time for more careness - gehwolfootcare.com · ramadan, friends and relatives often give each other...

Issue 3/2015

FUSSPFLEGEAKTUELL

Technology CURRENTPress instead of bending - greater comfort when working due to remote brakes

Products CURRENT Technology CURRENTCabinet JUPITER DUOMATIC and chair CONCEPT F3 - obtain favoura-ble financing

Spoil your customers –and yourself!

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Time for moreCareness

The magazine for the practice

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ImprintPublisher: FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL appears on behalf of Eduard Gerlach GmbH, Bäckerstraße 4–8, 32312 Lübbecke, Telephone: 05741 330-0, Fax: 05741 347300, E-Mail: [email protected], Internet: www.gehwol.de

Editing staff and publisher: Dorothea Küsters Life Science Communications GmbH, Leimenrode 29, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Telephone: 069 61998-0, Fax: 069 61998-10, E-Mail: [email protected], Internet: www.dkcommunications.d; Editorial management: Dorothea Küsters (responsible), Dirk Fischer; Editing staff: Stefan Dietrich, Stefan Dudzinski-Lange, Maria-Delia Rumjanzewa

Graphic concept and implementation: PUNKTUM Werbeagentur GmbH, Bad Vilbel

All rights reserved. Reprints, also in excerpts, are only permitted with the approval of the publisher and citing sources. Rights of translation and other uses reserved. We assume no liability for unsolicited manuscripts, discussion copies etc. If FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL cannot appear or be delivered, this shall not result in claims against the publisher. Legal venue: Frankfurt am Main.

Please order via the publisher

24 | Painful nodes on the soles of the feet

Dr. med. Renate Wolansky about Ledderhose disease.

In China, foot care has been a cultural tradition since 3000 years, along with acupuncture and traditional massage. But there are no standards for hygiene and treatment.

28 | Out of love for care

10 | It’s easy to turn your practice into a comfort

Both customers and prac-tice operators have claims to comfort. With the right products and equipment, you can lend your practice a good feeling.

What brand promises are behind the FUSSKRAFT products?

Part 1: Origins, tradition, close to nature.

27 | Between tradition and modernity

Table of contents

FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL 3/2015

“Professional foot care and tips for home foot care and shoes help immensely.”

Editorial ................................................. 3

Products CURRENT

Gift giving: Thanks, joy and closeness .... 4

Gift campaign 2015: Customers give feel-good care ...................6

Christmas campaign 2015: GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Nourishing Bath, 50 ml, and GEHWOL presentation bags ...................................... 8

Practice CURRENT

It‘s easy to turn your practice into a comfort zone ............................. 10

Technology CURRENT

Spoil with care! GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet: in the new presentation display ........... 12

Technology CURRENT

More comfort during the treatment Foot care chair CONCEPT F3, Foot care cabinet, JUPITER DUOMATIC and work chair PENDING .................... 14

Technology CURRENT

Press instead of bending – greater comfort due to remote brakes ... 16

Instruments CURRENT

Diamonds are forever Diamond grinding bodies .................... 18

Practice CURRENT

In brief ................................................. 20

Expert knowledge CURRENT

Vitamin D: The sun hormone for the feet Interview with Dr. med. Thomas Egginger about Vitamin D and foot health .......... 22

Biorhythm of the skin Timing also plays an important role in home foot care ..................................... 23

Medicine CURRENT

Ledderhose disease Guest contribution by Dr. med. Renate Wolansky about node formation on the foot soles ............................................. 24

Ware knowledge CURRENT

“No others” Instruments in use, part 3: experience with the Callus clean grinder from GERLACH TECHNIK ......... 26

Between tradition and modernity International: Gerlach in China ........... 27

Care consultation CURRENT

Out of love for care The GEHWOL brand promise, part 1: Origins, tradition, close to nature ............28

Marketing CURRENT

Customer favour How the new prevention laws also take the work of foot care pros into account ...... 30

Last but not least

Feet of the enlightened An image and its history ........................ 32

3FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL 3/2015

Editorial

Leaves with their photosynthesis abilities ensure the survival of humans and animals alike. They produce the oxygen which we need to breathe. This process is among the oldest and most significant biogeochemical processes on earth. The finely structured leaf is also a symbol for fragility, similarly to the foot skin of a human being. But leaves particularly stand for one thing: the forces of nature. And being close to nature has now been part of GEHWOL’s self-awareness since nearly 150 years. In the recipes of the GEHWOL products, natural ingredients form the basis for their efficacy. Gentle and versatile, they make their contribu-tion to the health of the feet.

So we have already traditionally imple-mented an idea which is slowly making its way into the trade: sustainable use of nature. End consumers are not the only ones who are increasingly sensitive here. Much can be done in the foot care prac-tice as well to make ecological contribu-tions. For instance, think about the consumption of care products. For example, high quality GEHWOL pro-ducts are thriftier in use and therefore last longer. This is not just economical, but also lowers overall consumption of packaging materials.

The same applies to foot care devices. A good device simplifies work and makes it possible to obtain excellent results in a short time. The significant reduction in processing times saves energy and material, which is easier on the environment. Aside from this material contribution, the shortest possible treat-ment time is part of your customers’ modern needs. Even the most comfortable and form fitting foot care chair, such as the one from GERLACH TECHNIK, has to be left again at some point.

Here, the exception lies in the conscious enjoyment of wellness applications. The gentle immersion into the world of relaxa-tion lets stressed people forget their every-day lives for a while. As in environmental awareness, customer awareness is also increased here. But today, wellness has to be seen as a complete package. It’s no longer enough to offer a massage. This is easily described with the term CARENESS: Care (care) and Wellness (ness). Careness starts with products which nourish and spoil, and ranges from relaxed sitting in the foot care chair to the treating person themselves. These are parts of modern wellness, understood as a harmony of the body, spirit and soul.

On the product side, GEHWOL FUSS-KRAFT Soft Feet is eminently suited to bridging this gap. But Careness is not just about your customers. Feeling good your-self while you work provides considerable relief. As a treating person, you profit from a relaxed, ergonomic, comfortable work atmosphere, while the patient enjoys the special treatments of the foot care treat-ment (such as a foot bath or massage).

Careness and being close to nature are two of many exciting themes in the new issue of FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL. We wish you a lot of fun in reading and lots of suc-cess in your daily work.

Yours, Eduard Gerlach GmbH

Dear foot care pros,

Jobst-Peter Gerlach-von Waldthausen

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Gift giving: Thanks, joy and closenessGifts have major everyday significance worldwide. Basically, people use them to express one of three aspects: For example, one gives thanks for an invitation or hosting by bringing along a small gift. But gift giving can also express com-fort, attraction or friendship. And a gift shows closeness to the recipient.

of persons surveyed by Statista in Germany wanted to give cosmetics as Christmas gifts

in the past year.

