Sports shoes require special attention…

                        Podiatry body offers guidance

National pride, parochial competitiveness, the local footy club, the parish tennis club all contribute to Australia being one of the world’s major sporting nations. A Bureau of Statistics survey (1999 - 2000) illustrated that 7.5 million (39.26%) of Australia’s population in that period participated in sport or some form of physical activity.

“Such a statistic is commendable and good for our well-being”, Matt Dilnot, President Australian Podiatry Association (Vic) said, “but alarming when compared with the 10% of population who consulted a podiatrist during the same period.”

“Feet are the engine room of the human body. They absorb up to four times our body weight when engaged in sporting activity” Mr Dilnot said, “and, as such, well-fitted shoes with correct support are an essential element of our sports apparel.”

“Different shoes should be worn for different activities.  Inappropriate, ill-fitting, worn-out sports shoes can cause abnormal foot functions resulting in foot, leg, knee and lower back injuries. These injuries can become more predominant under the strains of sporting and general fitness activities.”

As part of an ongoing public education program, the various State Podiatry Associations, in conjunction with sports retailer, The Athlete’s Foot, will on 24 February launch a new and extremely informative brochure “Choosing the best Sports Shoe for You.”

Co-authored by Victorian podiatrists Geraldine Glanville and Jolene McGregor, the brochure addresses such vital matters as - a sports shoe for support; what to look for in a shoe; feet that require support, foot movements that can cause considerable injuries and features to look for when purchasing new sports shoes.

The brochure also contains essential sports shoe guidelines such as:

Length:  the shoe should allow for the elongation and spreading of the foot during activity.

Width:  the shoe should not place pressure on the toes or allow excessive movement of the foot within the front of the shoe.

Depth:  this is particularly important for those needing to accommodate an orthotic insert.

Heel Width:  the shoes heel width should suit the wearer’s heel width.  Again, if orthoses are worn, extra width may be needed.

Grip:  when walking, there should be no heel slip.

To support the launch and also provide first hand information to the sporting public, in every The Athlete’s Foot store throughout Australia on 24 February there will be a podiatrist giving free gait analysis and sports shoe assessment.

Special note: co-authors of the new brochure, Geraldine Glanville and Jolene McGregor will be in attendance at The Athlete’s Foot store in the Eastland Shopping Centre, Ringwood between 10.00am and 2.00pm on Saturday 24 February for interviews and/or photoshoot purposes.

“As a sports retailer and not a sports shoe manufacturer, we at The Athlete’s Foot firmly believe that prior to purchasing new sports shoes, feet should be measured by trained staff and if necessary fully assessed by a podiatrist,” Promotions Manager Bob Ehrlich said, “hence, the new podiatry brochure is both educational, informative and of assistance to all.”

The general public are invited to their local The Athlete’s Foot store on Saturday 24 February to meet a local podiatrist, have a free gait assessment and discuss their sports shoe needs.