Dr. Blake's CV

I have been asked many times for this information so I thought I would place it on my blog. Rich   

CURRICULUM VITAE

RICHARD L. BLAKE, D.P.M.

Business Address            Orthopedic and Sports Institute

                                        Saint Francis Memorial Hospital

                                        900 Hyde Street

                                        San Francisco, California 94109

Personal Data                   Date & Place of Birth:   January 9, 1954, San Francisco, CA

                                        Spouse:  Patricia A. Blake

                                        Children:  Stephen P. Blake, Christopher R. Blake

                      

Secondary Education        Riordan High School, San Francisco, CA

Undergraduate Education City College of San Francisco, 1972-74

                                        University of California, Berkeley, 1974-76, 1981

Graduate Education          California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, CA, 1976-79

Residency Programs

          First Year Medical-Surgical Podiatric Residency, 1979-80

          First Year Biomechanics Fellowship, 1979-80

          Second Year Biomechanics Fellowship, 1980-81

Degrees

          Bachelor of Science, Basic Medical Sciences, California College of Podiatric Medicine, June 1977

          Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, California College of Podiatric Medicine, June 1979

          Master of Science in Podiatric Biomechanics, California College of Podiatric Medicine, June 1981

Academic Biography

          Associate Professor, Department of Biomechanics, California College of Podiatric Medicine, 1981-83

          Clinical Instructor, Department of Biomechanics, California College of Podiatric Medicine, 1981-84

          Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept.  of Biomechanics, California College of Podiatric Medicine, 1983-89

          Adjunct Clinical Professor of Podiatric Orthopedics and Biomechanics, 1987

                    Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine

          Director, Sports Medicine Class, California College of Podiatric Medicine, 1991-92, 1984-89

           Professor, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Medicine Lectures, 2011-2018

Fellowships

          Fellow, American College of Foot Orthopedics, 1979-81

          Fellow, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1983-present

Society Memberships

          American Podiatry Association, 1979-present

          California Podiatry Association, 1979-present

          American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1982-present

         

Current Appointments

                Professor, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Medicine, 2011-present

          Consultant, Podiatry Tracts, 1992-present

Past Appointments
          Consultant, Krames Communications, 1991-94

          President, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1992-93

                  President-Elect, 1991

                  Board Member, 1987-90

          Chairman, Annual Meeting, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1993

          Consultant, Motion Analysis Corporation, 1988-92

          Special Editor in Sports Medicine, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 1984-92

          Director of Podiatry:    City of San Francisco Marathon, 1991 (Co-Director)

                                             Golden Gate Marathon, 1984

                                             Golden Gate Marathon, 1983

                                             San Francisco Marathon, 1982

          Medical Coordinator:   City of San Francisco Marathon, 1990

                                             City of San Francisco Marathon, 1989

                                             San Francisco Marathon, 1983

          Board Member, YMCA Health Advisory Board, California Division, 1988-1989

          Examination Chairman, Fellowship, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1988, 1989

          Team Podiatrist, Gymnos USA Gymnastics Center, San Rafael, CA, 1985-87

          Medical Editor:  Strider Running Magazine, 1983

                                   Dolphin-Southend Running Club Newsletter, 1981-84

          Team Podiatrist:    Greater San Francisco Track Club, 1981-83

                                        Terra Linda High School Cross-Country Team, 1981

                                        Lowell High School Cross-Country Team, 1981

                                        City College of San Francisco Cross-Country Team, 1981-82

                                        Marin Catholic High School Cross-Country Team, 1982

Awards

          President, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1992-93

          Chairman, Annual Meeting, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, San Diego, CA, 1993

          Biomechanics Award, American College of Foot Orthopedists, June 1979

          1st Prize, Outstanding Paper in Foot Orthopedics, American College of Foot Orthopedists, June 1980

          Honored Guest/Plaque Presentation for Work With Runners, Dolphin Southend Running Club, Jan. 1984
          Richard Schuster Biomechanics Award, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1995

Podiatry Blog: www.drblakeshealingsole.com  March 2010 to present

Podiatry YouTube Channel:  drblakeshealingsole   July 2010 to present

Publications

“Who Gets Injured?” Running Times Magazine, March 1979

“A Survey of 1,500 Athletes -- Injury Questionnaire”, Yearbook of Podiatry, 1981-82

“A Study of Ankle Joint Height Changes with Subtalar Joint Motion”, Journal of the American Podiatry Association, Vol.71, No.3, March 1981

“Running Gait Evaluation”, Journal of the American Podiatry Association, June 1981

“Runner’s Knee Examination”, Journal of the American Podiatry Association, July 1981

“Etiology of Atraumatic Medial Knee Pain”, Journal of the American Podiatry Association, October 1981

“Low Back Pain in a Runner:  A Case Report”, Journal of the American Podiatry Association, November 1983

“Theraband Strengthening Exercises -- How I Do It”, Podiatric Sports Medicine Journal, Fall 1983

“Functional Foot Orthoses for Athletic Injuries”, Journal of the American Podiatry Association, July 1985

“Inverted Functional Orthosis”, JAPMA, Vol. 76, No. 5, May 1986

“Treatment of Flexible Flatfoot - A Panel Discussion”, Jour of the American Pod Med Assn, pp 46-49, Jan 1987

“Conservative Treatment of Acute Inversion Ankle Sprains -- A Follow-Up Study”, Syllabus - National Meeting of American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Boston, MA, May 1988

“Athletic Injuries -- Orthoses vs. Surgery”, Current Therapy in Pod Surg, 296-301, B.C. Decker Publishing, 1989

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, Syllabus - National Meeting of American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, May 1989

“Common Sports Injuries and Their Treatment”, Foot and Leg Function Newsletter, Langer Biomechanics Group, New York, May 1989

“Walking Case Studies - Calcaneus to Vertical Angle”, 1990 Syllabus, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine meeting, Miami, Florida, May 1990

