13 June 2013
Shadowing Mr.
Anton Kemp was a really cool experience because his profession is truly an art.
Anton is a foot specialist who not only consults patients on issues with their
gate and stance, but he also makes his own customized orthotics and prosthetics
for is patients. He showed us around the workshop where he carved insoles and
made prosthetics.
If that
weren’t cool enough, this guy is also a three-time conqueror of the Iron Man. He
lives his profession and draws knowledge from personal experience; not just a
textbook. He also has genuine care for his patients and has an incredible
talent for talking so that his patients completely understand the causes and
solutions for their problems. He is a great teacher, which separates the good
health care providers from the legendary.
Our first
patient was a school teacher with diabetes who had been horribly neglected by
previous podiatrists, causing her condition to worsen. Mainly, the metatarsals
of the foot had become pinched together, causing pain, and needed to be spread
out so as to provide a wider and more stable base. Anton created a casting of
her foot and leg from the patellar tendon down. The boot will rest at the patellar
tendon taking about 60% of the weight off the foot, easing the pain of the
patient. Also, the boot will have an extractable inner sole that can be
reconfigured to gradually correct the patient’s foot structure.
The second
patient had previous surgery on his left foot, causing his stance to change.
This was causing pain, so Anton prepared a casting of the patient’s feet. As
the plaster was drying, Anton was able to maneuver the metatarsals of the
patient’s foot into a corrected position. The casts will then be used to make
corrective insoles for the patient.
We were
also able to see several patients with gate issues. For each patient, Anton
would have them walk down a hall and across a platform that had thousands of
pressure sensors to detect the weight distribution across the patient’s feet.
He would also film each patient as they walked, so as to analyze their gate.
(pressure sensing pad
with camera at top of picture)
During a
break for lunch, Anton analyzed our running gates which revealed
some interesting results. Most of my problems can be fixed by shortening my
stride length and focusing more on landing mid-foot rather than striking the
ground heel first. Anton also let us try on some sweet new kicks made by Newton.
They are made to allow better flexing of the ankle and foot joints, as well as
encourage you to land mid-foot while running. This gives you more spring in
your gate, making you a more efficient and healthy runner.
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