Cross Country Barefoot Encounter

Did you hear about the guy walking across the country barefoot?? Yes, you heard me correctly. Ron Zaleski is trudging across the US - BAREFOOT - to raise awareness about the need for mental counseling for all military personnel.

As a former military man himself, he is attempting to collect 1 million signatures for his petition along his back roads route to the west coast. The petition calls on Congress to mandate mental counseling for all military personnel.

Tuesday August 10 (just last week!) he passed through good ole' Buchanan, VA. Such a huge cause trampling right through our back yards. Our very own Roanoke Times had a chance to catch up with Mr. Zaleski and get an update on his journey.

Ron is giving everything he has to this cause including the health of his poor tootsies! Rex Bowman from the Roanoke Times reported that his feet were a "mess of broken skin and calluses." Not exactly the prettiest of mental pictures. He should definitely have stopped by to see us while he was in town. ;-)

Well, I just wanted to share with you a little about the barefoot walker's journey. If you'd like to follow him on his cross country trek, check out his website www.thelongwalkhome.org.

For more information visit our website www.roanokefoot.com

Lady Gaga Takes A Nose Dive

Lady Gaga - these boots were NOT made for walking!!!

On Tuesday, Lady Gaga hit the floor at London's Heathrow airport while wearing ridiculous looking thigh high black leather boots with over the top platform heels.

Current fashion trends, like the Armadillo shoes designed by Alexander McQueen, leave models and celebrities at risk for falls and injury.

I thought that I had seen everything at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada last year. But, it is one thing to see a crazy shoe on a shelf and a completely other experience to watch someone try to walk in unsafe shoes.

Women -please do not try this one at home!!!

Shoes that are creating their own path in our world Part 3

Vibram Five Fingers


These are the shoes to wear if you don’t like wearing shoes! Vibram Five Fingers were made to protect our feet while giving them the freedom to biomechanically perform as they were naturally designed to. Before Five Fingers were introduced Vibram was known for their rubber soles introduced in 1935. Vitale Bramani, the grandson of the founder of Vibram, came up with the idea of inventing a shoe that simulates being barefoot. With a team of researchers and engineers, this grandson and grandfather duo, created Five Fingers and their popularity spread all over the world! These shoes promote muscle development and range of motion in feet and ankles as well as body awareness to our surroundings and the function of our feet. They come in several different styles for different activities as well as different colors for different personalities. Check them out at www.vibramfivefingers.com.

Shoes that are creating their own path in our world Part 2

Simple Shoes

This shoe company has come along way since opening in 1991. The Simple shoes that we know and love today are not at all the same shoes from the 90’s. For about 13 years Simple was just like every other shoe company out there. But in 2004 Simple Shoes had an epiphany and decided to take on the challenge of providing eco friendly shoes to the public. They started small with 2 different styles in 2005 called their ‘Green Toe’ collection. These shoes where a hit and as soon as the ball was rolling for Simple there was no stopping it. Over the past few years Simple has produced with even more shoes that incorporate natural and sustainable materials into their products. In 2006, Simple set a new goal to become a 100% sustainable company. This was a huge step for any company, and a very exciting one at that. In 2007, they took it one step further (we didn’t think it was possible!). Simple shoes started to use recycled materials as well as products found naturally in our world. So now, old tires can gather dirt on people’s feet instead of in a dump. To learn more about Simple Shoes visit www.simpleshoes.com.

Shoes that are creating their own path in our world Part 1

Tom’s

Tom’s are extremely colorful with many different patterns, but this is just a bonus. The best thing about these shoes is that you get two for the price of one! Deals are great aren’t they!! What is even better about this deal is that one pair of shoes goes to you and one pair of shoes goes to a child who doesn’t have any shoes to call their own. Tom’s was started in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie. His inspiration came from seeing children without shoes on his visit to Argentina. A little known fact is that many diseases can be picked up from the ground by being absorbed through the skin on the feet. Another concern is puncture wounds especially when medical treatment is not readily available. These things are not acceptable when there is something we can do about them. So, when Blake came back to the states he got very busy. During his first year in business he gave 10,000 shoes to children all around the world. Tom’s have become increasingly popular over the years. Their expansion has been exciting and inspiring. As of April 2010, Tom’s have given approximately 600,000 shoes to children all over the world! To check out Tom’s shoes online please visit www.toms.com.

