Golf and Your Feet

Newest Golf Trend - Golf Shoes or Street Shoes? - Part 1

2011-12-20T14:01:00.000-05:00

Fred Couples has done it again! He has been a trend setter time and again. His swing, his attire, his equipment, and now his choice of shoes. Lately, he has started wearing a new style of golf shoe that closely resembles a casual sneaker. This craze has started to catch on. At the Franklin-Templeton tournament last weekend I started to see other golf professionals wearing similar shoes such as Sean O'Hair. What has peaked everyone's interest is that these shoes are spikeless. They have multi-pronged little rubber stubs along the entire sole. They are being promoted as golf shoes that you can wear to and from golf as well as out on the street.

My interest in this latest trend is two-fold:
1-Profession= Podiatrist
2-Worst Vice= Dedicated Golfer

So I've decided to spend some time researching this phenomenon and I also need a new pair of golf shoes or two for the upcoming golf season. I'm intrigued by these new shoes and will give you my professional opinion from a podiatric point of view as well as my personal observations as it pertains to golf. I want to critique these from a structural component, its versatility, how comfortable they are, and their ability to give the proper traction. Traction is important for swing balance, how they fare on slopes, stability in bunkers, and most importantly how they perform in wet conditions.

Fred Couples wears the Ecco Street versions, either the Premier (MSRP $150), or the Luxe (MSRP $180). There have been some similar versions manufactured recently, the Adidas Adicross (MSRP $90), and the Ashworth Cardiff (MSRP $120). I suppose it is only a matter of time before the other major manufacturers such as Foot Joy, Nike, and Callaway release their own versions.

In Part 2, I will give my early opinions after sampling these styles.

In Part 3 I will disclose what shoes I eventually purchased and whether they are the conventional soft spikes or the new street shoes (or both).

Stay tuned,
Brad Jacobs, DPM

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Going to the AT&T National Golf Tournament at Aronimink ?

2011-06-28T13:50:00.000-04:00

As a practicing podiatrist in Newtown Square right down the street from Aronimink Golf Club and a passionate golfer, how could I not go over to watch the pros play at least one of the rounds. I started to think about walking the course and what precautions as well as provisions I might need. Well here's a list of what should help make your experience at the AT&T National a more enjoyable and healthy one.

1-Apply sunscreen to your face, neck, ears, arms, and legs.
2-Wear a hat or apply sunscreen to your head.
3-Drink plenty of fluids. If it is hot and humid, an electrolyte replenishing drink would be advised.
4-Wear athletic socks with a high percentage of cotton. Cotton is a breathable material that allows moisture to escape from your feet. Copper sole socks is also a viable option.
5-Wear a comfortable shirt, shorts, or slacks. Many golf shirts manufactured today have a wick or breathable component.
6-A comfortable walking or cross training sneaker with a solid, supportive foundation is a must. You will do a lot of walking around the grounds, and some are on uneven surfaces, even if you decide to remain situated at a particular hole or vantage point. Non-metal golf shoes that are in good condition for extended walking are also acceptable.
7-Remember to bring any medications with you that you might have to take later in the day.
8-Don't overextend yourself. There is no harm in sitting in the shade and resting for awhile.

If you get the chance, try and get over to Aronimink. I attended last year's tournament and it was a wonderful experience. I hope these helpful hints are beneficial.

Brad Jacobs, DPM
http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Stay In Shape

2011-02-24T13:03:00.000-05:00

Picture this. It's a cool day in early March. You decide it would be a perfect day to go to the local driving range and hit your first bucket of balls since October. You envision that this will be the start of a terrific golf season to come. Chills run down your spine as you stand on the mat and unload the bucket into the adjacent tray. You take a few practice swings and start to hit a few. Consider the horror when on your 5th swing you tweak the muscles in your back, get a shooting pain in your elbow, or feel a tightness in your achilles tendon.

This all could be avoided with a regular, off-season stretching routine. So start now and remember these simple rules:
1- Stretch the muscles, do not bounce.
2- Work on building flexibility, not strength.
3- When working with weights or machines, concentrate on more repetitions with less weight.
4- Work on alternating sets of upper and lower extremity muscle stretching exercises.
5- For golf, it is important to gain flexibility in your biceps, triceps, deltoids, upper back muscles, lower back muscles, gluteal muscles, quads, hamstrings, achilles, intrinsic foot muscles, and the pesky plantar fascia.
6- Warm up and cool down after hitting.
7- Ice, elevate, and rest any injured part.
8-Seek medical attention if pain persists.

