Finding a podiatrist

[peacekaren]

I contacted nearly a dozen podiatrists in my area with the following message by e-mail or phone:

"I'm looking for a foot specialist to diagnose and treat a recent running injury. I am a barefoot runner and have been running barefoot for over a year. Ideally, I'd like to find a specialist who is familiar with both the benefits and risks of barefoot running and is supportive of patients making that choice. I'd settle for a specialist who will at least accept that I am determined to return to barefoot running and has something to offer other than just, "put on supportive shoes."

Would you be a good match for my needs?"



Most all of them replied, no. Two offices replied, yes, they would see me. One doctor replied, "Barefoot running! My favorite topic! I would be certainly happy to assist you in diagnosing your foot injury; barefoot running is really a test of your personal biomechanics and how it interacts with the ground. Give me a call to set up an appointment!"

Guess which one I'm going to see next week.

Peace,
Karen

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Yeah, Karen. I wonder if Dr.

Yeah, Karen. I wonder if our Doc could recommend someone to you. I mean maybe he's learning of "other" barefoot-friendly podiatrists.

 

[fetish4running]

You must have been getting

You must have been getting very frustrated! Please let us know how the appointment goes.

 

[Longboard]

We should start a listing of

We should start a listing of all "open minded" to BFR podiatrists we come across.

Remember, there really are not going to be many with BFR experience, it's all going to be new to them as well.

Even our Doc would probably admit that he is merely open to the idea, and that he probably understands the basic concepts just as we do.

My podiatrist discussed this with me yesterday (he was MY patient this time), he is open to the idea, says he can't argue with my success, and would gladly evaluate a patient that was a BFR but really has no special insight except that he understands that for such a patient orthotics/support are not an option.

I'm convinced that at this stage finding a podiatrist willing to accept that is hard enough, but finding one experienced in BFR beyond what we all have read the past year or so is going to be next to impossible.

 

[fetish4running]

Boy, I sure hope I never have

Boy, I sure hope I never have to find a podiatrist!

 

[jschwab]

My podiatrist's experience is

My podiatrist's experience is with his track star assistant having written a research paper on it and with me. I went from totally effed up gait and orthotics in September to perfect gait and orthotics in the trash in Feburary. I was a rock star in that office as they announced to all the suffering people they had a winner - someone who actually never had to make another appointment, who was CURED! All through barefoot running. He's holistic but practical - I hope I inspired him to recommend BF to more people.

 

[BFWendyBird]

I saw a podiatrist here in VA

I saw a podiatrist here in VA (about discolorations on the sides and top of my feet, unrelated to BFR) and he was facinated. I gave him lots of web addresses and info and as I left he said he loved these kinds of appointments, where HE learns something new!

 

[runputt]

I visited a podiatrist just a

I visited a podiatrist just a couple of weeks ago because of a foot injury. As soon as she heard that I had been running barefoot she told me straight up that she believes only a very few people are capable of running barefoot. This was right after complimenting what great running feet I had and how jealous she was of them.

She didn't have much to say when I told her that I hurt my foot while running in shoes!

 

[jschwab]

Elliott Diamond in Philly is

Elliott Diamond in Philly is probably he closest you'll get to a BF-friendly pod.

 

[kbdrand]

Does anyone know of any

Does anyone know of any podiatrists in the Dallas, TX area that are barefoot friendly? I'm at my wits end. I've been sidelined for over 2 months now and the last podiatrist I went to see told me my feet are just not designed for distance running and I should get orthodics.

I'm going crazy. I've totally given up even walking around barefoot. I'm in pain almost all the time now (unless I totally stop running).

 

[Longboard]

After yesterday's 5 K street

After yesterday's 5 K street race we went to a party/bbq at a lake house.

Maybe two dozen people, all adults over 55 except for our son who had travelled to Frankenmuth MI with us for the race.

No runners there, and aside from us three only one other person walked around barefoot in the yard and on the dock .......my podiatrist!

After a quick veiwing of my feet for a post race inspection he remains open to the BFR concept, and has been in slow conditioning for outdoor barefoot running.

You'd think the other adults would follow his lead and free their feet on a 88 degree day, but either for fashion or fear thery remained shod.

If anyone needs a BF friendly podiatrist in south east MI he's the man!

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Be sure to check out the

Be sure to check out the sticky thread at the top of this forum for a map of barefoot-friendly podiatrists. I have created a map that we can add markers/flags to show where barefoot-friendly podiatrists are located around the county. Please add your known barefoot-friendly podiatrists to this map and include all of the info you can on the doctor you are recommending.