35 %

Products CURRENT

4 FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL 3/2015

At the same time, the gift giver often hopes that the recipient will be grateful in the future - along the lines of the motto “Small gifts preserve friendships“. The secret of this principle lies in the rule of reciproc-ity. This rule relates to a behaviour pattern which is deeply anchored in human beings, explaining why a person returns the favour when they receive a gift. For those who always receive gifts or good deeds but never give anything back are eventually sanctioned.

In our culture, gift giving is of particular impor-tance in the pre-Christmas period today. On the one hand, it is the right moment to thank business partners with a present, laying the foundation for another successful year. On the other hand, friends, acquaintances and relatives give each other gifts out of friendship and attraction.

Read on the next four pages how you as a foot care pro or podologist can use the two attractive Christmas offers from GEHWOL to please your customers, ensuring a success-ful year 2016 in your practice. Find out too how to surprise and spoil your customers‘ loved ones with foot care products.

Seize the opportunity for both offers …

Products CURRENT


Giving peace,

joy and care …

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Products CURRENT


Gift campaign 2015

Customers give feel-good careGifts give joy to people around the world. The German word ‘Geschenk’ is derived from (ein-)schenken [pouring], that is, hosting a guest. In ancient Rome, people gave each other small, symbolic gifts during the New Year’s celebrations. This “offering” gesture was to bring the gift giver much luck in the coming year.

Gifts are widespread in nearly all cultures of the world. For instance, Japanese travellers bring along little gifts from their vacation to gain praise from their friends for the far journey and to please them. During the Muslim sugar festival at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, friends and relatives often give each other gifts. In Great Britain, it is common to thank the host kindly on the day after dinner with a handwritten card.Aside from many small opportunities,

birthdays and Christmas in particular are regular gift giving events here. People in Western countries often associate Christ-mas with lovely childhood memories - it is a festive ritual. Fundamentally, rituals are of great significance, especially at Christmas, when the entire family comes together and the gifts pile up under the Christmas tree. To increase excitement and underline the value of the gift, high quality packaging is important. In Ger-many, red and gold often dominate here.

The exclusive presentation bags from GEHWOL also use the shine of this expensive, noble metal. They are a high quality packaging for care products. Make use of GEHWOL’s gift campaign to stock a supply of products and presenta-tion bags at an early time.

Giving peace,

joy and care ...

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Products CURRENT


Carmen Wolf, Practice for medical foot care and cosmetics, Kassel

High quality foot care products deserve attractive packaging as Christmas gifts. GEHWOL‘s presentation bags are matched to the dimensions of the products. And there‘s room for a gift certificate as well. With their shiny surface and solid material, the bags make a high quality impression.

Gift wrap made attractive and easy

“I sell more products in the Christmas period than in the entire rest of the year. A foot care treatment is the perfect gift because everyone knows someone who has foot problems, or would just like to be cosmetically spoiled for a change. But my customers often add a product too, since a gift certificate then has greater value and professional foot care can start right at home. The product also seems more emotional and perfectly puts the recipient in the mood for foot care with its scent and skin sensation. So my customers’ wish to do something nice for their loved ones for Christmas also pays off for me.“

GEHWOL presentation bags

Our offer

Our offer

Free choice from the GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT sales range

product sales!““Use Christmas for

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The new GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Nourishing Bath in the exclusive 50 ml bottle is suitable as a thank-you for customer loyalty at the end of the year, or as a gift with a larger product purchase. The small gift lets customers get to know the new product at home, and buy more if they like it. This ensures successful product sales and customer sympathy in the 2016 business year as well.

Aside from these positive effects and benefits for the practice, the exclusive cus-tom size is a present with which foot care pros and podologists are on the safe side, in both legal and tax-ation terms. Gerlach issues an advertising expense invoice for the order, and the presents can be taken into account in taxation bookkeep-ing as promotional gifts. Since

their value is far below 10 Euros, they are also suitable as so called bonus gifts with a foot care certificate or product sales. So there are several reasons not to hesitate

too long and quickly seize the advantage in the Christmas campaign - while sup-plies last.


Quickly now: ensure a small surprise with a major effectAt Christmas, entrepreneurs often underline good customer relations with a small present. With the Christmas campaign products, foot care pros and podologists not only surprise their customers and patients, but also gain presents which are accepted under tax and legal laws - without pre-Christmas stress.

Products CURRENT

Christmas campaign 2015

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The new GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Nourishing Bath promises gentle relaxation. Particularly in the cold season, it lends plenty of moisture for dry winter skin with almond oil and vanilla extract. Applied as a warm footbath, it not only ensures a supple, smooth sensation on the feet and legs, but also provides soothing warmth.


Products CURRENT

Costs for gifts from a business to cus-tomers and business partners can be tax deducted as business expenses.

The purchase price and procurement costs are deductible as long as they have a value of less than 35 Euros per recipient and year.

In every gift with a value of 10 Euros and up, the expenses, recipients and events must be recorded.

The recipient must treat the gift like in-come: That is, the value is taxable. How-ever the giving party can apply tax to the present in advance at 30 percent of the purchase price. The lump sum tax is also

regarded as a business expense.

No tax is due for smaller presents such as the 50 ml custom bottles with a value of less than 10 Euros, neither by the giving party nor by the recipient. These promotional articles are not regarded as benefits with monetary value.

Lawmakers specify rules for business motivated gifts to customers, suppliers and business friends. From a tax perspective, note the following points:

Give the right gifts - note risks

Our offer

GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Nourishing Bath, 50 ml

GEHWOL presentation bags

Christmas is the right time to give peace, joy and care. GEHWOL‘s high quality, noble presentation bags lend additional value to care products.

GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Nourishing Bath – relaxation in the cold, hectic

Christmas period

Sensual relaxation

with Almond & Vanilla

Giving peace,

joy and care...

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Practice CURRENT

Lend your practice the feel-good predicate!