5 warning signs of foot problems in children

Foot pain in children is not something to be taken lightly or ignore. Sometimes it is hard for children to tell their parents when they are having foot troubles. Perhaps the child was born with a foot abnormality so their gait, though abnormal, seems normal to them. Or, a child may feel embarrassed about how their feet appear so they don’t want to bring it up. So, it is very important for parents to keep an eye on children's feet to keep them just as healthy as the rest of their body. Remember these feet have lots of miles ahead of them!!

Here are five things to look out for that might indicate your child is having foot pain or problems.

1. If your child is having trouble keeping up with other children~ If your child frequently lags behind other children in sports or other physical activities this could be due to flat feet causing the leg muscles to tire more easily. The muscles and feet become tired easier because the feet are not functioning as efficiently as they could be.

2. If your child suddenly stops wanting to participate in activities they enjoy~ If your child is suddenly not participating in their favorite activities this could be due to heel pain that is common in children ages 8-14. Heel pain can be caused by repetitive stress that occurs while playing sports. Too much strain can lead to pain and inflammation in the growth plate at the back of your child’s heel.

3. If your child is reluctant to show you their feet~ If a child notices a change in their feet they might be embarrassed or nervous that the change could lead to a trip to the doctors office. Start making it a habit early to check your children's feet for discoloration of the skin or nails, growths, calluses, redness, swelling or ingrown nails. Seek podiatric help for any of these signs of a problem.

4. If your child trips or falls often~ Although children are often clumsy while they are getting used to their body, repeated clumsiness can be a sign of in-toeing, balance problems or neuromuscular conditions.

5. If your child tells you they have foot pain~ Sometimes we get lucky and our children will tell us that their feet hurt. If this happens be thankful and take them to see a podiatrist right away. It is never normal for children to have foot pain and since they are growing all the time foot pain should not go overlooked. If injuries cause pain or swelling for more than a few days see a podiatrist asap.

Even if no symptoms are present and your children don’t complain of foot pain it is a good idea to get a yearly check up to make sure that the feet are growing properly.

A Hiking We Will Go

I saw my first through hikers off the AT last weekend at Kroger-Daleville while doing my weekly grocery shopping. It got me thinking about all of the people that have limped into my office off the trail over the years.

Walking up and down steep hillsides and tramping through wet, slippery fields and wooded areas puts stress on the muscles and tendons in the feet and ankles, especially if you haven't conditioned properly before hitting the trail. Also, many don't realize that sneakers aren't the best choice for extended hiking and hunting. Had some of my patients worn sturdy, well-constructed hiking boots, they wouldn't have suffered sprained ankles or strained Achilles tendons.

Make the investment in top-quality hiking boots. Strong, well insulated and moisture-proof boots with steel or graphite shanks offer excellent ankle and foot support that helps lessen stress and muscle fatigue to reduce injury risk. The supportive shank decreases strain on the arch by allowing the boot to distribute impact as the foot moves forward. So if a boot bends in the middle, don't buy it.

In wet and cold weather, wearing the right socks can help prevent blisters, fungal infections. Synthetic socks should be the first layer to keep the feet dry and reduce blister-causing friction. For the second layer, wool socks add warmth, absorb moisture away from the skin, and help make the hiking boot more comfortable.

Don't ignore pain and hope that it will go away. If you are out on the trail, try and take a break to see if the pain subsides. As soon as you are able, make a visit to your podiatrist to determine the cause of your pain. Remember, pain is your body letting you know there is something wrong.

Dedicated To Your Health Feet,

Dr. Jennifer Feeny

For more information visit our website www.roanokefoot.com