Sports Medicine for Running Athletes

Dr. Schoene being a Certified Athletic Trainer, in addition to a Podiatrist, she can thoroughly evaluate the whole body and lower extremity for all the runners by completing her specialized in depth “runners screen” which evaluates lower extremity static and functional strength, flexibility, balance, foot bio mechanics, posture, body alignment, shoe gear fit and wear patterns.

Each treatment plan is tailor made for each runner, based on the specific needs of that individual, and the findings found on the extensive in office exam. She puts everything together from head to toe, rather than only looking at foot issues only. 

She commonly discusses shoe gear especially with the changes in the shoe industry, which has been a challenge to many runners recently, as the industry has revamped the fit, cut, shape, and function of many of our favorite shoes!

Dr. Schoene always educates patients on proper treatments and foot care for prevention of typical overuse injuries. Treatment will always include many conservative but always swift treatments, including; physical therapy treatments including Laser, Massage therapy, custom or semi custom Orthotic intervention, strength, balance and flexibility treatments.

She sells a line of compression socks which can help with performance and recovery as well.

What Gives Runners the Best Output?

As always we have great Chicago Marathons, and as the saying goes, change is inevitable, especially in the running shoe world. Running shoe guides are currently giving us their reviews of the new fall shoes, and it seems like cushion is back! For the past handful of years, some runners followed the running shoe trend of minimal cushioning and a zero drop mentality, believing that the foot did not need support nor the help of any extra cushioning, however this year things are changing, and the heel drop and more cushioning is back on the shelves.

The advent of the Hoka One One, shoe has raised the bar on cushion technology and most other shoe manufacturers are following suit. Many, if not most of the runners, ran in traditional running shoes, with only a few in Vibram technology and only one spotted barefoot. Traditional minimal shoes were designed so that runners would theoretically run with a midfoot to forefoot striking pattern. When the shoe manufacturers decided that they are going to change shoes based on how they thought runners should run, with no regards to the actual biomechanical entities of most runner’s feet, nor with any actual re-training, it was doomed to present problems eventually.

Scientific studies have shown us that the reality is, that 75% or more of us are heel strikers, and studies show, that runners also self select the gait pattern that suits them the best. Maybe the runners are self selecting more cushioning, so welcome back cushioning, as I think it is here to stay, at least for a while or until another running fad or trend comes along.