A Matter of Heart and Sole

BY CHAI GALLAHUN | LNNUSA.COM

Anyone visiting Fort Gregg-Adams (formerly Fort Lee) will immediately notice that there are a lot of people in uniform walking– everywhere. Many of them have just arrived at the base from their branch’s Basic Training, and that initial training for military service members demands a great deal of physical activity, including high- impact running and marching. While the military may be excellent at sizing combat boots to new recruits, there is much more to orthopedics, the branch of medicine focused on the prevention or correction of physical damage and aberrations of the skeletal

HEART system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.

It’s not hard to imagine recruits arriving at Fort Gregg-Adams with discomfort and injuries in their feet, ankles, and legs. That said, career service members may develop orthopedic issues from wear and tear over the years as well. If you suffer from foot and ankle pain or discomfort, there is a local option to address it quickly: My Foot Guy, located at the PXtra Troop Mall on Fort Gregg-Adams.

My Foot Guy is owned and operated by Bryan Acheson, Certified Pedorthist & Therapeutic Shoe Fitter. What is a credentialed pedorthist?

According to Merriam-Webster, it is someone who specializes in the art and practice of designing, making, and fitting therapeutic shoes for relieving painful or disabling conditions of the feet. The Pedorthic Footcare Association defines the role more broadly as a specialist in using footwear - which includes shoes, shoe modifications, foot orthoses, and other pedorthic devices - to solve problems in, or related to, the foot and lower limb.

Acheson will tell you that he has a passion for helping people and truly cares about the impact he has on people’s lives. “I wanted to make overcoming foot, knee, hip, and low back pain easy, convenient, and educate them on their condition(s).”

For him, the game is not just “afoot”- it’s everyone’s feet, from those of military trainees and career service members to veterans, high school athletes, and retirees. Orthopedic conditions can affect people of all backgrounds and ages, and they may not even realize what is causing their pain and discomfort.

“Most people simply just don’t know what they’re experiencing or how to solve it,” said Acheson, adding that many people see a podiatrist and are in-and-out with no real education or guidance other than custom orthotics. Others may choose a retailer only to see a wall of insoles and footwear, typically with no trained and knowledgeable staff to guide them to the right insole or footwear type, much less properly size the footwear. He added that other places people may choose are likely quite expensive while also not properly trained or certified to make recommendations about their feet.

Fortunately for the Fort Gregg-Adams and Tri-Cities community, there is an option for more knowledgeable and personalized help with your feet. The My Foot Guy shop has advanced technology ideal for finding the right fit for people in need of pedorthic attention. According to Acheson, in-store customers can be assisted in as little as 20-30 minutes. He can also go mobile to a home or business, and those mobile appointments take about an hour. At My Foot Guy’s brick-and-mortar store, no appointments are required, and walk-ins are always welcome. Acheson emphasized that helping people is his passion, certainly a matter of both heart and sole.

My Foot Guy is located in the heart of the PXtra Troop Mall at 1431 Sustainment (formerly Mahone) Avenue on Fort Gregg-Adams. For more information, call 804-821-1321. Nonmilitary folks are welcome to get a visitor’s pass at the main gate for entry onto the base.