Re: No SAFOS but New Balance Shoes

August 19, 2004

Good Day All:

Thanks for your input Marti. I attended a presentation on SAFOs a few months

ago. The S is for silicone. I did try a pair and felt they helped me with my

balance and allowed me to know where my feet were at all times.

I decided not to go with SAFOs at this time because I do not have foot drop,

and my muscles have only a little atrophy at this time.

I learned through Dr. Paolo Vinci's book (Rehabilitation management of

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease) that the only treatment to improve my

functional abilities and quality of life was rehab. The rehab I talk about

consists of all the therapeutical interventions made by numerous

professionals (physiotherapist, pedorthist, orthotist, occupational

therapist, orthopaedist, geneticist, psychologist) co-ordinated by the

physiatrist, all aimed at reducing disability secondary to the problems

caused by CMT. Thank God we have such a good medical system here in Canada.

I would hate to see what this would cost me if I lived elsewhere.

I do not whine about the high taxes we have, especially since we do have a

good medicare program.

The physiatrist I met was mainly interested in selling me a pair of AFOs.

This is unfortunate, as he was one of the few " Doctors " in most of the

professions mentioned above. That is why he should have been the focal point

for everything else. All the other professions agreed that I did not need

AFOs ...yet.

I made a decision to go with a new pair of orthotics, made of course by the

orthotist. He also insisted that I get a pair of New Balance - 925 shoes.

The 925 series is hard to find. I had to get a shoe store to order them

directly from New Balance.

They are intended to give you much more stability and balance. They assist

along with the orthotic to prevent pronation. They are, bar none, the best

pair of shoes my feet have ever had. They are wider in the toe area, thus

improving balance. They also have a rear to front " roll-bar " which does not

allow the shoe to twist from side-to-side. They also have a great deal of

cushioning for greater comfort.

At first I thought I must look like a clown with these seemingly wide shoes,

but it was only me that thought that way. In reality they do look good.

Anyway, that is my 2 cents worth as well. Have a good day everyone.

Beckingham

Corporate Nice Guy

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