Ingetraut Behle, foot care pro from Forst

“For me, feeling good at my workplace also means that my patients gain a good impression of my practice. Of course the

service and treatment have to be right. But hygiene, cleanli-ness, that everything is tidy and professional and has its

place - that’s another way in which I earn the trust of my customers.“

Soothing treatments such as an aromatic foot bath with a scrub and enlivening massage emphasise this comfort, this inner feeling of safety. You also need the right equipment to produce a feel-good atmosphere. That which we see, feel and experience in a prac-tice is decisive. Therefore hygiene, order, a modern state of technology, quiet motors, experienced func-tions such as the movement manoeuvres of a treat-ment chair, sitting comfort and ware presentation are always important stimulants of feeling good. Of

course, you also benefit from an ergonomic, com-fortable work environment. Train your eye for this perspective. A practice should do more than just function. It should always allow you and your customers to meet in this shared feeling of comfort. Is your practice a welcoming place which generates this mood? Then it deserves the Careness predicate.

It‘s easy to turn your practice into a comfort zone

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Practice CURRENT


We have compiled exciting feel-good offers on the coming pages, just for you.

Let yourself be surprised...

In modern foot care, customers get more than the best possible care. They also enjoy a moment of relaxation and rest in an exclusive feel-good ambience which meet their needs. Comfort makes the emotional difference which can turn a satisfied customer into a loyal customer.

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GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet

Spoil with care!The products from the GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet series ideally com-bine wellness and care. Rich ingredients supply the skin with moisture and protection. Pleasant scents, suppleness during applica-tion and a smooth skin sensation together offer added comforts. With these products, the foot care treatment becomes a spa experience - and with your recommenda-tion, at home too!

Products CURRENT


of cosmetics users say: Care is good for my wellbeing.*

95 %

Immerse and relax A gentle footbath to start is relaxing. Stress and appointments don‘t matter now - it‘s time for wellness. The GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Nou-rishing Bath with noble almond oil and seductive vanilla extract, with its en-chanting scent and select ingredients, offers the right start for foot care. It gently softens callus and leaves behind a silky soft skin sensation.

* COSMOPOLITAN Cosmetics Study

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Spoil with care!

Our offer

GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet in the new presentation display

12 x GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Cream

6 x GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Lotion

6 x GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Scrub

6 x GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Nourishing

Relax in silk After a refreshing scrub, the skin needs to recover. GEHWOL FUSS-KRAFT Soft Feet Lotion has just the thing: soothing extracts of water lily. It also lends the foot and leg skin a radiant complexion. Silk extract makes the skin feel super tender, and gives it a silky smooth shine.

Products CURRENT


The best to finishAt the end of the treatment, a foot massage with the scents of summer and a good mood using the GEH-WOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Cream brings up the finish with a lovely wellness sensation. The cream con-tains many valuable ingredients of milk, honey, hyaluron, urea, avocado and Vitamin E for deep acting inten-sive care, moisture, boosted immune defences and silky soft skin.

Sugary sweet and gently descaled A Soft Feet scrub with sugar and bamboo removes dead skin scales and brings out youthfully tender skin. During a pleasant foot massage which allows noble ingredients of honey and avocado to penetrate deep into the skin, your customer can truly allow their soul to float.

Jonas Glaubitz | fotolia

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Jonas Glaubitz | fotolia

The feel-good practice as a comfort zone also includes the foot care pro. Practical solutions are to allow stress-free, relaxed and concentrated work. Details make the quality difference. Good ideas, workmanship and material properties decide whether a work chair or cabinet simplifies the daily hygiene and work requirements.

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Technology CURRENT


Enjoy greater comfort during treatment!

For instance, the treatment chair: What operating comforts does it offer you? Just one detail: The CONCEPT F3 now has an electrically operated foot switch to operate the fixing brakes. Having to bend under the chair to release or apply it - those are thoughts of yesterday. Now a simple foot tap is sufficient. Or work techniques: Wet and suction technology combined in a spacious work cabinet with a hygienic UV compartment. Use it for complementary work and be much more flexible in terms of the device performance which you need for each treatment. Comfort in the details is also offered by the workmanship, such as the roller bearing drawers with continuous grip bars. No more crooked back here ei-ther! Easily access the grip bars while ef-fortlessly sitting upright. A gentle push is enough to close the compartments.

“I feel very good in my practice!”

Treatment chair CONCEPT F3 with PENDING work chair and JUPITER DUOMATIC foot care cabinet

of employees say: Appropriate equipment for

performing tasks is among the most important factors influencing

happiness in the workplace..

Work more happily with good equipment!

82 %StepStone study about happiness in the workplace

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Technology CURRENT


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Technology CURRENT

Press instead of bending

Users say …

“I’m very satisfied with the work ergo-nomics and flexibility in adjusting the work position. It used to be difficult to reach the foot sole. One either had to work in a low, uncomfortable position, or extremely overstretch the patient’s foot. Therefore, it is a major advantage today that I can also vary the working height with divided leg and foot rests in the CONCEPT F3. It’s very good for my back.“

Now NEW with remote brakes

Stefanie Genz, podologist from Oberhausen

“The electrical fixing brakes make work much more comforta-ble. Instead of getting up and bending under the chair to operate the brakes by hand, I can now handle the whole thing

comfortably while sitting with the remote foot switch.“

greater comfort owing to remote brakes

Treatment chair CONCEPT F3

Technology CURRENT

Press instead of bendingThose who have it in their practice have a lot to say about how especially the treatment chair CONCEPT F3 from GERLACH TECHNIK makes everyday work much simpler in many ways. Even the new electrical brake which simply alternate-ly fixes the chair when you step on the remote foot switch and allows it to rotate again makes unpleasant habits a thing of the past.

Healthy back, more joy at workStatic sitting leads to de-generation of the support and locomotor appara-tus. Dynamic sitting is much healthier for the back. Gerlach work chairs with the Pending system specifically en-courage this. Their seats are suspended on several pendulum springs; that is, they are free-floating. This has two advantages. In every reach and move-ment, the free-swinging seat must be balanced through the hip joints.

As the body’s centre of gravity shifts down-ward, the double S shape of the spine is preserved, and the vertebral disks are relieved. Balancing trains the trunk muscu-lature. With a Pending chair, you don’t just sit. You do back exercises all day. And train-ing prevents atrophy. Even Hippocrates knew this, more than 2400 years ago.