“Treatment Flowsheets”, Footprints Newsletter, Florida Podiatric Medical Association, December 1990

“Achilles Rupture Protocol”, Newsletter, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Winter 1990

“Sports Injuries - A Podiatric Approach to Prevention and Treatment”, patient education booklet, Krames Communications, released March 1991

“Conservative Management of Closed Tendon Achilles Ruptures”, Australian Podiatrist, March 1991

“Tibial Stress Fracture Flowsheet”, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine Newsletter, Spring 1991

“Effect of Rearfoot Posting on Rearfoot Motion as Demonstrated by Motion Analysis”, Syllabus, Annual Meeting, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, May 1991

“The Myth of Running Limb Varus”, Journal American Podiatric Med Assn, Vol. 81, No. 6, 325-327, June 1991

“TL-61® versus Rohadur® Orthoses in Heel Spur Syndrome”, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol.81, No.8, August 1991

“Achilles Tendon Rupture”, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol.81, No.9, Sept 1991

“Foot Orthosis for the Severe Flatfoot in Sports”, Jour American Podiatric Med Assn, Vol.81, No.10, Oct 1991

“Muscle Strengthening for Chondromalacia Patellae”, Australian Podiatrist, December 1991

“Biomechanical Analysis of Running with 25° Inverted Orthotic Devices”, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol.81, No.12, December 1991

“Limb Length Discrepancies”, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol.82, No.1, Jan 1992

"The Os Trigonum Syndrome", Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol 82, No. 3, Mar 1992

"Extrinsic Rearfoot Posts", Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol.82, No.4, April 1992

"Achilles Peritendinitis: A Literature Review with Case Report".  Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol. 82, No. 9, September 1992

“Common Running Injuries Seen in a Podiatric Sports Medicine Practice - Part I”.  Medicine, Exercise, Nutrition and Health, Vol. 1, No. 6, Nov/Dec 1992

“The Inverted Orthotic Technique:  A practical discussion of an orthotic therapy”.  Journal of British Podiatric Medicine, Vol. 48, No. 2, Feb 1993

“Common Running Injuries Seen in a Podiatric Sports Medicine Practice, Part 2”.  Medicine, Exercise, Nutrition, and Health, Vol. 2, No. 1, Jan/Feb 1993

“The Motion Analysis System for Dynamic Gait Analysis”.  Clinics in Pod Med & Surg, Vol. 10, No. 3, July 1993

“Effect of Extrinsic Rearfoot Posts on Rearfoot Position”.  Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol. 83, No. 8, August 1993

“Walking and Hiking Injuries: A One-Year Follow-Up Study”.  Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol. 83, No. 9, September 1993

“Correlation Between Limb Length Discrepancy and Asymmetrical Rearfoot Position”.  JAPMA, Vol. 83, No. 11, Nov 1993

“Developing a Treatment Plan for Athletes”.  Podiatry Management, February 1994

“Update and Rationale for the Inverted Functional Foot Orthosis”.  Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Vol. 11, No. 2, April 1994

“The Inverted Orthotic Technique: It’s Role in Clinical Biomechanics”.  Co-authored with Heather Ferguson, MS B App Science (Pod-Australia), Clinical Biomechanics of the Lower Extremities, Mosby-Year Book, Inc., Chicago, 1995, chapter 22, pp 466-497

“A Podiatrist’s Guide to Shoe and Shoe Insert Modifications”, Podiatry Management, October 2011, pp 131-136

“Keys to Pain Management in a Sports Medicine Practice”, Podiatry Today, Volume 28, Issue 4, April 2015

“Maximalistic Shoes: A Closer Look into the Biomechanics”, Podiatry Today, July 2017.

Speaking Engagements

“Running Injuries”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Biomechanics Seminar, San Francisco, 1979

Biomechanics III Class, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco:

1979 (3 lectures), 1980 (7 lectures), 1981 (6 lectures)

“Athletic Taping”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Biomechanics V Class, San Francisco, 1980

“Sports Injuries in Children”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Pediatrics Class, 1980

“Evaluation and Treatment of Limb Length Discrepancies”, American Pod Association, Annual Convention, 1981

Biomechanics I Class, 4 lectures, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, 1981

“Iliotibial Band Syndrome”, “Athletic Rehabilitation Injuries”, plus 4 workshops on “Knee Examination”, and 1 workshop on “Gait Analysis”, California College of Podiatry Medicine, Super Seminar, San Francisco, Mar 82

“Sports Injuries in Children”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Pediatrics Class, San Francisco, 1982

“Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries”, Western Podiatry College, Hawaii, May 1982

“Knee Pain in Relationship to Foot Function”, National Podiatry Convention, Chicago, IL, August 1982

“Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries”, Calif College Pod Med, Sports Medicine Class, San Francisco, Feb 1983

“Update on Athletic Shoes”, plus 4 workshops on “Knee/Hip Examination”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Super Seminar, Las Vegas, NV, 1983

“Physical Therapy for the Athlete”, Western Podiatry Congress, Reno, NV, June 1983

“Athletic Rehabilitation”, Los Angeles Podiatry Student Lecture Series, January 1984

“New Concept in Running Orthoses”, San Francisco-San Mateo Podiatric Society, January 1984

“Modifications for Functional Foot Orthoses, Part I and II”, “Knee Examination”, “New Concept on Running Orthoses”, “Taking a Negative Cast for Post-Operative Patients”, American College of Foot Surgeons, Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, February 1984

6 Lectures on various sports medicine topics, Sports Med Class (Chairman), Calif College Pod Med, Spring 1984

“Sports Medicine Injuries”, American Academy Podiatric Sports Med, Natl Convention, San Francisco, July 1984

“Knee Rehabilitation”, “Physical Therapy Concepts”, “Evaluation of the Knee and Hip”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Super Seminar, Las Vegas, NV 1985

