonstration of the iStep Nova. Carla Lizardo hosted the event. Back then, when you say you need orthopedic shoes or orthotics, you need to have them custom made to fit the unique contours of your feet. Because these are customized, the footwear or orthotics are bound to cost higher than your usual pair. Lucky for us, it’s become more accessible now to get a hand on them. “I think it’s important to highlight the fact that we’ve been in this business for over 70 years,” said Peter Malkin in an exclusive interview with Manila Bulletin. “We started our business in medical space, basically doing footwear for people with different foot issues. Through the years, we were able to get down to three things.” Those three things he was referring to were therapeutic footwear, customized insoles, and the materials that they use in making their products. Aetrex boasts of its deeply rooted history in foot health and wellness since it was founded in 1946. Its mission is to “create the healthiest shoes you’ll ever wear.” Each pair of Aetrex footwear features the Aetrex Healthy 3: (1) Lynco Arch Support to provide better alignment for your body and properly balance your feet; (2) Memory Foam Cushioning to customize to the shape of your foot and create a pressure-free environment in your shoes, and (3) Aegis Anti-Microbial Technology to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, as well as help keep your feet odor-free. But given that there are a lot of orthopedic shoes and orthotics available in the market today, what makes Aetrex different from the rest? Malkin stressed that “not all shoes are created equally. And our feet are all very different to us.” That is why before one can start buying a pair or two, Aetrex provided the iStep Nova in Res|Toe|Run. “So what this does is quickly scans your feet and shows you your arch type, your foot size, and pressure points,” Malkin explained. “From there, we will be able to give you the ideal orthotic style you need to help you feel better.” The digital foot scan is a revelation—for years, I thought that I’ve always had flat feet because I have very minimal arch. But stepping into the foot scanner, I found out that I actually have medium-arch feet, which means I have moderately flexible feet and a defined arch. In just 30 seconds, I found out the high-pressure points in my feet, my arch type, and the potential problems I may have if I wear the wrong kind of footwear. “When we choose our footwear, we go through a lot of questions in our minds,” Malkin said. “We ask ourselves, ‘Does it look good on me?’ or ‘Does it fit me perfectly?’ But the highly unlikely question that we raise is whether it is good or bad for me.” He went on to say, “There are so many shoes that may be too flat or too high-heeled. There are shoes that we feel the pressure more in the balls of our feet or the instep or the heel. So what stays core to us is that we understand shoes and re-engineer it in a way that they become healthier for everyone.” For the Lynco Orthotics, Peter discussed the three types of insoles available in the market—the Casual 600 series, which gives optimal support and cushioning for most footwear styles; the Fashion 100 series, for your favorite heels, flats, and fashion footwear; and the Lynco Speed Orthotics, which are great for athletes looking to enhance their competitive edge. “In the end, we believe that shoes impact from the ground up.”   Aetrex is available at Aetrex kiosk in Trinoma and at Res|Toe|Run, Glorietta 4, Shangri-La Plaza, Estancia Mall, Trinoma Mall, and Alabang Town Center. For more info, like aetrexphilippines and ResToeRunOfficial on Facebook