FAQ
Why is it important to be active?
Being physically active will improve your health and well-being. Keeping physically
active can help with weight loss and reduces the risk of developing serious
medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Walking regularly helps
to reduce high blood pressure levels and high cholesterol levels. Walking is
easy and cheap and you are highly likely to enjoy the sights, sounds and the
fresh air. The New Zealand Heart Foundation (2001) recommend, “Walking
a ‘K’ a day” to keep physically active and improve fitness. “Every
little bit of activity is good for your health and everything over 30 minutes
is a bonus!”
I have diabetes. Are these socks appropriate for me to use?
The Paladin socks have been designed with you in mind! Frequently with diabetes,
high blood sugar levels interfere with nerve function that can damage (sometimes
permanently) the nerves, causing them to send odd signals or no signals at
all. It is rather like having ‘fire alarms’ on your feet that cannot work
properly. This is called Neuropathy and means that you may not be in a position
to know if you are developing a blister, for example, or if you are walking on
something inside the shoe or if the shoe is too tight or pinching the skin.
In addition, blood vessels that provide arterial blood to the legs and feet may
be affected, as a result of diabetes. The arteries can narrow, reducing the volume
of blood flowing to the feet. This makes healing difficult, particularly if you
smoke as well. These socks are designed to fit snugly, accommodate your individual
foot shape and withstand significant forces applied over high impact areas. The
natural wool has the capacity to keep you warm and the skin dry, helping to avoid
blister formation and breaches in skin integrity. Seacell containing seaweed
enriched with silver protects the skin and exhibits anti inflammatory properties.
Why is cigarette smoking harmful to my feet and legs?
Cigarette smoking causes the blood to thicken and the arteries to deposit
fibro fatty plaque, a thick lipid substance that lines the insides of the
arteries and results in constriction (narrowing) of the arteries, adding
to the problem! Imagine thick, sticky blood trying to squeeze its way through
narrowed, hardened ‘pipes’ (arteries),
all the way down to your feet. As smoking continues, eventually the pipes
close off and the flow of blood to the lower limbs and feet is minimal. If
an injury is sustained, or an infection establishes, the blood vessels are
unable to send down sufficient blood to heal the wounds or combat the infection
and this places the foot or leg at high risk of developing serious limb-threatening
complications.
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What causes blisters?
Friction blisters usually form where there is a combination of factors. Friction
blisters (as opposed to blisters that form as a result of a burn or serious
cold injuries) form in areas of the skin where there is relatively tight,
swollen skin that is not loose enough to shift and move with the forces that
are being applied. When the skin is tough and tight, blisters form as the
skin is rubbed back-and-forth in a twisting motion. A rupture occurs between
the layers of the skin and this becomes filled with fluid and causes pain.
The presence of moisture affects the skin’s reaction to friction. Continued rubbing over “sticky” skin
makes the skin and the rubbing surface adhere more closely and this increases
the frictional force. In turn, this raises the skin temperature and causes the
skin to increase sweat production and the repetitive cycle of injury and re-injury
continues until activity ceases.
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How can I avoid blistering?
Blister formation is less likely with appropriate moisture management.
The Paladin sock is able to retain excessive moisture due to a naturally
occurring advantage in the Merino wool fibre and this is further enhanced
with the inclusion of SeaCell Active fibres. SeaCell Active fibres are a
combination of Seacell, a seaweed derivative and silver threaded into the
woollen yarn. The Paladin sock has been designed to enhance airflow through
its rib and mesh construction in certain key areas allowing the skin and
sock to breathe, assisting in the prevention of excess body fluid accumulation.
A well fitting, snug sock assists in taking responsibility for the frictional
forces, protecting the underlying skin in the process.
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Why is it preferable to wear seamless socks?
As a result of your diabetes, you may have neuropathy and your toes might
be slightly retracted. You may not notice the shoes squeezing, rubbing or
pinching the tops or tips of your toes. Sometimes in hosiery the seam that
runs across the tops of the toes causes undue pressure to the skin, in a
region of the shoe (the toe box) that might not have much room to accommodate
added bulk. It is the combination of pressure from the shoe, pressure from
the seams of the socks and the neuropathy that can lead to skin breakdown
and eventual ulceration. Therefore, a seamless sock provides less bulk in
the toe box of the shoe and less pressure to the skin over the toes. The
lack of a seam and the additional protective padding either side of the specially
designed mesh provide additional protection to the toes.