“Ankle Sprains - Diagnosis and Treatment”, “Overview of Ballet”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Medicine Lectures to Junior Class, 1985

“Exercise and Your Heart”, American Heart Association, Sports Medicine Injury Prevention Symposium, May 85

“Lower Extremity Biomechanics as Causes of Injury”, SF Ortho Society/Golden Gate Phys Ther Assn, June 1985

“Functional Orthotic Control of the Severe Pes Planovalgus”, NW Pod Found, Annual Sem, Seattle, Oct 1985

“Functional Orthotic Variations”, Northwest Podiatric Foundation, Kauai, HI, October 1985

“Sportsmedicine -- Implications to Podiatry”, California College of Podiatric Medicine/American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine Student Chapter, October 1985

“Podiatrist’s Role in Sports Medicine”, JFK University, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, Sports Psychology Program, Orinda, CA October 1985

“Podiatry and Sports Medicine”, Riordan High School, Alumni Boosters Club, San Francisco, October 1985

“Biomechanics and Sports Medicine”, Chicago Pod Society, Study Group, 11 lecture hrs, Chicago, Nov 1985

“Knee Injuries in Athletes”, YMCA, San Francisco Embarcadero Branch, November 1985

“Rx Writing”, “Workshop on Casting and Bioevaluations”, “Basic Biomechanics”, Root Laboratory, 3-day seminar, San Diego, CA, November 1985

“Causes of Athletic Injuries”, California College of Podiatric Med, Sports Med Class, San Francisco, Jan 1986

“New Concept in Sport Orthoses”, workshop on “Ballet Injuries”, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Seminar, Houston, TX, May 1986

“Podiatry for the Physical Therapist”, Golden Gate District Phys Therapy Assn, 2-day Seminar, Sept 1986

“Current Concepts in Sports Medicine”, podiatry stall of Hillside Hospital, San Diego, September 1986

“Biomechanical Principles in Sports Medicine”, Union Mem Hospital, 2-day Seminar, Baltimore, MD, Oct 1986

“Contraindications to Aerobics”, YMCA, Oakland, CA, November 1986

“Foot Care for the Elderly”, Saint Francis Mem Hospital, Healthwise Senior Program, San Francisco, Jan 1987

“Foot and Ankle Sports Medicine Injuries”, Natl Acad Ortho Nurses, Shriner’s Hosp, San Francisco, Jan 1987

“Rearfoot Analysis with High-Speed Cinamatography”, Root Laboratory, Functional Orthotic Seminar, Sacramento, CA, January 1987

Causes of Athletic Injuries”, “Treatment Modalities in Athletic Injuries”, “Biomechanics of Athletic Injuries”, “Foot Injuries in Sports Medicine”, “Ankle Injuries in Sports Medicine”, “The Ankle Sprain in Sports Medicine”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Medicine Course, San Francisco, January/February 1987

“Conservative Treatment of Ankle Sprains”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Department of Surgery, Podiatric Trauma Course, San Francisco, April 1987

“Knee Injuries in Sports Medicine”, “Hip Injuries in Sports Medicine”, “Leg Injuries in Sports Medicine”, “Prescription Writing for Functional Foot Orthoses in Sports Medicine”, Sports Med Course, San Francisco, April/May 1987

“The Changes in Rearfoot Motion with High-Speed Cinematography with the Inverted Orthotic Technique”, “Prescription Writing for Functional Foot Orthoses”, Amer Acad Pod Sports Medicine, Chicago, IL, May 1987

“Sports Medicine and Biomechanics”, San Diego Podiatric Society, 4-1/2 hour presentation, San Diego, CA, September 1987

“Stretching Techniques and Principles”, “Functional Orthoses Prescription Writing”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Palm Springs, CA, October 1987

“Knee Injuries”, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Student Chapter, San Francisco, October 1987

“Biomechanical Examination and Demonstration”, Root Laboratory, Auburn, CA, October 1987

“Podiatric Sports Medicine”, Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, 4-1/2 hour presentation, Miami Shores, FL, November 1987

“Clinical Biomechanics”, Union Memorial Hospital, 2-day Sports Medicine Seminar, Baltimore, MD, Nov 1987

“Introduction to Sports Medicine”, Calif College of Pod Medicine, 2-hour presentation, San Francisco, Jan 1988

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, Cleveland Clinic, spon by Ohio Pod Med Students Assn, Cleveland, Feb 1988

“Causes of Athletic Injuries”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, Feb 1988

“TL-61 vs. Rohadur for Heel Spur Syndrome”, “Inverted Orthotic Technique - 5-Year Update”, Root Lab Seminar, Sacramento, CA, February 1988

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, California College of Pod Med, Sports Med Course, San Francisco, March 1988

“Treatment of Common Athletic Injuries”, 3-hour pres, sponsored by CCPM, Lake Tahoe, CA, March 1988

“Conservative Treatment for Ankle Sprains”, Calif Coll Pod Med, Sports Med Course, San Francisco, April 1988

“Ankle Sprain Research Study -- 208 Consecutive Ankle Sprains Conservatively Managed”, “Ankle Sprain Treatment Workshop”, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Boston, MA, May 1988

“Causes of Athletic Injury”, “Inverted Orthotic Technique”, “Chondromalacia Patellae”,  College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, University Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences, Junior Class, Des Moines, IA, Nov 1988

“History Taking and Generalizations in Sports Medicine”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Jan 1989

“Clinical Applications of Motion Analysis”, Root Seminar, Sacramento, CA, April 1989

Intermediate Lower Extremity Biomechanics Course, sponsored by Northern District Virginia Physical Therapy Association, May 1989:  “General Concepts in Biomechanics”, “Extrinsic Forces to the Foot”, “Common Running Pathologies”, panel discussion; “Common Foot Injuries and Their Biomechanicsl Basis”, “The Inverted Orthotic Technique”, “Gait Evaluation” workshop, “Suspension Neutral Position Casting”, workshop

