That unfulfilled New Year’s resolution to get in shape may still be viable as warm weather approaches. Whether a new fitness program is on the agenda or participants are seasoned veterans of active lifestyles, the best results start with proper-fitting shoes. Even high school athletes involved in spring sports should pay attention to the type of shoes they wear for athletic activity.
Ashish Doshi, Director of Prosthetics and Orthotics at Medical and Health Resources, has over two decades of experience in dealing with issues involving feet. Most of the foot problems people encounter with physical activity can be avoided, according to Doshi, with a few simple steps.
“First, the proper choice of shoes is very important,” said Doshi, who is a four-sport participant and well-versed in the problems of wrong athletic shoe selection.
Often, young athletes and those new to a fitness program will select athletic shoes based on brand, fashion, or marketing. Doshi advises people involved in athletic or physical activity to research their foot type. Generally, those with high arched feet are called supinators, while those whose arch flattens out are called pronators. Various tests to determine foot type are easily found on athletic footwear websites or through internet searches.
Once foot type is identified, obtaining footwear designed for the foot type is next. Almost all name brand athletic shoes have footwear for the various foot types. A proper fitting shoe can head off such problems as runner’s knee, stress fractures, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis. The right shoe can keep feet in proper alignment to avoid knee, hip, and even spine issues.
Second on Doshi’s must do list is to take time to stretch properly before any physical workout or athletic endeavor.
“Nobody stretches,” Doshi said. “Stretching is going to help the muscles prepare and be ready to respond. Even your feet need the stretching, and it will prevent problems such as Achilles heel issues, sprains, and strains.”
The third step is most often overlooked until after a workout. Doshi recommends any warm up for an athletic or physical activity to include hydration. Drinking water beforehand hydrates the body, including muscles.
After making sure all three steps are followed, if pain results from a workout, one solution might be as simple as purchasing an orthotic for athletic shoes.
“Got a problem?” Doshi said. “Find out what the problem is and try an over-the-counter orthotic. Remove the sole of the shoe and use orthotics in the shoes.”
If foot or knee pain continues or other stress injuries are not improved with the store-purchased orthotic, Doshi advises seeing a physician trained in a specialty relating to the injury or area of pain. That visit may lead to a prescription for a custom-made orthotic.
“There needs to be an evaluation by a doctor, and sometimes the recommendation will be for an orthotic to be made for shoes to allow the person to bring the abnormal to normal,” Doshi said.
According to Doshi, about 25 to 30 percent of the population has normal foot balance. Those who participate in sports such as running, hiking, or any activity with a strong push off sometimes need more than an athletic shoe can provide.
After a prescription is written for orthotics, the patient is referred for custom-made orthotics. At Medical and Health Resources, a division of Human Performance and Rehabilitation Centers in Columbus, Doshi and his team work with the patient to identify a solution.
“What we do is unique,” Doshi said. “We take time to learn about the patient. We learn what the problem is and the level of activity or lifestyle the patient wants to maintain. Then we manufacture the orthotic right here for them. It really is the best marriage of the biomedical field with patient care.”
Custom-made inserts for athletic shoes begin with an evaluation that can include watching the patient walk or run. Next, an impression is made of the feet. Plaster is poured into the impression, and an orthotic is made in-house that corrects the foot issues. Various materials are used depending upon the level of activity, weight of the patient, or other significant factors. A fitting is scheduled, and “fine tuning” occurs as the inserts are tried out over a period of time.
The custom-made inserts can be easily removed, and Doshi said the orthotics last about a year. Some patients go longer, and others return more often due to the extent of their athletic activity. The goal is to enable the patient to continue with an activity without the pain and stress previously experienced.
Doshi, who walks, hikes, bikes, and runs, follows his own advice when it comes to proper fitting shoes, stretching, and hydration. He also has orthotics in all of his athletic shoes. Taking time to research and prepare for any level of fitness activity is essential for success.
“Education is the key,” Doshi said.
Columbus Valley/Special feature/March 2016
Custom-made orthotics
Ashish Doshi, HPRC
Columbus, Georgia
By Beth Welch
Photos courtesy of Medical and Health Resources
