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Olympics Brings Recognition to Pedorthics
By Miki Fairley What was it like to be part of the first-ever
pedorthics team to volunteer at the Olympics?
Excitement and enthusiasm overflow from Donna Robertson, CPed, ATC,
as she describes her experiences during the 2004 Summer Olympics in
Athens, Greece. The ten pedorthistseight from the US and two from
Canadaworked with the foot and ankle medical team at the Polyclinic
in the Olympic Village. Says Donna, All the physicians were very
receptive to us as pedorthists and eager to see what we had to
offer. When they did evaluations, they would bring us in and ask us
what we saw and what we would recommend. We were really able to use
our expertise.
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Olympic athlete Coby Miller poses with Donna Robertson, CPed, ATC. |
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The athletes too were very appreciative, Robertson
says. "We had such positive results; some came back wanting a
second pair of orthotics or wanting information on what to request
when they returned to their home countries." Many of the athletes
gave the pedorthists pins from their countries as a token of
thanks; the pins were popular for giving and swapping during the
events as tokens of friendship and appreciation. "I probably have
about 30 pins from athletes I treated," says Robertson.
Athletes Keep Team Busy
The team was consistently busy. The foot and ankle team overall
treated about 1,300 athletes; the pedorthists cared for 481
patients. "Often we would be treating one athlete while one or two
more were waiting," says Robertson. The athletes needing pedorthic
care were about equally divided among men and women and represented
a wide variety of sports, including swimming, softball, basketball,
men's and women's volleyball, judo, and weight lifting. "We never
got bored--we were always thinking of new ways to meet their needs
and understand their sport and its mechanics," she adds.
The pedorthists did not make any long-term corrective orthotics,
according to Robertson. Overuse injuries were the primary problems
seen, including tendonitis, heel pain, stress fractures, hallux
ridges, and callus formation. Adding to foot problems was the
100-plus degree fahrenheit heat and concrete floors and walkways,
with many of the athletes walking around in flip-flops, Robertson
notes.
"It was fun learning new techniques and using the materials
available to us--learning from one another," says Robertson. Tools
and workspace were limited. The workspace was small compared to the
large labs some of the pedorthists normally use. There was a small
convection oven, a three-inch grinding wheel, and prefab EVA blank
shells from which the pedorthists could design and fabricate
orthotics using available materials.
Communication was a challenge; gestures and "sign language"
helped, plus translators also helped communication with Russian,
Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and Greek athletes, as well as others.
At least three podiatrists and three orthopedic surgeons, who came
from all over the world, were always in the patient care center.
"The physicians were wonderful--so receptive," Robertson
enthuses.
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The foot and ankle team treated about 1,300 patients during the Olympics. Pictured are some of the team members: front row, from left, Maria Mavrou, senior podiatrist from Australia; an orthopedic surgeon from Greece, whose name was unavailable; and David Cardillo, CPed. Grouped around them in the back row, from left, are Brian Billings, CPed; Donna Robertson, CPed, ATC; Trnka “Hans” Hans Jorg, orthopedic surgeon; Mike Forgrave, CPed (c), CPed; Bill Meanwell, CPed; two unidentified nurses; and an unidentified clinic receptionist. |
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Robertson's adventure started as she got off the
plane: "Just communicating and finding out where I needed to go
from the airport was a challenge," she laughs. The pedorthics team
was lodged in a beautiful four-level rented house on the beach. One
of the highlights of the trip for Donna was being able to get to
know her colleagues better. "Many of us only see each other at
national meetings or when we're serving on boards. It was so
pleasurable living and working with colleagues for over three
weeks." The pedorthists worked out schedules and also worked with
one another to enable everyone to attend some of the competitive
events. "It was fun to see athletes competing that we had worked
with," she says.
Just the excitement and adrenalin rush of the Olympic
environment was very stimulating, Robertson says. "And it was
wonderful to be part of it, making a difference." As an athletic
trainer, she had worked with athletes as they prepared for the
Olympics, but this was her first chance to actually experience the
Olympics as part of a medical team. Robertson would like to see
more certified pedorthists have a chance to participate in working
with athletes. "They need to be exposed in order to understand
these sports and the demands they make on bodies, in order to be
effective pedorthists for athletes of this caliber."
Open Doors for Pedorthics
Robertson expresses appreciation for the work of Steven Mirones,
CPed, and Matthew Mirones of Arimed, Brooklyn, New York, for their
diligent work in getting pedorthics accepted into the Olympics
medical spectrum. "As far as we know, pedorthics will be part of
the Olympics foot and ankle medical team from now on. This has
helped pedorthists to become recognized as professionals and to
enhance our profession."
As she returns to her work at the Pedorthic Care and O&P
Center, Birmingham, Alabama, Robertson looks ahead: "I can hardly
wait to see what opportunities this opens up to pedorthists.
There's the World Games, the Pan America Games, the Winter and
Summer Olympics--this is just the beginning of how much pedorthics
will be involved!"
Other pedorthists on the team included:
- Brian Billings, CPed, Billings Orthotics & Footwear,
Guelph, Ontario, Canada;
- David Cardillo, CPed, The Foot Performance Center, Rochester,
New York;
- Mike Forgrave, CPed (c), CPed, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada;
- Dane LaFontsee, CPed, Orthletek LLC, Waterford, Wisconsin;
- Bill Meanwell, CPed, Rx Orthotics, Okmulgee, Oklahoma;
- Steven Mirones, CO, CPed, president Arimed Orthotics,
Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Brooklyn, New York;
- Jessica Sanchez, CPed, Arimed Orthotics, Prosthetics and
Pedorthics, Brooklyn, New York;
- Fred Toenges, CPO, CPed, Toenges Shoes & Pedorthics, Ft.
Wayne, Indiana; and
- Louis Winskowski, CPed, Foot Support, St. Cloud,
Minnesota.
Benchmark Medical Inc., headquartered in Malvern,
Pennsylvania, also assisted in providing and coordinating
information for this story. 
Table Of Contents - November 2004
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