Medal Count

People's Republic of China

Gold-34

Silver-20

Bronze-17

Total: 71

United States of America

Gold-30

Silver-16

Bronze-20

Total: 66

Great Britain

Gold-22

Silver-13

Bronze-12

Total: 47

Bronze, Silver, and Gold!

The London 2012 Summer Olympics are off to a great start for the Unites States.  The U.S. earned gold medals in gymnastics and Michael Phelps became the worlds most decorated Olympian!

Check out the official medal count....

People's Republic of China:
Gold-17 Silver-9 Bronze-4

United States of America:
Gold-13 Silver-8 Bronze-9

Republic of Korea:
Gold-7 Silver-2 Bronze-4

You may not be able to win a gold medal in the Olympics, but you can keep your feet in Olympic ready shape by visiting a podiatrist.  Contact our office at 419-423-1888 and schedule an appointment.

What's Your Favorite Event?

The London 2012 Summer Olympics are full of exciting events.  The line-up for today includes everything from archery and badmitton to handball, hockey, and table tennis.  My personal favorite Olympic events to watch are swimming, diving, gymnastics.  Leave a comment and let us know what your favorite Olympic event is, who your favorite athlete is, and any questions you have regarding your footcare. 

Footcare is a very important part of your overall health.  It is especially important for the athletes competiting in the 2012 summer olympics.  The average person walks about four miles each day; imagine how far an Olympic runner travels in a lifetime!

If you notiec any problems with your feet, don't hesitate to contact a podiatrist. Foot pain is not normal and should not get in the way of your participation in the games, whether you are simply watching and cheering or training for 2016!

Check out our website, Stepalivecenter.com, for more great info on how to care for your feet. 

Day 2!

Saturday, July 28 is going to be full of exciting events.  Men's archery will continue along with badmitton, basketball, beach volleyball, road cycling, boxing, equestrian, fencing, football, artistic gymnastics, handball, judo, rowing, swimming, shooting, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and weightlifting!

Out of all of these sports, I know the least about badmitton so let's explore!

Badmitton is a raquet sport and is played in either singles or doubles.  The game is played on a rectangular court that is divided by a net.  The shuttlecock, or shuttle, is a feathered projectile. The unique shape of the shuttle causes it to travel at high speeds and is highly effected by wind, therefore the game is played inside. Badmitton can be traced back to mid-18th century British India where it was created by soldiers stationed there.  The sport became an Olympic event in 1992.  Tune in and watch Olympic badmitton to learn more!

Let the Games Begin!

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are set to kick off tomorrow.  Be sure to tune in and watch all of the opening ceremonies and festivities.  The first official event is going to be Archery!    According to London2012.com, archery dates back to around 10,000 years ago when bows and arrows were used for hunting and warfare. It developed as a competitive activity in medievil England. Archery is now practiced in more than 140 countries in the world.

If you are working toward the 2016 Olympics and training hard try Body Guard Tender Touch Gel Pads to ease skin and shoe irritations.  These thin, yet durable gel cushions comfortably protect blisters, areas or irritated skin, lacerations, and other lesions.  They are removable and reusable.  Body guard are made of a space age medical material which sticks to the skin without adhesive and can be reused many times; remove them at night, wash with soap and water, let dry, and reapply to the tender area in the morning. This product is great for rubbing, pressure, or friction caused by your work out routine.

If you experience any foot pain or problems with your feet as a result of your training, don't hesitate to call our office at 419-423-1888 or visit our website, vailfoot.com, to schedule an appointment.  Foot pain is  nor normal and shouldn't get in the way of your Olympic dreams!

Olympics Opening Ceremony

The 2012 summer Olympics will begin this Friday, July 27.  The Opening Ceremony is being work on by a creative team of four and will include a large group of performers.  The ceremony will feature the best of England as well as a parade of all the countries represented in the games, and of course the Olympic flame that lights the Cauldron to signal the start of the Olympic games.  Read more about the Opening Ceremony from London2012.com below.

