Dr. Liza pump is the right support
and correction for problems related
to gait and fit that usually lead to foot
problems,” she adds. She remedied
this with a combination of an
orthotic insole and proprietary
rocker sole design. “When patients
have severe foot pain or stress
fractures, we usually put them in a
rocker boot to minimize pressure
points on the foot,” she says. This
same mechanism was put into her
high-heel pump. And there was a
nod to our aging feet, as well. “We
lose the padding in our feet as we age,
so I incorporate EVA [the same stuff
that offers shock absorption in
running shoes] into the platform
sole and injected cushioning
throughout.”
Men, on the other hand, she says,
have many options already available
in the footwear market, shoes made
based on design and functionality,
which can easily accommodate an
orthotic insole, so she has no plans
to design a men’s shoe. But treat men
she does, citing, “Men tend to have
more foot issues related to overall
gait problems and overuse rather
than damage caused solely by poor
footwear. Many men also over-pro-
nate [rolling in with walking], which
can cause foot pain and bunions.
They also face slightly more sports
injuries related to their feet due to
having higher body weight and not
taking proper care of their feet.”
For me, Dr. Liza uses manual
osteopathy: “a hands-on technique
that helps manipulate muscles,
fascia, joints and viscera to create
balance and alignment in the
body,” she explains. “Primarily,
a manual osteopath will address
musculoskeletal problems like foot
pain, back problems, headaches and
number of other conditions that
affect the muscles, joints and nerves
in the body.” Manual osteopathy,
she adds, is also great for improving
posture, overall well-being and
reducing stress.“Our posture is so important be-
cause it not only affects the way we
look but the way we feel and func-
tion,” she says when I mention my
bad posture habit, and then gives
me this advice: “The first step when
it comes to good posture is to move
more. Holding a static position for
a long period of time like you would
with computer use will lead to poor
posture. If you can take phone calls
standing or get up to stretch every
hour, this will help,” she notes.
“Next, you need to remember to
breathe. Many of us aren’t breath-
ing properly or enough and, withoutthis necessary decompression, we
are forced into a slouched and com-
pressed posture. I recommend that
everyone take a few minutes every
day to take 10 deep mindful breaths.”
Proper posture, she believes, can
give the appearance of being taller
and slimmer with a lifted face and a
flatter tummy.
Dr. Liza also mentions that she
sends her patients home with exer-
cises they can easily incorporate in
their daily lives to improve their pos-
ture. And she did with me, as demon-
strated here by the good doctor her-
self. Straight up.(^36) – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 everythingzoomer.com
Zoom In Vitality
THORACIC EXTENSION Stand or sit in a chair and
clasp both hands behind your head. Gently arch back-
ward, squeeze your shoulder blades together and
hold for five seconds. You should feel a comfortable
stretch through your chest. Do this several times
each day. What it does This reduces hunching in the
middle back, opens up the chest and allows you to
take in deeper breaths. It also helps to improve upper
body mobility.
BACK BENDS Stand with your feet planted firmly on
the ground and your hands behind your hips for support.
Look up to the ceiling and take a deep breath in. As you
exhale, slowly and gently bend backwards. Take a few
breaths while you’re in the back bend, then slowly come
back up to standing. As you feel more comfortable with
this exercise you can bring your arms overhead while
you bend. What it does It takes pressure off your spine.
Looking up to the ceiling corrects misaligned forward
head posture, too, making you stand up straighter.
2
3
1 PECTORAL STRETCH Interlock your hands behind
your back, keeping your arms straight while pulling your
hands down toward to ground. Squeeze your shoulder
blades together and hold for five seconds while keep-
ing your body in an upright position. You should feel a
comfortable stretch through your chest. Do this sever-
al times each day. What it does By releasing tight pec-
toral muscles, the shoulders will visibly drop and move
backward, combatting the rounded hunch effect that is
more prominent as we age.
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