Users say …

Worth seeing!This video shows how multidimensional sit-ting on a Pending workchair relieves the back. Smartphone and tablet users can simply scan in the QR code. Let yourself be convinced!

bit.ly/mehr-komfort-dank-pending


“We work hard for our money in foot care. So we don’t want to lose time during treatments. The faster I can change the position of my chair, the better. Tech-nical feature such as quick tensioning closures, gas lift springs or the electrical fixing brake save a lot of time. And the feature that one can widen the distance between the arm rests is a great added benefit, especially for my more corpulent customers.“

“Work can take longer with complex

problems. It’s also harder for the patient,

who has to try to stay still in a quiet posi-

tion. It’s easier for patients when they are

comfortably bedded and can relax while

sitting. I like it that the CONCEPT F3

has body focused, stable cushions which

offer high levels of sitting comfort. It’s a

major benefit for elderly persons that the

base position of the seat inclines slightly

downward. This makes it much easier for

them to get up after the treatment.“

“I have five treatment rooms with dif-

ferent treatment chairs. So I can assess

progress in the past ten years with cer-

tainty. Both in daily handling and from a

hygienic viewpoint, this chair is unbeat-

able. Hygiene is particular is an absolute

necessity! My patients should also see

this. For instance, I have problems with

floor cleaning if I cannot move a chair

around in the room. With the extending

rollers, I don’t have that problem.“

Podologist

Anne Jiménez from Duisburg-Buchholz

greater comfort owing to remote brakes

Diamonds are forever Few other noble materials are as fascinating as diamonds, and rightfully so. These gems were pressed from carbon over millennia. The oldest known diamond began to form about 4.25 billion years ago. They are found on all continents and only have the right stability and solidity when they are dug from at least 140 meters of depth: a treasure of the earth with very special properties. And they make rotary foot care instruments into very special tools. Diamond grinding bodies have low vibrations and run pleasantly quietly. They also excel with their enormously high abrasion activity. The grinding bodies are especially suitable for working on callus and nails. They can be used for both suction and spray technology. But diamond as a material has other unex-ceeded attributes.

Rotary instruments: Diamond grinding bodies

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Instrumente AKTUELL

Diamond grinding bodies are corrosion resistant. They are suitable for all sterilisation and cleaning methods which are com-mon in foot care, such as an ultrasound bath.

Purity

They say that a diamond is forever. Indeed - you can use a diamond grinding

body in everyday work for a long time without quality losses.

Resistance

The long lasting, continuous quality of the grinders

makes them economical. Like the gems, the instru-

ments preserve their high value in your everyday work

for a long time.

Preserving value

Diamond crystals are galvanically applied to the grinding bodies or processed in a solid, especially sturdy metal compound. This lends them a special hardness and abrasiveness.

Hardness


Instrumente AKTUELL

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Our offer

Suitable high quality storageGive your work treasures the right storage in the new stainless steel container. Sort the diamond grinding bodies by your workflow, so that you can reach them quickly. The stand also makes a good impression on your customer.

Choose your diamond grinding bodies from the product range (see the entire catalogue 2015-2016, pages 249-251): D 407H/010, D 407LH/010, 801G/016, 850G/018, 850G/023, 868G/012, 879 S 104 050, 878/060, 847/033, 847/040, 835/035, 837 RG 104 055, 837 R 104 055, 837 S 104 060, 837 104 060, 837 H/050

Clean in the long termFor rapid, thorough cleaning of diamond grinding bodies, use the high performance ultrasound cleaning device Podo Basic with its simple, intuitive operating elements.

Diamonds are beautiful, but so is the foot skin which was treated with a diamond grinding body.

Beauty

With their precise, stable form with exactly turned shafts of stainless steel, diamond grinding bodies have high rotational precision. So you are working in the diamond standard.

Precision

Diamond grinding bodies permit very precise work. Like diamonds themselves, you obtain clear, clean results on the foot skin and nails.

Clarity


NEW: Steri-Block, stainless steel

NEW!

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The highly contagious Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, briefly MERS, was discovered in 2012 on the Arabian peninsula. In the spring, a 68 year old man from South Korea became ill there, and carried it into his homeland. 100 persons in his environment became infected in a very short time until the infection was noticed and quarantine was initi-ated. Safety authorities in South Korea took great care to disinfect homes, offices, public routes and means of transport which were used by the infected persons. The spread of the microbe was stopped in this way. But out of 100 infected persons, 20 died from the consequences of the MERS infection. After a two week incuba-tion period, affected persons suddenly suffer from fever and cough. In severe cases, pneumonia develops, including “acute respiratory distress syndrome“. Diarrhoea and organ failure, e.g. of the kidneys, are also among the symptoms.

©

More than contagiousMERS

Nearly half of MERS cases progress fatally. The pre-cise transmission routes, however, are not yet suffi-ciently researched. But transmission seems to re-quire relatively close body contact. The case of the most recent MERS outbreak and the drastic measures by the South Korean authorities clari-fies the significance of hygiene in protecting people.

Hygiene protects human lives


Praxis AKTUELL

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Well cared feet, more well-being

Those who think that Germans are aging are wrong - at least in terms of cognitive performance. Today’s 75 year olds are considerably mentally fitter on average than people their age were 20 years ago. At the same time, seniors are feeling better and overall more satisfied with their lives. This is shown by a joint study of several Berlin research institutions, among them the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Charité-Universitätsme- dizin Berlin, the Max-Planck-Institut

für Bil-dungs fo r-schung (MPIB) and the Sozio-oekonomisches Panel (SOEP). Mental fitness and well-being play a very decisive role for quality of life in old age. Older people are also coming closer to younger persons in terms of their motivation for well cared feet. While foot care used to be primarily a necessity for older gener-ations in the past because it was no longer possible for them to do their own pedicure and they also needed treatment for skin and nail problems, things have changed today. Accord-ing to GEHWOL Foot Care Trends 2014, half of all seniors aged 60 years and up says about themselves: “I use foot care because it contributes to improving my well-being.“ One third even loves wellness applications on the feet. These care reasons play a similarly important role in 20 to 60 year olds. Clearly understood: Well cared, healthy feet are part of pre-serving quality of life in old age.

SOCIETY

Praxis AKTUELL


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Vitamin D

Dr. Egginger, why is Vitamin D so impor-tant for our body?Vitamin D is a significant participant in many metabolic activities in the body due to a variety of attributes. It actively intervenes in cell metabolism by activat-ing up to 300 genes in the cell nucleus, researchers estimate. It is therefore not surprising that Vitamin D deficiency can trigger a whole series of problems and even illnesses such as nervousness, inner restlessness, insomnia ranging to depressive moods. And there is a higher susceptibility to infections. Many people feel tired and fatigued. Painful muscle problems and weakness can also occur. What influence does Vitamin D have on foot health?In terms of foot health, there is a direct and an indirect association with the Vitamin D supply. The link to osteomala-

cia, so called bone softening, was already proven. In adults, insuffi-

cient bone mineralization often

causes dull pain. Osteomalacia is accompanied by a higher risk of bone fractures. In childhood, the disorder which corresponds to osteomalacia is called rickets. Here, disturbed minerali-sation can lead to serious deformities of the feet and in the entire body structure. Excessively low Vitamin D levels usually cause osteoporosis in old age, reducing bone density. A sufficiently high Vitamin D supply stops this process, and reduces the risk of fractures.