Graduation Address, University of California at Berkeley, Department of Phys Education, Berkeley, May 1989

American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, May 1989:  “Evaluation and Treatment of Ankle Sprains”, “Inverted Orthotic Technique”, “Current Concepts in Sports Orthoses”, panel discussion with Drs. Burns, Wernick and Schuster; “Ankle Sprains”, panel discussion with Drs. Lowe, Taylor, Ross and Subotnick

California College of Podiatric Medicine, American Podiatric Technique - Series V, Australian Podiatry Group, June 1989:  “Examination of the Knee”, “Examination of the Hip”, “Inverted Orthotic Technique”

Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, Seven Springs, PA, November 10-12, 1989:  “Common Generalizations in Clinical Biomechanics”, “Overview of Clinical Anatomy of the Foot and Anatomy” “Pronatory and Supinatory Gait Patterns”, “Compensatory Biomechanics Extrinsic to the Foot”, “Principles of Orthotic Prescription Writing”, “The Inverted Orthotic Technique”

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Student Chapter American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, San Francisco, November 1989

Australian Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine Conference, Adelaide, South Australia, January 18-22, 1990:   Keynote speech, “Biomechanics of the Foot and Leg”, Follow-up of keynote speech, “Biomechanics of the Foot and Leg”, “Kinesiology”, “Muscle Testing”, “Muscle Testing”, demonstration; “Podiatric X-ray Evaluation”, “The Gait Cycle”, “Orthotic Therapy”, “Orthotic Materials”, “Evaluation of the Injured Athlete”, “Biomechanical Assessment”, “Prescription Writing”, “Motion Analysis FootTrack Computer Video System”,

2 workshops; “Dress Shoe Orthotic Casting”, workshop

“The Sport, Equipment, and Inherent Injuries -- Running and Walking”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Medicine Course, San Francisco, February 1990

Golden Gate District Physical Therapy Association, “Podiatry for the Physical Therapist”, February 1990: “Common Office Taping, Strapping and Padding”, “Impression Casting” workshop; “Gait Evaluation” workshop

“Introduction to Motion Analysis Computerized Video Gait System”, AAPSM, Miami, Florida, May 1990

“Orthotic Devices in Athletes”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Student Chapter, AAPSM, Aug 1990

“General Approach to Decision Making in Athletic Patient”, Sports Med Course, Calif Coll Pod Med, Jan 1991

“Current Advances in Podiatric Sports Medicine”, Veterans’ Hosp, Fort Miley, San Francisco, Jan 1991

“Physical Examination of the Athlete”, Sports Medicine Course, CCPM, January 1991

“Current Biomechanical Concepts in the Rehabilitation of the Athlete”, San Diego Pod Med Society, Jan 1991

“Muscle Strength and Flexibility Testing”, Sports Medicine Course, Calif College of Pod Med, January 1991

“Orthotic Prescription Writing, Part I”, Sports Medicine Course, California College of Pod Medicine, Jan 1991

“Orthotic Prescription Writing, Part II”, Sports Medicine Course, California College of Pod Medicine, Jan 1991

“General Physical Therapy Principles”, Sports Medicine Course, California College of Pod Med, February 1991

“Common Foot Injuries”, Sports Medicine Course, California College of Podiatric Medicine, February 1991

“Role of Rearfoot Posting on Foot Function”, “Treatment of Chondromalacia Patellae”, “Introduction to Motion Analysis”, California College of Podiatric Medicine’s “Super Seminar”, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 1991

“Common Foot Injuries, Part II”, “Common Ankle Injuries”, Calif College of Pod Med, San Francisco, March 1991

“Common Ankle Injuries, Part II”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, April 1991

“Common Leg Injuries, Part I”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, April 1991

“Common Leg Injuries, Part II”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, April 1991

“Common Knee Injuries and Rehabilitation”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, May 1991

“Proper Selection of Walking Shoes”, Institute of Sports Med, R.K. Davies Med Center, San Francisco, June 1991

“Foot Manipulation”, Mt. Zion Hospital physical therapy staff, San Francisco, August 1991

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, American Podiatric Technique, St Francis Memorial Hosp, San Francisco, Aug 1991

“Biomechanical Control of Runners”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Med Club, Sept 1991

“Introduction to the Athletic Patient”, “Physical Examination of the Athlete”, “Treatment Generalizations of the Athlete”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Medicine Course, Spring ‘92 Junior Class, Jan 92

“Achillis Tendon Rupture - Protocol for Conservative Care”, Utah Podiatry Association/American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1992 Snowbird Ski Seminar January 1992

“Prescription Writing for Foot Orthoses”, “Physical Therapy Techniques in Sports Medicine”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Medicine Course, February 1992

“Overview of Common Leg Injuries”, California College of Podiatric Medicine Sports Medicine Course, Mar 1992

“Overview of Overuse Injuries”, “Gait Analysis”, “Principles of Stretching”, “Principles of Strengthening”, “Proper Shoe Selection”, “Causes of Athletic Injuries/Treatment of Acute Inujuries”, Course entitled The Amateur Athlete: From Start to Finish, Stanford Hospital Nursing Continuing Education Program, March 1992

“Common Orthotic Modifications”, Allied/OSI Lab, Indianapolis, March 1992

“Ankle and Leg Injuries in Sports”, Student Athletic Trainers’ Course, Univ. of California, Berkeley, April 1992

“Common Leg Injuries, Part II”, Sports Medicine Course, California College of Podiatric Medicine, April 1992

"Running Biomechanics", California College of Podiatric Medicine, April 1992

"Conservative Treatment of Complete Achilles Ruptures", Annual Meeting AAPSM, Houston, May 1992

