Latest News
Juliet Horan, Honored as one of Business Leader Magazine's Top 50 Entrepreneurs!
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Juliet Horan, owner of Fleet Feet Sports-Hickory, was honored Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at a dinner reception in Charlotte, NC, as one of Business Leader Magazine's Top 50 Entrepreneurs in the Charlotte region.
Got Morning Heel Pain?
Plantar Fasciitis
What is it?
Plantar fasciitis is the most common injury occurring at the hind foot. An irritation and swelling of the fascia on the plantar aspect of the foot. Pain generally located at the posterior and medial aspect of heel.
Causes
- Plantar fasciitis can be found in both rigid and hyper mobile feet.
- With excessive pronation the plantar fascia is overstretched as the medial longitudinal arch collapses.
- In a rigid foot, the calf muscles might be tight, limiting the dorsiflexion and putting more strain on the fascia as the foot moves into toe off.
- Other contributors are obesity, sudden weight gain, shoes with poor cushioning or support, occupations with prolonged standing/walking and a sudden increase in activity intensity, time or type.
Symptoms
- Burning pain at the attachment of the plantar fascia on the heel. Pain is usually worse in the morning and with push off.
- May develop into a heel spur if chronic.
How can Fleet Feet Sports help?
- Visit your local Fleet Feet Sports where the staff will educate you on products to reduce the pain of the symptoms and help to treat the cause.
- Superfeet - Athletic and Dress insoles for arch support
- Supportive footwear
- Strassburg Sock
- Trigger Point - Losen the muscles that connect your calf to your achilies tendon
- Runner's Remedy - Ice and Compression
Staff's Goals for 2012
Andrew-To further my education in coaching.
Ben-To run a 1:20 at the NC 1/2 Marathon and to keep up his good running habits.
Brittany-To get back into running.
Celeste-To make more time to train.
Lora-To do a triathlon and a marathon this year.
Sara-To run a 1/2 marathon in 2 hours or less.
Tyler-To do 53 minutes or less at the Bear.
Staffs Favorite's
Juliet-610 Garmin, Brooks Infiniti 1/2 Zip, Orange Nuun and all brands of capris that we carry!
Andrew-Nike+ Sportwatch GPS, Trigger Point Footballer and CWX Pro tights or Pro shorts(depending on the temperature).
Celeste-Saucony Kinvara, Brooks Utopia Embossed Softshell and Saucony Cha Cha Pant
Sara-Juno sports bra, New Balance Emissive Long Sleeve and Brooks Playground Jacket
Tyler-Saucony Epic Drylete Sport top, Trigger Point and Yurbuds
Lora-Brooks Infiniti 1/2 Zip, Brooks Pure Flow and 610 Garmin
Brittany-Champion Double-Dry sports bra, Utopia Thermal Hoodie and Sweatybands
Ben-Brooks Pure Connect, Mizuno Breath Thermo Head Pip and Honey Stinger Waffles
Why We Don't Use a Foot Scanner
Written by: Stephanie Blozey, Fleet Feet Sports West Hartford, CT
Many people wonder why we don't use a "foot scanner" that you can step on to determine what shoe or insole is right for you. These computerized scanners, which are being installed in drug stores and superstores, show your foot's pressure points and arch type. It's a fancy way of doing the "Wet Test": wet your feet and stand on a surface, like a brown paper bag, that leaves a visible footprint. The wider the band that connects your heel and ball, the lower the arch you have.
Your arch type effects your biomechanics and is an important component of choosing the right shoe for your foot, but it is only part of the FIT story since at least 20% of people's arches act differently than they "should". Here at Fleet Feet Sports, our FIT Process has three main components that help us define your foot and make the best shoe recommendations for you: foot morphology, biomechanical assessment and "other".
Foot morphology is a fancy way of saying that we analyze your foot size, shape and arch type. This is done by visually looking at the foot statically and dynamically (important since you are in motion when you run!) and taking multiple measurements with an old-fashioned Brannock device. This helps us to choose the right size shoe and shoe brand since each shoe company fits a certain shaped foot better. That is why your friend may swear by his Asics shoes, but they cause you pain.
Next, we examine your biomechanics by determining your arch flexibility and doing a gait analysis (either watching you walk barefoot or with our video gait analysis software). This tells us if you overpronate, supinate or are naturally efficient which in turn, governs what type of shoe (neutral, stability or motion control) you need, as well as the curvature of your shoe's last. Key here is arch flexibility since a rigid arch needs extra cushioning to help attenuate the shock produced when the foot hits the ground at forces of 2-4 times body weight. Whereas, a flexible arch disperses shock better, but all that flexibility in the mid and fore foot can cause overpronation which stresses and torques your feet, shins, knees, hips and back causing its own host of problems.
Finally, we take other special considerations into account like your gender, weight, training surface, weekly mileage, injury status, orthotics and structural deviations in the foot like bunions and extra bones. We put all this data together and bring out 2-3 pairs of shoes that we think will fit you best. Don't be surprised if one of those first shoes feels amazing - it means that we did our job right!
When you think about it, the foot is a marvelous structure. It has 28 bones (including the sesmoids), 33 joints, 112 ligaments, plus tendons, nerves and blood vessels that work in unison to support, balance and propel your body. No two feet are exactly the same nor do they always fit into a specific category. Don't cheat your feet and let a computer scan recommend an orthotic or running shoe for you. An injury is going to cost you a lot more, monetarily and mentally, than a good pair of shoes. Invest in your feet. Let our Fit Professionals teach you about your feet and help you find the perfect fit. We guaranteed it!
Tom Raynor Inducted Into NSGA Hall Of Fame
The CEO of Fleet Feet, Incorporated, Tom Raynor, will be inducted into the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) Hall of Fame at a ceremony tomorrow, during the 47th Annual NSGA Management Conference. The NSGA has honored Sporting Goods leaders since 1956 but this year’s inductees bring the total number of Hall of Famers to only 150.