Wooden Shoemaker Preserves Tradition of Klompen Carving

Wooden Shoemaker Preserves Tradition of Klompen Carving

Dutch wooden shoesWilliam Van Marel, Jr. of Orange City worked in expert shoemaker Wilhelm Jansen’s factory when he was a child. There he learned the skills involved in carving traditional wooden Dutch footwear so that he might make them himself one day. Jansen taught him how to harvest wood from the forest and critiqued his early attempts at making the shoes, or klompen.

When Van Marel became good enough at carving them, they started to be featured in the yearly Tulip Festival, although they were only for show, as the ones actually worn during the event come all the way from Holland. Jansen died a few years ago, but Marel continues to make wooden shoes and keep the tradition alive.

Proper foot support is essential to having healthy feet. If you have questions about finding supportive footwear, consider seeing podiatrist Dr. Michael H. Wynn, DPM of Foot Care Associates of Texas. Dr. Wynn can identify the source of your discomfort and provide you with a wide array of treatment options.

The Importance of Proper Foot Support

Walking is an everyday function for both men and women, and in order to keep your body’s balance in order, you are going to need shoes that provide the proper kinds of support. 

Poor foot support can cause pain and discomfort in the lower back, hips, knees, neck and shoulder. It also can lead to emotional stress, and physiological changes in the body. In order to avoid these problems, you must have proper foot support.

The arch is the most important part of the foot, which is where most of the support and balance of your feet lies. The arch of your foot varies in height, and as you age, this height can change. Proper foot support will help musculoskeletal issues, which causes inactivity or disability.

When looking for shoes that give proper support to your feet, you should refrain from wearing ill-fitting shoes.  If footwear is too tight, this can affect the body’s posture, stress, bone deformities, and other foot and back pain. Therefore, it is important that shoes fit well in order to avoid these complications.

For more information about the Importance of Proper Foot Support, follow the link below.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our offices in Kingwood, TX. We offer the latest in diagnostic and treatment technologies to meet all your needs.

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