"Motion Analysis Evaluation for Knee Pain", "Tibial and Fibular Stress Fractures", "Sesamoiditis", "Peroneal Tendinitis", Sports Medicine Symposium, Western Podiatry Congress, San Jose, California, May 1992

"Rehabilitation Principles", Residents Lecture, V.A. Hospital, Fort Miley, San Francisco, September 1992

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, IPMSA Mid-Winter Seminar, Scholl College of Pod Med, Chicago, Jan 1993

“Treatment for the Supinator”; “Inverted Orthotic Technique”; Achilles Ruptures Protocol”; Limb Length Discrepancy”; and “Heel Pain - Diagnosis and Treatment” Oregon Podiatric Medical Association, Winter Meeting, Bend, Oregon, February 1993

“Common Causes of Athletic Injuries” Los Angeles Coll Chiropractic Med, Postgrad Div, Oakland, May 1993

“Orthotic Modifications for the Severe Pronator”, “Evaluation and Treatment Protocol for Heel Pain”, “Conservative Protocol for Complete Achilles Tendon Ruptures”.  Annual Meeting, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, San Diego, California, June 1993

“Biomechanics of Shin Pain” American Podiatry Technique, CCPM, San Francisco, July 1993

“Athletic Overuse Injuries and Treatment”, CAQ Board Review Course, ACSM, San Francisco, Aug 1993

Kansas/Oklahoma Podiatric Medical Association, Annual Meeting, Wichita, Kansas, September 1993:

        “Motion Analysis: Clinical Pearls”
“Treatment of the Abnormal Pronator”
“Treatment of the Abnormal Supinator”
“Lower Leg Athletic Injuries”
“Prescription Writing for Athletic Orthotics”
“Gait Evaluation for Prescription Writing for Athletic Orthotics”

“The Inverted Orthotic Technique: A 10-Year Review”, First World Congress and Third European Congress of Podiatry, Brighton, England, October 1993

“Podiatric Management of Foot Disorders”, Samuel Merritt College, Physical Therapy Program, Nov 1993

“Six-Month Conservative Protocol for Heel Spur Syndrome”, course on Endoscopic Surgery for Plantar Fasciitis, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, February 1994

Ontario Society of Chiropody, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 1994:
“Heel Spur Syndrome”
“Achilles Tendinitis”
“Biomechanics” (panel discussion with Dr. Sheldon Langer and Jeff Cuszak)
“Knee Examination” (2-hour workshop)
“Orthotic Prescription Writing” (2-hour workshop)

“Biomechanical Considerations in a Marathon Runner”, John Weed, D.P.M. Memorial Seminar, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, April 1994

American College of Foot Orthopedics, Biomechanics Seminar, San Diego, CA, May 1994:
“Inverted Orthotic Technique”
“Treatment for a Supinator”
“Motion Analysis: Clinical Applications”
“Limb Length Discrepancy”
“Prescription Writing for Functional Foot Orthotic Devices”

“Inverted Orthotic Device”, California College of Podiatric Medicine, Sports Medicine Course, May 1994

“Six-hour Biomechanics Workshop”, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Scotsdale, Arizona, June 1994

Regional Meeting, Seattle, Washington, June 1994

          “Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis”

          “Inverted Orthotic Technique”

          “Modifying Athletic Shoes”

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, teleconference with 30 podiatrists in New Zealand, August 1994

“Modifying Athletic Shoes”, American Podiatric Medical Assn Annual Meeting, San Francisco,  August 1994

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”.  4th Annual Applied Biomechanics Seminar, CCPM, San Francisco, Oct 1994

“Inverted Technique”  Student Chapter of California College of Podiatric Medicine, AAPSM, November 1994

“Management of Biomechanic Pathology in the Athlete”  American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine’s Sports Medicine Day, San Francisco, March 4, 1995

“Plantar Fasciitis”  Sports Medicine Club, California College of Podiatric Medicine, April 1995

“Inverted Orthotic Technique” Sports Medicine Course, California College of Podiatric Medicine, April 1995

“Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis”, Sports Medicine Symposium, Memorial Hospital Association, Modesto, CA, April 1995

Regional Meeting, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, San Francisco, April 1996

          “Heel Pain Management”
“Limb Length Discrepancy”
“Inverted Orthotic Devices”
  6 Workshops on “Gait Evaluation”

“Inverted Orthotic Device” Sports Medicine Course, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, May 1996

“Biomechanics Workshop”; “Podiatric Sports Medicine 1995” American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Orlando, Florida, June 1995

“Inverted Orthotic Technique” American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine meeting, sponsored by Student Chapter of California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, September 1995

“Gait Evaluation”, “Conservative Management of Heel Pain”, “Common Running Injuries”  National Meeting, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri, October 1996

“Heel Pain Management” Sponsored by American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and Student Chapter of California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, February 1997

“Pearls of Biomechanics”, “Inverted Orthotics”, Limb Length Discrepancies”, “Sports Injuries” Annual Scientific Seminar, British Columbia Association of Podiatrists, Vancouver, BC, February 20-23, 1997

“Inverted Orthotic Technique and Kirby Skive”.  Sports Medicine Class, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, California, April 1997

“Knee Injuries” American Podiatry Technique Course for International Podiatrists, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, July 1997

“Inverted Orthotic Technique and Basic Biomechanical Principles” Mercy Hospital Residents’ Lecture Series, San Diego, November 1997

“Practical Advice on Maintaining Flexibility” Fifty-Plus Fitness Association and the San Francisco Bay Club, San Francisco, May 20, 1998

“Right Fit: Orthotics and the Athlete”; “The Wide World of Orthotics”.  Annual Meeting, American Podiatric Medical Association, Boston, August 1998

"Orthotic Modifications in Sports Medicine Practice" Sports Medicine Class, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, California, October 1998

"The Inverted Orthotic Technique"  Student Chapter, California College of Podiatric Medicine, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, April 1999