Vitamin D also acts systemically by strengthening immune defences. In this way, the sun hormone also indirectly strengthens the skin barrier on the feet. The risks of infections by microbes are reduced. Aside from its stabilising influ-ences even against external stimuli, Vitamin D is also anti-inflammatory.

Why do diabetics have to pay special attention to not developing persistent Vitamin D deficiencies?

We now know that the diabetic foot is especially problematic, since the usually accompanying polyneuropathy reduces pain sensitivity and foot sensitivity. Dia-betics should therefore do everything for healthy feet to stabilise them in the long term. Vitamin D plays an outstandingly important role here. The hormone can evidently control how well insulin is pro-duced, and how it acts on the cells. This mechanism, in turn, positively influences blood sugar levels and therefore, foot health as well.

Vitamin D also has preventive influences. According to a more recent study by Finnish scientists, the risk of developing type 1 diabetes is 78 percent higher when there is Vitamin D deficiency than when Vitamin D levels are good. Herein, the results from 10,000 children with and without supplementation were com-pared. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is also reduced by up to 43 percent when Vitamin D levels are suffi-ciently high (higher than 25 ng/ml = nanogram per millilitre).

What can every individual do for them-selves?I recommend having one’s Vitamin D3 levels tested by the doctor no later than in the fall to clarify whether substitution is necessary (supply from food supple-ments). If yes, according to the recom-mendations by the European medications committee, a child should receive 1000 and an adult 2000 international units per day to balance the deficiency again.

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... is a specialist in internal medicine / dia-betology, a recognised dietary physician (as per the DAEM/DGEM) and a diabetolo-gist (as per DDG) at the Klinikum Fichtel-gebirge in Marktredwitz/Saxony.

Dr. med. Thomas Egginger

Our body forms Vitamin D from the UV-B radiation of the sun. Too few sun hours on average in Germany and modern lifestyles often prevent us from producing enough Vitamin D. Too little affects the entire body, even the feet. FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL spoke with specialist Dr. med. Thomas Eggin-ger, medical director and proxy in the expanded board of managing direc-tors of the Kliniken Nordoberpfalz AG.

The sun hormone for the feet

Medicine CURRENT

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Biorhythm of the skin

Care around the clock

In the morningAfter the long night time rest, the skin is less sen-sitive in the morning. Those who want to pep up their skin complexion on the feet and legs with a scrub (e.g. GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Scrub) should do so in the morning, in the shower. And on the subject of morning showers! Did you know that the new GEHWOL FUSS-KRAFT Soft Feet Nourishing Bath can also be used as a shower bath? Almond oil and vanilla extract help the skin to prepare op-timally for the imminent stress of the day. Then, strengthen the feet and legs with a revitalising moisture lotion. It really gets the skin metabolism going.

In the eveningWe sweat more in the afternoons than in the mornings. This makes sense in physiological terms, as the skin has been working hard for hours. The water content of the sweat and its chemical composition are important components in the struc-ture of the skin barrier. Consequently, sweating contributes to protecting the organism against harmful environmental toxins. But sweat also needs to evaporate. Already the feet have a problem, at least when they are in occlusive shoes. Sweat collects easily between the toes, and foot odour and foot fun-gus threaten. Therefore, an early evening footbath offers itself to thoroughly cleanse the foot skin, deodorise the foot, and provide antimicrobial action against odour forming bacte-ria and fungi.

NighttimeNot only the body recovers during sleep time. The skin also rests and regenerates at night. The cells of the upper skin layer now divide

especially quickly. Temperature and circulation and with them, nutrient absorption are 25 percent higher around this time than in the morning or evening. The skin barrier is also more permeable. This has the benefit that care substances enter the target layers of the skin more quickly, and the disadvantage that transepidermal water loss is higher at night. Therefore rich creams with regenerating ingredients offer themselves as nighttime care, providing moisture and lipids to protect against moisture loss.

At noontimeAfter lunch, we get the performance blues. Even our blood pressure drops over lunch break. Since the skin now gets less moisture

through the blood circulation, a cool wakener helps, such as a spray. The great thing about it is the ultrafast distribution of care substances on the skin. The fine spray mist feels fresh and cool. Sprays are also fat free. Lipids are not needed at this time, since the skin is already producing twice as much fat at noontime as e.g. between two and four in the morning.

Your customers should know: Timing also plays an important role in home foot care. The skin is a living organ, and its me-tabolism follows a strict daily rhythm. This also changes its care requirements from one hour to the next. Those who match their care program to the biorhythm of the skin obtain better results.

Tip: GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Lotion Water lily provides moisture; algae extract refreshes. Silk extracts ensure a youthfully tight skin appearance. Vitamin E protects against free radicals.

Tip: GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Care Spray Urea and allantoin provide moisture. Panthenol accelerates cell growth. Menthol ensures pleasant freshness.

Tip: GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Herbal Bath Mountain pine oil intensively cleanses and

enlivens the skin. Rosemary oil protects against foot odour.

Tip: GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Cream Urea, milk and honey extract lend moisture. Hyaluron strengthens the skin‘s defences. Vitamin rich avocado oil supplies the skin with lipids.

Well cared and protected day and night!

23FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL 2/2015FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL 3/2015


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foot sole is partly torn. This may occur e.g. due to twisting (distorsion trauma), foot or lower leg fracture, and joint dislo-cation (luxation). A painful, spindle shaped, solid growth which only sub-sides after some months then develops in the region of the first metatarsal bone. Foot often subjected to previous strainLedderhose I disease primarily affects men. In many cases, the foot has already suffered previous strain, e.g. by sunk and spread foot, hallux valgus (pads), hallux valgus rigidus, hammer or claw toes. The palpable nodes or spindle shaped thicker areas often cause severe strain dependent pain, especially when standing and walking (figure 2). Hard shoe soles intensify the pain. Going barefoot does not help either, since this can cause pres-sure on the inside of the foot sole.

Aside from the respective medical history, a consideration of the family situation is decisive in the diagnosis, since an inherited association cannot be excluded. This is followed by visual and palpation findings. Ledderhose disease can also be detected using ultrasound (sonography) and a special type of x-ray (soft ray technique). Magnetic resonance

tomography (MRT) of the foot can be used for a precise assessment of the soft tissues, relapses after surgery, and the extent of the fibromatosis. The symptoms are easily confused with other disorders in daily practice, such as weals (callosities), malignant tumours of the connective tissues (fibrosarcoma) or node formation in the surrounding muscle sheaths (fascitis nodularis).

