PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD: PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of a thick, fibrous ligament in the arch of the foot called the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia attaches into the heel bone and fans out toward the ball of the foot, attaching into the base of the toes. When placed under excessive or repetitive stress, this band stretches and tears, resulting in inflammation of the fascia and the surrounding tissues. The tears are soon repaired with inelastic scar tissue, which is less flexible than the original fascial tissue thus, predisposing repeat injury with every bouncy step we take.

According to The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), you're more likely to get the condition if you're a woman, if you're overweight, or if you have a job that requires a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces. You're also at risk if you walk or run for exercise, especially if you have tight calf and leg muscles. People with very flat feet or very high arches are also more prone to plantar fasciitis. This is a common ailment among walking golfers, especially early in the season when physical fitness has not returned from winter vacation.  Pulling a golf cart (go Bat-Caddie!), frequently through hilly terrain (hello Oyster Bay), in unsupportive golf shoes (how many years have you worn those shoes?), on top of tight muscles (tell the truth; can you even come close to your toes when you bend over with STRAIGHT knees?) all equal plantar fascial disaster.

The main emphasis of treatment is to reduce the forces that are causing the plantar fascia to stretch excessively. This includes REST, over the counter arch supports, heel lifts, night splints, custom orthotics, oral anti-inflammatories and/or physical therapy (PT).  PT should take a global approach and include home exercise/stretching as well.  We often see antagonistic issues in areas far from the foot so the best chance of gaining relief comes when the entire lower extremity is addressed.  A treatment program aimed at simply the foot will act like a Band-Aid only temporarily decreasing symptoms as the foot is really the end of a very long chain, the leg.  Who remembers the song, "The foot bone's connected to the leg bone" "Dem bones, Dem bones, Dem bones." How true it is!   

Plantar Fasciitis starts gradually with mild pain often in the heel typically upon arising in the morning or after a long bout of daytime sitting. Also, pain is more likely to be felt after (not during) exercise. Plantar fascitis often becomes chronic and can easily snowball into heel spurs and painful fibromas (nodules of thickened inflamed tissue within the arch of the foot). So here's the take home message:  heel or arch pain that doesn't go away with some ice, a few days rest, light stretching, some ALEVE and a full-time week in a GOOD (aka-relatively new!) pair of sneakers should be checked by a professional. And here's a footwear tip: sneakers last only 6 months or 500 miles, whatever comes first.  After that, no matter how great they still look, their components break down and all bets are off!  For golf shoes I advise my walking patients to replace shoes every 1 to 2 seasons depending on how often they play and in what weather.  Thankfully, the AAOS reports that approximately 90 percent of patients with plantar fasciitis improve significantly after two months of initial treatment. So put your best foot forward and treat heel pain early for effective, efficient relief.

Submitted by Vicki Schuppe, PT, CHT, Owner of Certified Physical Therapy

EWGA LI member Mary Moran is an Account Executive in the Mineola office of Chicago Title Insurance Company.  A graduate of Fordham University and published in The New York Law Journal for 'Trends in Real Estate and Title Insurance: Surveying the Landscape', Mary served on the EWGA LI Executive Board of Directors from 2000-2007. She resides in Wantagh with her husband and two children.

      "Title Insurance, for many, is a mystery.  Yet, it is an extremely important factor in the purchase of real estate.  A title search is a means of determining that the person who is selling the property really has the right to sell it, and that the buyer is getting all the rights to the property (title) that he or she is paying for without any liens or encumbrances.  It protects possibly the most important investment you'll ever make - the investment in real estate.  The issuance of a title policy insures the existence or non-existence of rights to the property.  The title insurance company will, at its own expense, defend the title and will pay losses within the coverage of the policy if they occur. Chicago Title is a direct underwriter of title insurance and has been in existence for over 160 years with offices throughout the nation.  Our survey and land record plants are so extensive that we are able to provide immediate resources for our clients.  Typically, the attorney for the purchaser, be it residential, commercial or industrial property, will order the title search.  Our clients include attorneys, mortgage brokers, builders and developers.

       "As an account executive in the Mineola office I work directly with my clients from contract to closing.  Many issues can arise such as unpaid taxes on the property, judgments, liens, prior mortgages that have not been satisfied and surveys that may differ from the subject property.  My goal is to provide a streamlined process to clear up the problems.

      As a salesperson it is important to make new relationships and bring in new business.  EWGA has been an overwhelming and essential part of my networking through the years.  Learning the game of golf and nurturing all the relationships that have come from this great chapter has been a life-changing experience.  As a board member and volunteer since its inception I have experienced firsthand the gratification and hard work which makes this group so wonderful.  As a sponsor my company is recognized as a leader in the industry."

WINTER NETWORKING RECEPTION IN FULL SWING

 

A great time was had by all Tuesday evening, February 26th, at our annual Winter Networking Reception in the Holiday Inn Plainview. Had it been colder, it may well have been a true snowy winter wonderland gathering, however, the rainy night didn't dampen the spirits of all those in attendance. Chapter members took over the bar area of Monroe's Supper Club which provided a casual networking space with ample room to sit, talk and meet with one another while having a drink, hors d'oeurves and a light buffet.

This off-season social networking event was a great opportunity for members to catch up with old friends and make new ones. While less structured than some other networking organizations, EWGA events always yield great potential to develop new business contacts in an informal setting.

Thanks to all the volunteers (Gloria Bauer, Priscilla Aitken, Penny Bernstein, JoAnn Flora, Eileen Maguire, Beth Meixner, Lynne Nordone, Wendy O'Neill and Fran Zaslow) who helped organize this event from planning to execution.  As you know, all EWGA LI activities from the social events to leagues, from membership to communications, from education to outings, are conducted by volunteers who give their own time to help make our chapter what it is: a great community to make friends and learn, play and enjoy golf for business and for life.

Class dates will be April 10 and 17 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM.  You must attend both classes to get your certificate and the insurance benefits.  Classes will be held at:

AA All County Driving School

82 North Broadway, Suite L101

Hicksville, NY  11801-2920

To register, call Sue at 516.681.4242.  Class size is limited, so don't wait to sign up.  Call Sue today!

Sue has been an EWGA LI Member since 2000 and a loyal sponsor for the past 3 years.  Thank you, Sue, for your support of our chapter!