'Receiving the Head of State

The Head of State of the Host Country is received at the entrance of the Olympic Stadium by the President of the IOC. For the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, Her Majesty the Queen will be greeted by Jacques Rogge.

Parade of Athletes

A procession of the participating teams in the Stadium, nation by nation. Teams enter in alphabetical order, according to the language of the Host Country, apart from the Greek team, which enters first for the Olympics, and the team of the Host Nation (in this case Team GB), who march in last.

Speeches

Once all the nations have arrived into the Stadium, LOCOG Chair Seb Coe will give a speech, followed by Jacques Rogge. They will end their speeches by inviting the Head of State to officially declare the Games open.

Olympic Anthem and Flag

Once the Games have been declared open, the Olympic Flag is then carried into the Stadium and hoisted into the air as the respective Anthem is played. The Olympic Charter states that each flag must fly for the entire duration of the Games – placed in a prominent position in the main Stadium.

Oaths

A participating athlete, judge and coach from the Host Nation stand on the rostrum and, holding a corner of the IOC flag in their left hand and raising their right, take the Oath, vowing to compete and judge according to the rules of their respective sport.

The Torch and Cauldron

The big finale is the entrance of the Olympic Flame into the Stadium. It is passed through the athletes to the final Torchbearer, who will ceremoniously light the Cauldron, indicating the beginning of the Games. The Flame will continue to burn for the whole of the Games.

Creative team

A host of world-class British directors and producers are leading the artistic team to stage the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Performers

A total cast of 15,000 will take part in the London 2012 Opening and Closing Ceremonies, which will be watched by an estimated audience of four billion."*'

If you are experiencing Olympic-size pain in your feet, do not hesitate to call our office and schedule an appointment.  Foot pain is not normal and should not be ignored.  Schedule an appointment with your podiatrist and get foot pain taken care of before you are out of the game for too long!





*source: London2012.com

It's Almost Time! - Cycling

It is almost time for the Olympics to begin! The games are set to begin in just two weeks on Friday, July 27.  The official countdown is 14 days so start making your paper count down chains.

There are several different sports in the Olympics, including four different types of cycling.  The different types of cycling including BMX, Mountain Bike, Road Bike, and Track Bike.  BMX became an Olympic sport at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  Mountain biking will challenge Olympians with rocky paths and tricky terrain.  Road biking is all about speed; the first event is a men's road race on July 28.  Track cycling has been featured in all Olympic games except one since 1896. 

Foot Care for Cyclists - Check Out these Tips from Bicycling.com

"Painful burning on the ball of the foot (a.k.a. hot foot, or metatarsalgia) is usually a result of hot weather or poorly fitting shoes—or both—on long, hilly rides. "Pressure can pinch nerves in one or both feet and shut down a ride fast," says Amol Saxena, DPM, a time-trial cyclist and podiatrist in the department of sports medicine at the Palo Alto Medical Hospital in California. "If hot foot strikes while you're on a ride, there isn't much you can do other than stop, take off your shoes and let your feet cool down." Saxena takes these precautions to keep his feet cool and comfortable during races.

DO THE SQUISH TEST When shopping for cycling shoes, pull out the insole and hold it up to the bottom of your bare foot (in front of a mirror). "if you can see any part of your foot beyond the borders of the insole, you need a wider shoe," says Saxena. a tip: When you find the perfect shoe, buy another pair for backup.

TAKE A LOAD OFF Move your cleats a few millimeters closer to the heel of the shoe to take pressure off your forefoot. or switch to a larger-platform pedal to more evenly distribute the pressure across your feet.

CUSHION THE BLOW Over time and after many miles on the bike, your feet start to lose their natural padding, which can make riding painful. adding more supportive insoles to your cycling shoes can help. if you're shopping for new shoes, take the insoles along to make sure you get the best fit.

BE A MATERIAL GIRL Choose socks made of high-tech fibers such as Coolmax and Thermax, which wick away sweat. and don't buy a pair right off the rack; try them on with your cycling shoes first."