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I have oedema (swelling) at the ankles. Will these socks be safe
forme? What should I do if they are too tight at the ankle?
There are several reasons why ankles can swell as a result of fluid accumulating
around the base of the leg and onto the top of the foot. It is beyond the
scope of this document to discuss these reasons, but it is important to be
aware of the implications of tight, constrictive bands imbedding within the
skin as a result of tight fitting socks. Socks that are too tight around
the ankle will interfere with the return of blood and fluids back towards
the heart for oxygen. Restrictive socks can force fluid further down the
leg and onto the foot and will create additional fluid accumulation. In turn,
this causes additional swelling to occur and results in an enlarged foot,
at risk of becoming too swollen to fit safely inside the shoe. When the shoe
no longer fits, the skin will be pressed against the inside lining of the
shoe, the pressure increases and the risk for injury is increased. Additionally,
excess fluid accumulating at the foot and ankle will be filled with blood
deprived of fresh oxygen and will be sluggish. Sluggish blood flow and increased
fluid accumulation become irritating to the skin and underlying tissues and
can damage the skin, if this situation persists. If you notice that the socks
are tight at the region of the ankle, or that there are indentations in your
skin due to tightness around the ankle, then you must take the socks off.
They are too tight for you and will need to be replaced with socks that do
not constrict the ankle region.
The Paladin socks have been designed to expand, with a very wide point of
entry, to allow the foot to enter the sock easily without rubbing the skin.
The double cuff allows room for the feet and ankles to swell a little but
if you notice indentations in the skin caused by the socks, it is important
to remove the socks and wear a pair that are non-restrictive in that region.
The knitting technique used by Paladin has made the top of the sock thicker,
as a result, but this method allows for the highest stretch top available.
It is important to emphasise that some people have swelling at the ankles
that is too great for the socks to cope with and, in this case, the socks
will need to be removed.
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Do I need to adjust the shoe size to accommodate these socks?
Paladin Research Ltd has designed a range of socks from heavy weight to lightweight
to cater for all lifestyle activities and footwear. The shape and style of
the socks aim for as snug a fit as possible. The additional Left and Right
sock shape aims to improve the fit even more. The absence of any seams means
less bulk inside the shoe and the mesh situated on the sides of the foot
help to reduce the bulk of the sock in places where additional padding is
not required. These modifications in design save room inside the shoe and
have allowed us to provide unique U shaped protection padding to the top
of the foot. There should be no need to adjust for shoe size but if you are
uncertain, you should discuss this with your podiatrist, doctor or health
care practitioner before you wear the socks. If you have neuropathy, it is
advisable to check with your podiatrist or doctor first.
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What is particularly special about Merino wool socks?
Because of our New Zealand farming methods, our animals are internationally
renowned for being generally very healthy. This has a positive impact on
the quality of the wool fibre. The Merino wool fibres are strong, long in
length and extremely durable, as a consequence.
Merino wool is whiter; the yarn is softer and more resilient
and therefore provides for longer wearing and durability. Merino
wool is a complex keratin protein-based natural fibre that shares a compatibility
with human skin, nail and hair making Merino wool fibre a suitably harmonious
natural choice to provide a protective interface between skin and abrasive
footwear. Paladin socks are made using Merino wool which has
the ability to retain more moisture than most other fibres, particularly
man-made fibres, and this is good for two reasons. Firstly, the moisture
retention helps keep the skin supple and flexible, acting as a reservoir
to retain the moisture and naturally occurring oils that are produced when
the skin sweats. This nourishes the skin and can assist in preventing skin
cracking or splitting. Secondly, the retained moisture, held within the natural
structures of the wool fibre, prevent excessive fluid accumulation on the
skin that leads to increased friction, skin rubbing and eventual blistering.