"Rehab Protocols for Overuse Injuries" Sports Medicine Course, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, March 21, 2000

"Orthotic Prescription Writing for Sports Medicine" Sports Medicine Club, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, October 2000

"Inverted Orthotic",  Biomechanics Student Club, California College of Podiatric Medicine, November 2000

"Foot and Ankle - Mechanics, Injuries, Shoe Selection"  Sports Medicine Course, Dept. of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, November 30, 2000

"Orthotic Devices for Athletes" Student Chapter, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, San Francisco, March 2001

"Orthotic Therapy for Athletes" California College of Podiatric Medicine, Mare Island, Vallejo, California,

April 2002

“Biomechanics” Sports Medicine Course, JFK University, Walnut Creek, California, November 2002

“Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation” CSPM Student Chapter, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, St. Mary’s Medical Center, San Francisco, February 2003

Workshop:  “Casting for Orthotics/Orthotic Prescription”.  American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine in conjunction with California School of Podiatric Medicine’s program entitled “Sports Medicine of the Lower Extremity”, Samuel Merritt College, Oakland, California, March 15, 2003

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, Richey & Co Labs, Charlottesville, VA, July 2007, 2 Day Seminar

“Shoe Modifications” and “Treating the Negative Addiction in Athletes”, Western Podiatric Seminar, Disneyland Hotel, Los Angeles, June 2008

“Variations in Orthotic Therapy”, Department of Biomechanics, Samuel Merritt College, San Francisco, CA, November 2008

“Biomechanical Guidelines”, Orange County Residency Program, Los Angeles, Ca, Feb 2009

“Sports Medicine Principles”, Keynote Address, Georgia Podiatric Medical Association, Atlanta, GA, Feb 2009

“Top 30 Biomechanical Principles”, A Day In Sports Medicine, California School of Podiatric Medicine, April 2009

“Sports Medicine Introduction”, 6 hour lecture presentation, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt College, January 2011

“25 Common Shoe and Shoe Insert Modifications in a Sports Medicine Podiatry Practice”,  2011 Continuing Medical Education Lecture Series, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, Co-Sponsored by the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, April 16, 2011

 “Sports Medicine Introduction”, 6 hour lecture presentation, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt College, January 2012

“Orthotics for the Athlete”, California School of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, March 2013

“Sports Medicine Introduction”, 6 hour lecture presentation, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt College, January  2013

“Introduction to Gait Evaluation”, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, March 2013

“Orthotic Modifications for RX Writing”, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, September, 2013

“Introduction to Sports Medicine Principles”, 4 hour lecture presentation,  California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California, October 2014

“Walking versus Running Mechanics: What are the Differences?” June 2015,  Anaheim, CA, The Western Podiarty Conference

“Running Shoes: Science and Controversy” June 2015, Anaheim, CA, The Western Podiatry Conference

“Management of Soft Tissue Injuries” 3 hour presentation, October 2015, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California

“Gait Evaluation Workshop” October 2015, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California

“Biomechanics and Podiatric Sports Medicine”, Two workshops, Samuel Merritt University Motion Analysis Research Center, 1^st Annual MARC Symposium, November 2015,   Oakland, California

“Walking vs Running:What’s the Difference?”, Samuel Merritt University, 1^st Annual MARC Symposium, November 2015,  Oakland, California

“Introduction to Sports Medicine Principles” 6 hours of presentation, Fall 2016, Samuel Merritt University, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Oakland, California

Biomechanics Workshops, 12 total, October 2016 through April 2017, 2^nd Year Students, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California

“Knee, Hip, and Low Back for the Podiatrist”, October 2017, Samuel Merritt University, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Oakland, California

“Physical rehabilitation/ return to activity guidelines- how to work with physical therapy, stretching, cross training”, November 2017, Samuel Merritt University, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Oakland, California.

“Orthotic Devices: Custom, OTC, How to Choose Modifications”, February 2018, Building Blocks for Running Seminar, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, UC Berkeley, California.

“The Runner’s Foot Examination”, 2 one hour workshops, February 2018, Building Blocks for Running Seminar, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, UC Berkeley, California.

Biomechanics Workshops, 12 total, October 2017 through April 2018, 2^nd Year Students, California School of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California

“Inverted Orthotic Technique”, 3 hour Workshop, OOLAB, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, May 2018

“35 Years Experience with the Inverted Technique”, Keynote Address, Ontario Conference of Chiropody, Markham, Ontario, Canada, May 2018

“Principles of Athletic Rehabilitation”, Ontario Conference of Chiropody, Markham, Ontario, Canada, May 2018

“Using Biomechanics in Clinical Practice”, Ontario Conference of Chiropody, Markham, Ontario, Canada, May 2018

Teva Tirra: Need a Stable Shoe for Sand: Email Advice from a Patient

Hi Dr. Blake, just wanted to share my great experience with these sandals.  They are comfortable, with a good arch, and the sole is also pretty stiff.  The adjustable velcro is great.  I have long skinny feet, and they were a little wide for me, so I just bought some velcro at a fabric store and added a little extra, and they worked great.  Highly recommended, stable shoe for use on the sand.  

https://www.zappos.com/p/teva-tirra-black-white-multi/product/7593648/color/23982

Sesamoid Injury Healing and Some Prolonged Sensitivity: Email Correspondance

Dear Dr. Blake,

I hope you have enjoyed the summer! I believe I am writing to you for the fourth time now in about three years. I know you must be very busy and getting a lot of emails so I would be extremely grateful for even a very short reply from you. I am writing again because I still have some issues with my left foot after injuring both my feet in July 2015, and I have not been able to find anyone in my country with your knowledge on difficult foot injuries.

I do have some very good news also! My right foot, which had injured sesamoids, some cartilage breakdown and lots of edema in the metatarsal head is now free of pain for walking in my daily life. It took about 2 1/2 years to get there, but it is a major relief.