Foot care provides reliefAmong other things, the goals of treat-ment are to relieve pain, inhibit inflam-mation and preserve the ability to walk. The foot specialist can already provide relief. Professional foot care as well as tips on home care and shoes help immensely. Using orthotics reduces pres-sure in the affected locations. Depending on the position of the nodes on the foot sole, the proven GEHWOL Frontal Foot Cushion G or custom insoles such as soft beds in a sandwich technique can be suitable.

Since toe and foot deformities are always treated as well in Ledderhose disease, the so called soft beds (orthopaedic custom insoles) made by an orthopaedic shoemaker provide pressure relief for the

It has nothing to do with a well known Bavarian form of clothing. Instead, Ledderhose disease is a benign disorder of the connective tissues (fibromatosis). It particularly affects the region of the connective tissue plate (plantar fascia) under the foot sole skin. Affected persons often suffer from severe pain.

German surgeon Georg Ledderhose first described the disorder, which is named after him, in 1894. He observed that small, firm nodes formed on the foot sole, which later grow into larger nodes and even solid strands (figure 1). The causes of Ledderhose I disease are still unknown today, even though accumula-tions were found in some families. A suspected association with metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus or gout (hyperuricaemia) was not confirmed thus far.

Aside from this form of Ledderhose, medicine also knows Ledderhose II disease. Herein the plantar fascia on the

The disorder classically progresses in three phases:

Growth phase (proliferation phase) – the spindle shaped cells of the connec-tive tissues are unusually active.

Phase of node formation In the third phase of the disorder, node formation decreases. However soft tissue shortening (contractures) may occur.

Ledderhose disease

Painful nodes on the soles of the feet

In Ledderhose disease, small nodes form on the foot soles. The uneven areas can cause severe pain.


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Four severity levels


foot sole. Orthopaedic shoe fittings - also called rolling aids - also simplify the roll-ing process when walking. Home foot exercises in the form of dosed stretching exercises and with illustrated instructions can also bring relief, as can special mas-sage techniques by a physiotherapist and manual therapy which serves to stretch and loosen.

Emergency surgeryAccompanying pain can be minimised by systemic therapy. Herein, a doctor prescribes analgesics. Antiphlogistics are required to inhibit inflammation. In indi-vidual cases, doctors use x-rays to soften or dissolve small nodes in relapses with severe scar formation. However this may result in possible side effects to the radi-ation therapy, such as dry skin, thinner skin with scale formation, or skin lesions. Radiation therapy is not undisputed, and should therefore be weighed critically.

However, affected persons can scarcely avoid surgery if pain further increases de-spite intensive therapy or the disease progresses aggressively. However, if only the nodes are removed, there is a high risk of a relapse (figure 3). Last but not least, the nodes and the hardened sur-rounding plantar fascia are generously removed, with a sufficiently large space in healthy tissues. Postoperatively, the foot needs appropriate pressure relief with soft beds.

Illustration 2: A particularly large node is seen on the right foot sole of a 50 year old man. The position in the centre of the foot sole is typical for Ledderhose I disease.

Illustration 3: The spindle shaped, scarred, reddened strand on the foot of a 70 year old woman with Ledderhose I disease is easily recognised. This is a relapse after surgery.

The licensed orthopaedist, expert in sports medicine and medical foot care provider teaches podology at various educational institutions. The expert has also published numerous textbooks and writes for recog-nised expert associations.

Dr. med. Renate Wolansky


Illustration 1: In a 72 year old woman, the left foot shows abnormal nodes which are typical for Ledderhose I disease. A strand has already begun to form in the centre of the foot sole.

Stage 1: individual nodes which are not intergrown with the skinStage 2: several nodes, also spread across an areaStage 3: many nodes which are intergrown with the skinStage 4: many nodes and coarse strands intergrown with the skin

Instruments in use, part 3: Experience reports - Callus Clean

“No others”

Marion Staab: I generally use the Callus Clean to remove callus and large weals. It is also well suited to spots such as toe tips and for removing the centres of corns. The edges are very easily smoothed.

Marion Staab: When I first saw it, I thought it would tear the callus open. But the opposite is the case. I believe that the special grind permits the easy removal of nail and callus material. My customers find the grinder very pleasant.

Rosamunde Ramm: In my many years of experience as a foot care pro, I have never had a grinder in my hands which truly works without injuries. That‘s a special plus of the Callus Clean. I be-lieve that it is due to the unique grind.

Rosamunde Ramm: I simply like work-ing with it because the results are good. I think that this is less noticeable to my patients. They are more concerned with knowing that my employees and I will cleanly remove callus or nails.

Marion Staab: I didn‘t really understand the many benefits of the grinder until I started working with it. I can absolutely recommend the Callus clean. I usually don‘t do well with anything new, but I loved the Callus Clean from the first minute.

Rosamunde Ramm: Fundamentally, the more difficult places on the foot are easily treated without injuries. I use the Callus Clean, for instance, to grind down thick nails or wear off severe weals.

Rosamunde Ramm, podologist, Frankfurt

Dieter Wollersheim, foot care provider, Herford

Marion Staab, medical foot care provider, Maintal



Dieter Wollersheim: When grinders are incorrectly used, the client‘s foot may sustain injuries. The Callus Clean works so neatly that this is not possible. It has excellent haptics. The results with the Callus Clean are outstanding. The grind removes material gently and well.

Dieter Wollersheim: It‘s also about time, which is an economy factor. Compared to other grinders, I can do about the same amount of removal with the Callus Clean in half the time. Since it rotates absolutely smoothly and there are scarcely any vibra-tions, it causes barely any strain. I really don‘t want another grinder anymore.

Dieter Wollersheim: The Callus Clean is extremely versatile. For myself, I found that this grinder works best for me when removing thickened nails and severe cal-lus.

For which cases do you use the Callus Clean?

How does this grinder excel?

What specific experiences did you make?

Its unique grind makes the Callus Clean into a very special rotary instrument in foot care. The grinder from the product range of GERLACH TECHNIK gained many fans shortly after it was introduced at the start of this year. Enthusiastic foot care pros report about the ease of working in everyday practice life, and what they believe makes the Callus Clean a special rotary instrument.



Tool boxes in the traditional foot

care salon

Traditionelles Fußpflegewerkzeug

Traditional foot care

Foot care in hospitals withGERLACH TECHNIK

Gerlach in China

Between tradition and modernity

In China, foot care is a cultural tradition along with acupuncture and traditional massage. Its roots go back to 3000 years before Christ. Various regions of the country developed different techniques. For instance, the Heibei style which is at home in Peking is held in high esteem throughout the country for its sophisti-cated craftsmanship and comprehensive know-how in treating various foot disor-ders.

