Make the stretch count

By Patricia Nugent

You often see a runner spending a few minutes stretching out their big muscles before a run—the quads, hamstrings and glutes. But you hardly ever see them doing stretches to their feet, which act as shock absorbers to the whole body.

I caught up with Dr. Danielle Shaper, founder of Finesse Footcare in Lyndhurst, to find out why that’s so important.

“Just a few simple stretches for the small muscles, tendons and ligaments of the feet can prevent short- and long-term injury,” she says. “They can also strengthen the foot and increase its overall flexibility. Stretching after a run is just as important as before. One of the most common and painful ailments I see that affects runners is plantar fasciitis, which can be prevented with stretching.”

This time of year, with people transitioning from treadmill runs to open-road runs means getting used to uneven pavement.

Buying the right footwear is also important.

“You don’t want anything overly flexible,” she explains. “You should opt for the most supportive shoe possible for foot and ankle stability. And wear the correct shoe for the sport. If you’re running, wear a running shoe. If you’re playing lacrosse or field hockey, wear sport-specific cleats.”

Dr. Shaper says she also sees athletes for custom orthotic shoe inserts, which can prevent injury by providing additional support, as well as improve athletic performance.

Through state-of-the-art digital X-rays, Dr. Shaper can get a clear picture of each patient’s foot structure in an effort to pinpoint a diagnosis and determine a course of treatment.

She treats foot and ankle issues ranging from ingrown toenails to bunions, heel pain, toenail fungus, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, corns, warts, calluses, sprained ankles and spurs. She also offers diabetic footcare.

Finesse Footcare is located at 5035 Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst. Same-day appointments are usually available. Call 216-382-8070 or visit FinesseFootcare.com for more information.