Foot Efx Franchise Systems Brochure

Youth Market — Solving Foot Problems Before They Start
Children often act like perpetual-motion machines; jumping, walking, stopping and starting again all day long. By the age of six, about 30 percent of all children have foot disorders that require professional treatment, and 80 percent of children of all ages have trouble with their feet because of the shoes they wear, according to the California Podiatric Association. Foot problems in childhood, if not corrected, can lead to a lifetime of foot, back and body pain.

In addition to supporting constant activity, children’s feet are also growing rapidly. Foot Efx children’s arch supports keep young feet in alignment and provide stability and balance. They help children enjoy their activities comfortably, which can lead to a lifetime of healthy habits that include exercise and participation in sports.

Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a growing concern around the world. In the United States, obesity related health expenditures have raised a red flag to state healthcare officials. Obesity is a 7.7 billion dollar market to date in California alone. FOOT Efx™ Lifestyle® products for children are designed to provide comfort, balance and support. Promoting fitness and active participation in sports at an early age helps improve the child's quality of life for years to come.

Overweight children experience foot pain due to weight-bearing pressure the same as adults. If a young child feels off balance, or their feet hurt, they tend to beome sedentary. Sedentary children become overweight and this can cause bad habits that last a lifetime. Overweight children become overweight adults, hence the increased percentage of Type II diabetes.

Diabetics — A Growing Special-Needs Group
The Centers for Disease Control reports that diabetes is rapidly increasing in the United States. From 1980 through 2003, the number of Americans with diabetes more than doubled – from 5.8 million to 13.3 million. In 2002 about 1.3 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 79 were newly diagnosed with diabetes. In just five years, from 1997 through 2002, the number of new cases of diabetes in the U.S. rose 47 percent.

Diabetics are at risk of experiencing serious, even life-threatening, problems with their feet - problems that can be avoided with proper foot care. In 1993, Congress passed the Therapeutic Shoe Bill. This Bill provides for one pair of properly designed and fitted shoes and three sets of diabetic shoe inserts at reduced cost for diabetics on Medicare who meet the criteria. Congress recognized that it is better and less expensive to prevent major health problems than to treat them later.

Foot Efx has developed a comprehensive educational program to aid franchisees to work with diabetics, healthcare providers and local associations. We have forged close relationships with established Medicare-approved manufacturers to give our franchisees a complete line of products to meet diabetic customers’ needs.