Change with obstaclesTo the present day, the work of Chinese foot care providers is usually a combina-tion of external treatment and traditional Chinese medicine. They used to practice their trade on the street, in parks and in bath houses. Now, they open their own salons, and some have pedicure chains. A real boom has occurred. Since the average population may have difficulties obtaining hospital care for their foot disorders, foot care providers offer a broad repertoire of pedicure treatments.

They also dare to approach more serious disorders, such as foot wounds. The majority still use traditional, self-made tools. They consist of metal rods with a width of 5 to 20 mm whose tips and ends are suitable for the various treatment are-as. Customers often buy their own “tool-box” and keep it at the business for their next appointment. But there are no uni-form laws, criteria and standards for the foot care trade. Therefore a tool set may see many customers (and feet) - and dis-infection is not guaranteed. The absence of standards is also shown in sometimes deficient treatments and service which requires improvements.

GEHWOL takes holdDespite these challenges, GEHWOL opened its first Peking branch in 2005 and was very well received. For instance, GEHWOL med Salve for Cracked Skin is very popular. It and other products are meanwhile available in 280 retail stores, found in 18 provinces and cities. While

foot care gains importance in China, the partners Eurohealth China and Gerlach engage themselves to support the creation of a foot care concept for hospi-tals, and improve treatments. In 2009, GEHWOL made its debut in select hospital pharmacies, and received much positive feedback from dermatologists

and patients. In 2013, the derma-tology department of Huadong Hospital, a state hospital in Shang-hai, introduced professional foot care devices from GERLACH TECHNIK. Up to now, more than 3000 foot care institutions, not including medical institutions, have entered into a partnership with GEHWOL. The German brand has a reputation of being *the* spe-cialist in foot care.

Sharing knowledgeEurohealth Trade offers workshops on foot care themes and techniques for persons working in the sector since July 2012. 3000 participants thus far have come from all over China to obtain further education. The workshops, which also cover ar-eas such as the treatment environ-ment, disinfection and service, contribute to establishing uniform standards in China’s foot care sector.

Foot care has a long tradition in China. It used to be done on the street, but is now offered in special businesses and increasingly, also in hospitals. However there is a lack of uniform standards and comprehensive hygiene awareness. The two cooperation partners Eurohealth China and Gerlach work on improve-ments in the trade.


The GEHWOL brand promise, part 1: Origins, tradition, close to nature

Out of love for care

The GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT care series started more than 50 years ago. One thing was clear from the outset: The products of the series are exclusively sold where foot care services are also offered. In profes-sional foot care, such exclusivity is unmatched. FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL describes the brand promises behind the FUSSKRAFT products in a three-part series.

Out of traditionIt was the year 1868 when Eduard Ger-lach took over his father’s grocery store and added another business to the com-pany - a pharmacy. Gerlach recognised at the time that foot care requirements were not sufficiently met. At that time, a potash bath was commonly used for preventing foot problems. However it was difficult to use while travelling, e.g. on the long military marches which were common at that time. He invented and in 1882, brought the preparation form which was easily used anywhere onto the market: E. GERLACH’S PRAESERVATIVCREAM was the first industrially produced foot care

cream in consistently high quality and with even better preventive properties compared to potash. In 1910, it was re-named as GEHWOL FUSSKREM.

Exclusively for expertsStarting with the pioneering work of the founder, foot specialists and their customers worldwide now profit from the nearly 150‐year old tradition and experi-ence in the production of foot care prod-ucts. Its close link with the expert trade has been playing a major role herein from the start. In post-war Germany, profes-sional foot care began to establish itself as a separate service in the health sector.

With this, foot care providers became ex-perts who can provide the best recom-mendations for developing foot care products. In 1961, with GEHWOL FUSS-KRAFT, this close cooperation resulted in a high quality product series on the mar-ket, which is exclusively available in foot care practices and closely tied to the con-sulting expertise of the foot care pro.

Close to natureFollowing the start of the FUSSKRAFT series with GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT GREEN, 16 products were added, includ-ing the new GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet series. In implementing products,

“A lot of history is required to create a small amount of tradition.“

Henry James, storyteller (1843 to 1916)



What are your favourite FUSSKRAFT products?Birgit Weiler: My favourite FUSSKRAFT products are GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Care Spray, and since it came out, GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Cream. The spray sells very well to men; in my experience, they are less inclined to use cream. The Soft Feet Cream particularly addresses younger customers whose needs tend to be more in the wellness direction. The Soft Feet cream with milk and honey smells very nice and fulfils younger people‘s need for relaxation.

How do you explain the recipe and effects to your customers?Birgit Weiler: The two products really sell themselves, especially the Soft Feet Cream. But I also strongly address my client‘s situation. Those who stand or walk a lot at work often have stressed, dry skin. For instance, I tell my customers that the care spray con-tains urea, which supplies moisture to the skin and helps to prevent callus. At the same time, the spray is pleasantly cooling and refreshing. I also routinely mention that the products are available exclusively from foot care pros. My customers place great value on this.

What are your sales with this product?Birgit Weiler: My tips which I give customers are well received, such as spraying the changing shoes and setting them aside. When their work is done, users can then slip into “fresh” shoes. Or put the cream in your purse and have a quick wellness moment in between. Even though I mainly work on a mobile basis, I sell about 20 - 25 packages of Soft Feet Cream per month. The FUSSKRAFT Care Spray goes nearly as well with 15 - 20 packages.

What are your favourite FUSSKRAFT products?Ute Einsfelder: In addition to professional foot care, my practice offers wellness. I also have a perfume shop. The theme of feeling good is therefore important to me. I think the new GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet series is great. It‘s just the right mix between care and wellness. My customers love the products, especially younger users. I think that they definitely elevate the GEHWOL brand. In general, I am very glad that FUSS-KRAFT products are sold exclusively to foot specialists.

How do you explain the recipe and effects to your customers?Ute Einsfelder: In the GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Cream, I tell them about milk and honey. In most cases however, I tell nothing about the recipe or effects. I have worked in this job since 37 years. My customers trust my recommendations. And they can tell that it does them good.

How many sales do you have with the Soft Feet products?Ute Einsfelder: Quite a lot. I estimate that we sell an average of about 15 - 20 packages of the Soft Feet Cream per month alone. Sales rise in the Christmas period, when more gift giving takes place, but there are also months with less demand.

