Our own Raymond Smith, DPM, is featured in a newspaper article about an ankle replacement procedure he will showcase on June 21st at the OU Medical Center's Edmond location. You can read the article here.

Click on the image above to read an article on barefoot running by Dr. Brad Beasley.
Article courtesy of Oklahoma Sports & Fitness.

Getting to the sole of 'toning shoes': Local podiatrist offers advice on footwear fad

By Emily Droege E-E Staff Reporter
Monday, September 27, 2010 12:30 PM CDT

While the newest fad for getting fit may sound as simple as slipping on new shoes, one local doctor cautions that results from so-called "toning shoes" can vary widely.

In recent years, the footwear market has exploded with an array of toning shoes, also known as fitness shoes, which claim to promote muscle toning by making leg muscles work harder.

According to Bartlesville podiatrist Dr. James Webb Jr., such shoes can either have positive or negative effects, depending upon the age and physical condition of the potential purchaser.

For example, Webb said that if properly utilized, the shoes may help some with heel problems and relieve heel pain. However, he also pointed out that because of how the shoe is designed, instability is a main concern for those who have poor balance and may be vulnerable to falling.

"There are risks for elderly people who have trouble balancing as they can be susceptible to falling while wearing these types of shoes," said Webb.

He explained that the structure of shoe is designed with a "rocker bottom sole," meaning that the shoes are purposely unstable and designed to facilitate a motion from the heel to toe.

"This results in a rocking motion to create a degree of instability and makes you use certain muscle groups that you normally don't use in walking shoes," he said. "They can help improve your posture and cause you to use more of your muscles, as long as they're used in the right way."

Despite the rising buzz over toning shoes, Webb pointed out that the general concept of a shoe with a rocker bottom sole has been around for several decades. Soles of this type have generally been prescribed to those with foot and ankle pain or arthritic conditions.

Webb also noted that the shoes should be utilized in the same fashion as any other piece of athletic training equipment and viewed as an addition to an exercise program.

"Because the type of shoe is targeted towards certain muscle groups, it's important that people don't use them excessively or use them for an extended period of time, like walking three miles on the first day you get them," he said. "They should be worn for a short amount each day, like 15 to 30 minutes, as a way to break them in."

Failing to take proper safety precautions and overusing the shoe has the potential to lead to injuries such as sprains, according to Webb. He also recommends that those interested in toning shoes should wear them at least 10-15 minutes in the store before buying.

Center cares for feet of the homeless

By MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer

Lots of walking, sweaty socks and ill-fitting shoes can lead to a number of foot problems for the homeless population.

Mark Booth, who walks daily from the shelter where he stays to the store and the library to use the Internet, has been battling a severe case of athlete's foot for a couple of months.

"In June in Oklahoma only two things grow good: athlete's foot and Bermuda grass," said Tim Malavolti, a podiatrist.

Malavolti is one of 13 podiatrists who volunteer at the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless once a month on a rotating basis.

"The homeless often have more foot problems. They're very mobile and are on their feet most of the time and that often leads to foot pain and other problems with their feet," Malavolti said. "We try to give them palliative care that gets them through and keeps them comfortable until their next visit."

Common issues are ingrown toenails, painful corns, plantar warts and athlete's foot.

Thick fungal nails and painful heel conditions aggravated by poor shoe gear are also common, Malavolti said.

The podiatrists offer free basic foot care, cortisone injections for painful heels and supportive padding for arches. Everyone who uses the clinic gets a free pair of socks.

If problems are more serious, the patients are referred to the Morton Health Clinic.

"I always come here and get a real appreciation from what I've got. It could be me," said Malavolti, who has been volunteering at the Day Center for
about seven years.

Sandra Lewis, the executive director of the Day Center, said she never imagined how many foot issues the homeless dealt with before she started at the center.

"We have folks that walk so much and walk in someone else's shoes. They're walking in used shoes, not shoes that were broken in and formed to their foot," she said. "I've literally seen people limp into the clinic and walk out pain free."

Katherine Malland, who recently went to get treatment for her athlete's foot, said she's grateful for the clinic.

She was recommended to the podiatrist when she went to the Day Center for some cream.

"Without insurance it would be hard to find a doctor that would look at it or help me find medicine," she said. "Here I'm able to get some stronger medicine that will actually help get rid of it."

My best foot forward and the wind is in my toes!

By Diane Peck, Columnist
Associated Press

-- I love the feel of fresh air, sunshine and the wind in my toes. And because we live in the land of short winters, I can hang ten on barely there footware, the flip flop, about 10 months of the year. I figure I've got about two more months of freedom of the feet left and I'm going to enjoy every toe-wiggling minute.

There's nothing I find more comforting than a good thong. That would be thongs for the feet, my friends. The idea of a thong north of the ankle freaks me out. Call me old-fashioned, I don't care. I'm not going there.

And I must be old-fashioned to so love a shoe design the ancient Egyptians wore upon their feet in those murals they were so fond of. Folks knew even way back then that a couple of straps hooked to some sort of pliable sole was almost as good as going barefoot.

Over the centuries, these early flip flops were made of a variety of natural materials like papyrus and palm leaves, rawhide, wood, rice straw, sisal and yucca plants.

Though the basic design was similar, the placement of the toe strap would vary from toe to toe in different cultures.

Called "zoris" at the time, flip flops migrated to America with our returning servicemen after World War II. They mostly were used poolside or in communal showers for protection against those pesky foot diseases.

Besides zoris, thongs and flip flops, they've been called slip slaps (which is actually closer to the sound they make!), toesies and jandals -- a combination of "Japan" and "sandal."

I may be putting my flip-flopped food in my mouth, extolling them so, since it's no secret flip flops aren't always the best thing for a foot's health and welfare - especially the cheap ones. (But then, cheap shoes of any style are bad for the feet.) There are 26 bones, 33 joints and a hundred muscles, ligaments and tendons in the foot -- all begging for mercy!

But luckily, not all flip flops are created equal. The American Podiatric Medical Association's seal of approval goes to several sandal companies who make better supporting flops, starting at around $40. (You won't be able to have as many, at that price, but the advantages are tremendous.)

Many manufacturers also are going greener, making flip flops out of more earth-friendly materials like recycled inner tubes and tires, hemp, cotton and coconut.

It's a good thing, since flops are so obviously here to stay. In the last 20 years, right along with jeans and t-shirts, flip flops have become a much loved staple of our more-casual-by-the-minute lives.

I even heard a car insurance ad on the radio the other day, promising coverage for any flip flop/gas pedal entanglements that could lead to car accident damages. The smooth-talking fellow in the ad reminded us that those cut-rate insurance companies might not be "on your side" after an apparent flip flop malfunction. Who knew -- an insurance company with a flip flop clause?

While I do so love flip flops for myself and others, I also firmly believe there should be some ground rules for proper wearage. First of all, there are no ugly flip flops -- just ugly feet. Keeping neat feet must be a priority, so, with a little style stealing from Dr. Seuss, let me just say:

A flip, a flop,

A flip, a flop,

Could I? Would I?

Wear flip flops?

I will shave the tops of all my toes,

And paint my nails in shades of rose,

No signs of fungi anywhere,

No corns or blisters will I bare,

My size, I will have long since found,

My heels they will not drag the ground,

The color of my flops will match,

The color of my outfits -- natch!

My almost naked feet shall be,

On proud display for all to see,

So, if you suffer creepy feet,

With toes more gnarly than they're neat,

The footware best for you to choose?

How 'bout some good ole socks and shoes.

Peace, love and flip flops!

Peck is a local mother and grandmother who works in Enid Public Schools. She can be reached at peckaroonie@yahoo.com