It is always important to avoid damaging the skin of the feet when you have
diabetes. A skin break can be a portal for bacteria to invade the tissues
and cause an infection. Merino wool offers natural odour resistance.
The Merino fibre does not provide a favourable environment for bacteria to
prosper due to its uneven, scaly, surface and its capacity to absorb moisture.
Bacteria favour a smooth, moist surface in humid conditions in order to flourish.
The physical structure of the wool fibre ensures a tortuous and difficult
pathway for bacteria to flourish. Discouraging bacterial and fungal colonisation
prevents the formation of malodorous by-products from a bacterial environment.
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How does Merino wool work to keep the temperature
constant?
Merino wool fibres have a complex structure with a water holding
(hydrophilic) interior, known as the cortex and the water-repelling (hydrophobic)
exterior known as the cuticle. Merino wool fibres will absorb
moisture vapour from the high humidity microclimate between the skin and
the sock, and release the moisture to an area of lower humidity. As a result,
the wearer feels less damp and stays comfortable for a longer period of time.
This is of particular relevance to people with diabetes, as they require
a sock that can warm the foot and maintain a stable temperature for long
periods of the day and retain moisture to keep the skin well hydrated. The
New Zealand Merino wool fibre ensures thermostatic regulation by absorption
and re-absorption of moisture away from the skin, insulating and regulating
the skin surface temperature better than any other fibre. This naturally
occurring thermostatic activity retains its temperature to heat the skin
in colder climates or cool the skin in warmer climatic conditions. Therefore,
it is recommended that these socks be worn during the winter months and it
is possible to wear the lighter styles in the summer months without becoming
too hot.
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Are these socks good for people who suffer with hot feet
or cold feet?
Because of the capabilities of Merino wool to control temperature regulation,
the socks are an obvious choice for people who suffer with cold feet and
for people who suffer from hot feet. Nerve damage (neuropathy) may be causing
the nerves to send unusual signals and it may be that you experience sensations
of very cold feet or burning feet, as a direct result of diabetes-related
nerve damage. If you experience these symptoms, you should discuss this with
your doctor, podiatrist or healthcare professional. Cold feet can be a sign
of impoverished circulation. If you experience these symptoms, you should
discuss this with your doctor, podiatrist or healthcare professional. Following
on from a health professional’s
recommendation, Paladin socks are recommended for people with Neuropathy
and for people who suffer from cold or ‘burning’ feet.
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Why are the socks indicated “left” and “right”?
Paladin Research has designed their socks specifically to recognise the fact
that each foot is individual and that the arch region needs to be shaped
to enhance the fit of the sock snugly to the foot. In addition the uniquely
shaped cushioning pad on top of the foot needs to be precisely in the correct
positioning to effectively protect the bony prominences and dorsalis pedis
artery from compressive forces. The arch region has the elastic knitted in
such a way to provide extra spring to the arch during walking.
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How should the socks be washed?
Washing instructions are included separately. Ideally, in order to keep the
best appearance, wash the socks inside out in a normal cycle and line dry.
As with other woollen garments, it is advisable to avoid tumble drying.
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Why are the socks more expensive compared to some other socks?
These socks are made with the very best authentic Merino yarns
that are selected specifically to perform the functions we require. SeaCell
Active a Cellulose fibre containing seaweed and silver in a blended yarn
is developed using highly advanced processing technology. In addition, unique
Hi Tec technology has been developed to
Knit the socks and these are the most expensive. They allow us to knit socks
with selective cushioning, so foot protection is positioned exactly where
it is needed.
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Why is the top of the sock so thick?
The
Paladin knitting technique allows for the highest stretch top available.
This makes entry to the sock easy and the double thickness helps to keep
the foot warm without compromising valuable space inside the shoe.
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Does the sock come in a range of colours?
Yes. We have selected a range of colours to compliment current direction
in apparel and footwear.
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How does the sizing work?
We have used the international sizing model. Each sock has sizing
in various measurements for ease of selection. The size span is more limited
for each size to give a customised fit.
Will the benefits of the Seaweed
and Silver come out in
the wash?
Manufacturing process allows for the permanent integration of algae
and silver ions into the fibre