Birgit Weiler, foot care pro, Kolbermoor/Chiemsee

Eduard Gerlach GmbH - as always - applies the same care and traditional principles as the company founder. Among other things, this includes meticulous selection of effective ingredients, a well developed recipe, development in the company’s own laboratories, as well as safety and quality standards for production in Ger-many, according to pharmaceutical standards. But the brand promise also includes the traditional closeness to nature. After all, all GEHWOL products excel with their clever combination of natural ingredients which is matched to the applicable foot problems: for the well-being of the feet!

FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL in an interview with


Ute Einsfelder, foot care pro, Warburg

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In June, the Bundestag (German Parliament) passed the new prevention law. Suitable measures for preventive healthcare and preventing illness wherever people work and live are among the most important goals of the law. The regulatory body could also result in exciting options for foot care pros in using their expert knowledge and craftsmanship for lasting foot health.

increasing awareness, publicity work and information campaigns, the willingness to take preventive measures for one’s own health is rising. Foot care pros can crea-tively profit from this trend. Some ideas for your practice:

1. Foot check-up That which is entirely normal for many people aged 35 and up, namely a health check-up with a doctor (called check-up 35), can work successfully in your foot care practice too. For instance, conceive a professional foot inspection and offer it aggressively. You may also be able to receive support funds if you apply for a project with partners such as health insurers, or at a communal and federeal state level.

2. Plant foot careThe prevention law sees a particularly great need to act in plant health support. Talk to companies whose employees experience high levels of foot strain. For instance, this might include the retail trade, construction workers, mail carri-ers, etc. Together, you can develop con-cepts and apply for support funds.

3. Prevention at hotels or in gastronomy: Here, too, employees’ feet suffer due to long standing or walking. Cooperate with individual houses and a shared project application to develop preventive foot health measures.

4. Nursing and senior care homes: “Social care insurance is receiving a new prevention mandate so that people in inpatient care institutions can also be reached with health supporting measures in the future.” You can make use of this statement by the Federal Ministry of Health for yourself as well. Contact sur-rounding nursing and senior care homes to conceive targeted preventive measures for their residents.

“The prevention law strengthens the basis for more intensive cooperation among social insurance carriers, countries and communities in the areas of prevention and health support - for all age groups and in many fields of life”, a press state-ment by the Federal Ministry of Health stated on the subject. It is planned to spend about 500 million Euros annually in this sector.

Accordingly, health insurance funds can and must provide more funds for preven-tion. At the same time, the law aims to increase the population’s general aware-ness of prevention. For example, the Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA = Federal Centre for Health Information) is to receive 35 million Euros yearly to use media to point out the significance of prevention and health support.

Becoming activeAll too often, foot care is not on the minds of lawmakers. The new prevention law likewise makes no reference to the signif-icance of foot health. Nonetheless, due to

5. Sensitisation campaigns: The earlier, the better: Children and adolescents generally pay little attention to their feet, since they have no problem awareness. But decisive errors which later lead to problems can occur, precisely during the younger years. You can use an informational cam-paign to kill two birds with one stone: On the one hand, you can help young people to consciously take care of their foot health. On the other hand, you clearly position yourself as an expert for healthy feet. Cooperate with schools or the Inter-national Association (Internationaler Bund = IB), which has working associa-tions at many schools. These can also be used for a project which is worthy of sup-port.

Prevention law

On the right track

By the way...…in July of this year, the German Pharmacists’ Association stated that numerous health insurers are increas-ingly covering costs for “green” pre-scriptions. This fulfils one demand of the care structure law which was final-ised in 2012. The practice mainly aims at OTC products. But insured persons may also be able to obtain refunds for the costs of foot care services. Let your customers know so that they request a refund for the green prescription from their health insurer. Depending on the health insurer, refunds are made up to an annual maximum limit of 50 to 400 Euros.

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Marketing CURRENT

FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL 2/2015FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL 3/2015

Informative flyersKnowing about possible health problems is the first step towards sensitively manag-ing the health of one’s own feet. Custom-ers will only start to take lasting care of their feet when they have internalised the meaning of prevention. Information forms an important basis in the consultation. As a foot care pro, you determine problems and are aware of needs. This is your chance to provide customers with targeted advice, and encourage the important extension of foot care into the home environment.

This association caused FUSSPFLEGE AKTUELL to ask in the 2/2015 issue whether and if yes, how you would use possible flyers about various indications and foot problems.

The most important results:

92 % of the 165 partici-pants answered “yes“ when asked about whether they would use indication related flyers during consultations.

At 85 %, the subject of “callus/skin cracks” is in greatest de-mand. “Foot fungus“ (75 percent), “pres-sure spots“ (64 percent), pressure relief (56 percent), dry skin (55 percent) and other themes are also desired.

Nearly 60 % would keep the flyers on the foot care cabinet or a nearby wall to have them close to hand during the treatment. 35 percent prefer the reception counter to place flyers.

Not paying attention to one‘s feet today can mean serious problems tomorrow. Therefore, prevention and preventive care are among the most important fields where foot care pros can take action.

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An image and its history

The magnificent Buddhist temple system of Wat Pho is located at the centre of the historic ancient city of Bangkok (Thai-land). It was built in the 17th century. Over time, various Thai monarchs expanded or restored this “First Class Royal Temple”. The facility has one of the largest Buddha statues in the world. Since it was built in 1832, the famous gilded statue of Buddha lying down has impressed innumerable temple visitors with its 46 meters of length and 15 me-ters of height. The founder of the Bud-dhist religion is shown at the moment of his earthly death. Smiling gently, he rests on the right side of his body, his head supported on his arm. At peace with the world and himself, Buddha enters Nirva-na, freed from the eternal cycle of rebirth and suffering. Together, the feet of the statue which lie atop each other are three meters high, four and a half meters long, and decorated in rich detail on their soles with mother-of-pearl work,

showing elephants, horses and plants, among others. In general, the soles of the feet have special significance in rest-ing Buddhist statues. They are often dec-orated with 108 symbols which stand for mystical and cosmological ideas of the religion. The symbols also represent various meditation levels. The centre of the sole is occupied by the “Dharm-achakra“, a wheel which symbolises cosmic order and the teachings of Buddhism. Numerous “footprints” of Buddha all over Asia also have symbolic power. Sri Lanka alone has over 3000 of them. Whether on rock walls or stone plates, big or small, the often centu-ries-old landmarks are intended to remind those who see them of Buddhist teachings, or show them that the famous founder of the world religion once placed his foot here.

Feet of the enlightened

The foot soles of the large Buddha statues in Asia are often particularly richly decorated with cosmological symbols of this world religion.

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