Now my only problem is the left foot. It has never felt quite right since the injury, although up and down pain-wise. The last time I wrote to you, maybe a year ago, the pain was worst in my outside ankle (lateral?). Some tendonitis and tenosynovitis of a few tendons were confirmed on MRI, as well as a small split in the brevis tendon. This pain has gotten a lot better, and I think the tendon split probably is from an old injury and completely unrelated, as you suggested. But I suspect this ankle pain is only secondary to the sesamoid injury I got initially in 2015. As my right foot initially was so painful, I had to choose to put the weight on my "least bad foot" when on my feet. I suspect that the pain in my left foot at times also was masked by the stronger pain from the other. Therefore I, unfortunately, may have been walking with more than the 0-2 pain level that you recommend for a long period.

Anyway, I now had a flare-up of stronger pain after our national day in Norway, the 17th of May. I was walking quite a lot and even dancing that day in nice (but not so well cushioned) shoes and also had drinks. At one point I felt a sharp sting in the ball of my foot, then it did seem to go away again quickly. But I later woke up during the night with achy pain, and it didn't really seem to go away the next few days. But no real swelling of any kind. My fear is that the sesamoids didn't heal completely, and I maybe re-injured them now. So I have been trying to offload for most of the summer, hoping to make it better. Generally, the pain in my left foot has been more aching, widespread, coming and going, and difficult to pinpoint. Often worse after activity, not so much during (but sometimes). 

I had an MRI done in 2015, maybe 2 months after injury. I have now recently done both an MRI and a CT. Back In 2015, it read "sesamoiditis", and the edema is pretty clear in the pictures. But the radiologist seems to think everything looks normal again now in 2018 and found no issues. I am attaching a few screenshots from 2015 and a few recent. It would be wonderful if you could have a look and say if you agree with him. Personally, I seem to think at least the MRI of the medial sesamoid looks a bit strange now, but probably there is a good explanation for this. If you also feel that everything looks as it should, I will try to gradually get walking more again. Maybe the pain is more from hypersensitive nerves, sore tendons, not so great orthotics for a long time and so on.

I have named the pictures with the year which they were taken. The recent MRI is from early July, and CT now early August. 

Hope for a reply from you.

The reader must be aware these images are on the left foot, but since MRIs are mirror images, they look like the right. On my computer, I can flip the images horizontally when looking at them with the patient. 

Tibial Sesamoid Injury 2015 (the dark area is where the ligaments and tendons attach and is commonly mis-read as bone death (aka avascular necrosis)

Tibial Sesamoid 2015 noting some inflammation in both sesamoids

Tibial Sesamoid 2018 Slightly Irregular (the most important thing is that it is solid)

Tibial Sesamoid 2018 not Inflamed (no sign it is actively trying to heal something) with some inflammation between sesamoid and metatarsal. Another important point is not bone swelling on the under surface of the metatarsal

Tibial Sesamoid 2018 Normal Appearance (good bone marrow is seen, although the tibial and fibular sesamoids have a different look since the tibial sesamoid underwent some bone healing) The sensitivity that he is experiencing is that maybe the tibial sesamoid is more dense or harder and that irritates the first metatarsal although no sign is noted. 

Dr. Blake's response: thanks for the email and photos. The MRI and CT scans look fine. That does not mean you do not have some irregularity in the sesamoid that makes it sensitive and subject to flares. You should work hard over the next months trying to perfect the mechanical help from an orthotic device, and some of my patients are even using the 1/8 or 1/4 inch Dr. Jill's gel dancer's pads with the orthotic and permanently with any shoe or sandal they wear. They can even be worn on your foot if you are barefoot. Definitely buy a nerve cream that you massage in 3 times a day for the next month, and watch my video on neural flossing that helps relax the nerves. Thank you for sharing your story. You have a built-in hyper protection nervous system for these sesamoids, and flares can be more sensitive than for others. The 3 sources of pain management for these are mechanical changes, anti-inflammatory changes, and nerve hypersensity changes. Keep me in the loop. Rich

Foam Rolling can Improve Flexibility: Article sent to me after a Hard Work out by my Personal Trainor

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22580977

Beginning Fitness as we Age along with Yoga helping Bone Health: Email Exchange with my patient

Hi Dr. Blake,

Thanks for all your help!  I think the Neuro EZE really helps alleviate my nerve pain in my toes!  I’ll switch now, as I am anxious to try out the Neuro One!  I’ll let you know what happens.  And, when I get back to my dance class, I’ll “buddy tape” my toes!

This is the TV show that I mentioned.  It has been on public television for 30 years!  I only have known about it for about 10!  I think my mother told me about it…  not sure….

It is a good well-rounded, well-thought-out exercise program for all levels of ability, and I liked it when I was post surgery last year.  https://www.sitandbefit.org/ 

Here’s a few more that I know:

I also like the Classical Stretch show with the Canadian ballet dancer, Miranda Esmonde White. On KQED, this is being aired regularly, I get it on Channel 17 and there are youtube videos, too: https://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=15089

And then, there is a gentle Yoga by Peggy Cappy.  She calls it “Yoga for the Rest of Us”.  I saw her introductory presentation on PBS a few years ago.  It’s a good introduction for people who may be hesitant to start Yoga or have some limitations, or older adults.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ce_UERHzuU

I love my Yoga teacher, who does the Iyengar style.  It is “alignment” based and a pretty intense class.  My teacher, Tony Eason is a long-distance bicyclist and Marathon runner.  My DEXA scan results have improved over the last 9 years with Yoga.    I had read the research of Dr. Loren Fishman about Yoga and improving Osteoporosis after I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis.  I am now in the “safe” zone with my numbers!  I have a couple of his books on healing Yoga, and I’ve used his Yoga technique to help my rotator cuff as well.  http://www.manhattanphysicalmedicine.com/

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction: Email Advice

Dr.  Blake:

I'd be glad to pay you for some advice on my recently diagnosed posterior tibial dysfunction or contribute to your blog as you see appropriate.

