Happy Feet

So as many of you know, I have had some ankle issues over the years.  I had sprained both ankles throughout college, one of them being a particularly violent one during my first (and only) rugby game.  In the last five years, I have had  arthroscopic surgery on the right one twice and I sprained the left one earlier this summer (from being a dum-@ss).  Yes, I sometimes feel like that horse, Eight Bells, who got put down at the end of the Kentucky Derby.

Anyway, as I get older, I pay more attention to what I need to do to heal properly.  The left has been healing nicely, mostly due to the work of the substitute Physical Therapist who saw me.  Five visits with the first PT did nothing.  One visit with the sub, and I was ready for the one legged long jump (never underestimate the importance of second opinions).  I track the guy down to see about the other foot, and he has been great.  The right is coming along nicely, but one thing he wants me to do is get a new pair of running shoes.  He doesn't think the ones I have are good for me.  He is also concerned with the lift that one of the docs gave me for my shoes after one of my surgeries... I forget which one.

I guy I work with told me about someone he saw for new running shoes.  The woman was a gait specialist.  She will analyze how you stand, walk and run and find the right shoes for you.  He raved about the results and how far and fast he was able to run, pain free, after seeing her.  I figured I would give it a shot.  I used to work at Nike and I volunteered at the lab to test shoes.  I was familiar with the technology and design behind shoes, and I knew it could make a difference.  Maybe this was what was holding me back from progressing.  It was that or I was getting older.

I met with her last week.  I liked her instantly.  She was the embodiment of why I like Minnesotans:  she listed closely, she was very thoughtful in her manner, and she was a perfectionist.  She had me trying different inserts at first, to get the feet right.  Apparently, I pronate badly, which puts a lot of pressure on the ankles; she thought I would be susceptible to sprained ankles (good guess!).  Then we worked on shoes.  She had me try on different pairs and run up and down the track.  I am not sure what she was looking for, but I did a lot of running back and forth.

When we found a winner, she explained my problems (at least with running) and the solution.  She picked out a lot of problems with my stride.  First, she ditched the lift.  Then she found a shoe that would help me engage all my running muscles.  Apparently, my right hip was not fully moving, which prevented my right gluteus maximus muscle from engaging.  Gluteus maximus - as in the butt.  It was not contributing to my exercise.  Or in other words, all my running for the last few years has been half-assed.  

She examined my dress shoes, and unfortunately, they were wrong shape for me.  I checked at home, and basically, every pair I own is not good.  They all look nice but they will cause pain and problems if I continue to wear them (time to help the economy with some shopping!).  

I left with my new shoes and my feet have not been happier.  I hit the treadmill Sunday morning and cranked out a few miles.  It was the best run I have had in years.  Of course, today, the only part of me that is sore is the right cheek (atrophy of the butt, I suppose).   I went to the gym tonight for a speed and agility class.  Tonight we added a new exercise.  One footed jumps from one inflated half-ball to the next.  I got through jump #4, when I landed funny and rolled my left ankle (the most recently injured one - not the surgery one).   It hurt bad for a moment, but I laid down for a few minutes and then walked it off.  Soon, I was back to the workout.  The new shoes did the trick.  

Yep, I got happy feet.