By performing these stretches at least 3 times per week, you can probably avoid many of the common spring injuries and have a fun productive season.

See you on the 1st tee!

Brad Jacobs,DPM

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Stay in Shape

2011-02-22T14:01:00.000-05:00

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Tiger Woods has Cortisone Shot in Ankle

2010-12-21T19:27:00.000-05:00

According to a report from ESPN, Tiger Woods had a cortisone shot recently in his right ankle about 10 days ago. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the right leg back in 2008. At times he is still experiencing soreness in his ankle area. This is most likely a result from compensation that he is having. The cortisone can help relieve some of the pain and inflammation that he is having in his ankle joint area. He will also probably begin a physical therapy program as well to help calm down some of the inflammation. We will monitor his progress through the golf season to see how this will affect him

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Health Fair at Hershey's Mill in West Chester, PA

2010-09-30T11:19:00.000-04:00

Podiatry Care Specialists in West Chester, PA and Newtown Square PA, were happy to join the 1st Annual Health Fair at Hershey's Mill. The Senior Helpers of Chester County ran this spectacular event. Dr Theodore Mushlin, Dr Alexandra Grulke, and Fay Mushlin, Practice Administrator, attended the event to help spread the word about Podiatric foot care. In addition, Mark Fallecker from Aetrex Shoes, brought in the iStep Scanner (Please see previous blog on this) to scan the feet of the residents at Hershey's Mill. Some other attendees at this event were Genuardi's, (located on Boot Road in West Chester, PA), offering flu shots and giving out food, and Bayada nurses checking blood pressure and talking to the residents. It was a wonderful opportunity for the residents and very well attended.

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

The PGA Tour in Newtown Square PA

2010-06-29T12:44:00.002-04:00

Professional golf in Philadelphia!

Finally after all these years, we are treated to the likes of Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, and Sean O'Hair in a PGA Tour event. What makes this exciting for us at Podiatry Care Specialists is that they are playing very close to our Newtown Square office at Aronimink Golf Club.

So you are planning on attending your first golf tournament or your first one in a very long time. Here are some tips before you go.

1- Wear comfortable clothing and sneakers. You will do a lot of walking even if you are planning to sit at a particular hole.

2- Wear a shoe or sneaker that is supportive and add your orthotics or arch supports if you have them.

3- Drink plenty of fluids.

4-Wear a hat or visor.

5-Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas.

6-Watch for signs of lightheadedness or dizziness and seek medical attention if these occur.

Have a wonderful time!

Bradford J. Jacobs, DPM

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Winter Workout for Golfers

2010-02-16T14:06:00.000-05:00

It's wintertime. The ground is covered. You don't think the fairways will ever melt. What to do????????
Why not try to work on toning those muscles before you take your first swing of the season.

I suugest a combination workout 3 times a week that will stretch and strenthen your arms, shoulders, neck, upper and lower back, buttocks, groin, thigh, legs, and feet.

Talk to the trainer at your local Y or athletic club and get started today!

Work on upper and lower extemity machines alternately.

Build flexibility, not muscle mass by doing more reps at lower weights.

Sufficiently stretch and cool down before and after each workout.

Seek a physician's care for any prolonged problem or pain.

See you on the links!

Bradford J. Jacobs, DPM

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T08:20:00.001-05:00

Podiatry Care Specialists, would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New year!

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Tiger Woods' accident

2009-11-28T10:24:00.003-05:00

As a podiatrist and avid golfer, I have followed Tiger Woods's career and his rehabilitation from various lower extremity injuries. He is a dedicated worker and at times seems invincible. I would always check on the various information sources for Tiger having symptoms secondary to his knee injuries such as achilles tendinitis or plantar fasciitis. That hasn't been the case. His vulnerability may be an unseen fire hydrant. It appears that he is going to be okay, which is great news for all the masses that enjoy watching him play golf. His attention to dedicated workouts may have prevented further injuries, which is a good lesson for all of us weekend warriors. Stay in shape!

See you on the links!
Brad Jacobs, DPM

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

GOLF

2009-11-17T13:38:00.002-05:00

Welcome to our new blog that will link golf, golf technique, and how it relates to your feet. We will address how to prevent and treat common foot problems. Follow us and blog your own comments.

Yours for a better 18,

The Docs at Podiatry Care Specialists

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/