ME: 63-year-old white male, 220 lbs, HLAB27 positive with possible ankylosing spondylitis (not disabling).  Rt. hip osteoarthritis but able to walk 1-4 miles daily with dogs until about one month ago.   The pain started after doing some low weight leg presses but not acute and has gotten progressively worse.  Initially behind my medial ankle but now very tender in front of ankle towards the top of the foot.  It is possibly coming from the insertion of the tendon into the navicular.  I'd call it a 6.  Intermittent swelling treated with ice and piroxicam.  I did try a short course of oral prednisone.  I have been wearing lace-up figure 8 brace on old orthotics.   I bought a cam walker a few days ago but this was not suggested as needed by the local podiatrist.  He did say stop walking trails on uneven surfaces.  Was hoping to continue some 1/2 mile road walking with the cam boot but that is not going to happen at this point.   Let's just say that the alarm bell is ringing.

 Podiatrist took x-rays and gave laser treatment and has ordered new orthotics with a 7-degree inversion and a skive.  He says x-ray shows moderate pronation and some drop now coming from the navicular I think.     He said a Richie brace might be helpful and have an appt. for casting on Monday.  Just a few questions:

Is the Richie appropriate for trying to calm this down to a pain level 2 and should I be attempting any exercise for the tendon at all until then, including an unweighted range of motion?

Dr. Blake's comment: This is wonderful that you are writing at the same time your injury is relatively new and you are seeing a podiatrist who is talking about inversion and skives. Sounds like everything is good. First, he must confirm the diagnosis of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and stage you at I, II, III, or IV. This knowledge will help us a lot. Then, you must be good at finding whatever treatment now gets you into 0-2 pain level consistently. Typically these are walking cam boot, or boot and PTTD braces, etc, even crutches if needed at times. I find that patients need various things at different times. So it may be appropriate to tape and orthotic for some activities, other activities with a Richie, and others with a below knee cam walker. Unless they are telling you that you have severe stage 3 or early stage 4 and surgery is being suggested, then most patients are walking and talking whiles they take care of their dogs and get very strong. I will attach the 2 videos on taping and exercises. The exercise will show you how to find the right level for now, and give you advice on how to get very strong. BTW, a 7-degree inversion with skive is very good and protective. 

https://youtu.be/AcSSyBfFocE




https://youtu.be/w3FXx4OFqec

Do you consider the cam walker imperative for all steps now or can I walk around the house in the figure 8 on the orthotics, perhaps assisted by forearm crutches?

Dr. Blake's comment: The 5 common criteria we use to see the severity to know how to advise you are:

1. What does it take to maintain a 0-2 pain level
2. What is the strength found and the pain experienced of the tendon when testing it against resistance (manual muscle test in office)
3. Has there been any increase in pronation (arch flattening) subjectively by the patient and objectively by the doctor's evaluation and xrays?
4. What does the MRI tell us of the state of the tendon? 
5. Can the patient raise their heel off the ground in single leg support positioning, and how much, and does it hurt? 

But, without alot of information, you can still use common sense about maintaining low pain levels, finding your strength difference (comparing right to left), icing 3 times a day for 10 minutes to decrease the local inflammation that hurts. 

Would you recommend a different brace, even an Arizona AFO that stops the dorsi and plantar flection? 

Dr. Blake's comment: The most common brace is the Aircast PTTD Airlift brace, and the taping I linked above with leukotape (strongest tape made). If you can do less then the Richie or Arizona, then the shorty brace from MSI Orthotic Lab looks interesting. I typically use the same type of inversion with a foot orthotic and add the taping even during the first visit. Do not do any resistance bands for strengthening, which can make you worse, if you are not ready for them. Richie is introducing, although I have not tried it yet, and smaller AFO that most labs know about. 

 How about a UCBL or hard shell type brace that controls that motion.  The motion on that plane is indeed painful, but I can manage what I think is a normal gait if taken slowly.   A hard brace around the front top side of the ankle might produce significant pain I would think.

Dr. Blake's comment: I, of course, invented the Inverted Technique for severe pronation which is just the control of the plantar surface of the foot. You can combine the heel inversion with a deep heel cup of 25 mm or so and have a wonderful hybrid orthotic between the inverted technique, the Kirby skive, and the UCBL. 

  I'll mention that I do have intermittent heel pain that I believe is caused by the plantar fascia or perhaps loss of the fat pad so an unpadded orthotic might be an issue. The fascia was surgically released about thirty years ago with good results and I had one cortisone injection there for a flare up about 5 years ago.  I'm not a wealthy man but throwing a couple thousand dollars at this really is something I would like to do to try to keep this from progressing.  I'll hopefully be getting an order for an MRI next week as well.

Dr. Blake's comment: Any orthotic or brace can be padded. Great, I hope you can get an MRI so that they can stage you. 

Do you ever ship out your custom orthotics made from one of the impression kits?   I realize I'd have to get any adjustments made here locally.  Any help or advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Dr. Blake's comment: I would only work with a local podiatrist if there was trouble getting something accomplished. Start with where you are, get the treatment moving, see what happens. Remember there are 3 Phases of Rehabilitation: Immobilization (where you are, and where braces, AFO, taping, orthotics are working like casts to help rest the injured tissue), Re-Strengthening (which you should be starting now with at least active range of motion exercises, but will be in full force 3 months from now with resistance bands and functional exercises), and finally Return to Activity. Doctors and therapists try to blend all 3 phases all the time, but techniquely for awhile you will be in and out and back into the Immobilization Phase until you get it all calmed down. There is a logic to this rehab, and setting time frames for them is dangerous. For right now, find out by MRI what you have, begin some form of strengthening, find out how to stay in 0-2 with the help of the doctor and other physical therapist. I wish you good luck. Rich