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Z, LeBron just two of several Cavaliers who utilize orthotic help to avoid foot injuries
By Brian Windhorst, The Plain Dealer
February 07, 2010, 8:00PM
Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerIn overcoming repeated foot injuries that required multiple surgeries, Zydrunas Ilgauskas says he's a total believer in orthotic help inside his shoes -- both on the court and off. “Forget athletes, I think everyone should have them just to walk around,” he says.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Once the fan-friendly Wine and Gold Scrimmage ended last October at the University of Akron, LeBron James followed a personal tradition and tossed his shoes into the crowd.
A few minutes later, however, there was an announcement over the loudspeaker at Rhodes Arena.
"Would the people who caught LeBron's shoes please come to the scorer's table," was the request.
James didn't want the shoes back, he has hundreds of pairs; he just had forgotten to take out his orthotics. The shoes might be a collector's item, but those pieces of molded plastic and rubber were more valuable to James, and not just because they usually cost more than $500 a pair.
James is one of nine current Cavs who wear orthotics in their shoes for games and practices, extending a trend in the NBA in recent years. As little as 10 years ago, players who wore the custom inserts were the exception.
Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerLeBron James is one of nine Cavaliers who won't go on the court without the formed orthotic inserts providing support to his feet. “But they do so many things for athletes," said Cavaliers team podiatrist Dr. Richard Hofacker, "from proper arch support or decreasing plantar fasciitis to preventing stress fractures."
More and more, it has become the rule as players have found the devices provide support for arches and help ease common cases of plantar fasciitis and prevent stress fractures.
"They do a wonderful job correcting angles and gaits," said Dr. Richard Hofacker, who has been the Cavaliers podiatrist since the 1980s, when only a couple of players wore simple insoles.
Larry Nance was one of the first players Hofacker helped. Now the team has an entire case of orthotics and their backups that it takes on the road.
"Does everyone need glasses? No. Does everyone need orthotics? No. And there is a placebo effect where people feel better having them," Hofacker said. "But they do so many things for athletes, from proper arch support or decreasing plantar fasciitis to preventing stress fractures. But often it isn't that serious -- they help our players to lessen the blisters and calluses, and that is a day-to-day relief to these guys."
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who has become a bit of a foot expert because of the troubles he had earlier in his career, practically could be a spokesman for orthotics. Most of the Cavs' big men use them, including Shaquille O'Neal and Anderson Varejao, because their feet take extra abuse.
Ilgauskas swears by his orthotics, and he wears them in all of his shoes, even when he's not playing. He has encouraged teammates over the years to use them.
"Forget athletes, I think everyone should have them just to walk around," Ilgauskas said. "All your problems start with your feet. The first ones I had years ago were hard plastic and not very good, but they've evolved and become better. Now without my orthotics, I couldn't play."
The Cavs have their orthotics made through the Cleveland Clinic after getting players' feet analyzed. In addition to getting a simple mold, players will be fitted using ever-developing methods, including sensors that measure where players create stress. The team also can observe potential problems by watching players run on an underwater treadmill.
"The design and the materials have gotten so much better," Cavs athletic trainer Max Benton said. "They are using everything from cork to impact gels, and it has been great in terms of development."
Besides all the science, orthotics seem to be simply trendy protection among current NBA players who have come into their own style -- not unlike mouthpieces, shin guards and the cushioned vests players wear under their uniforms.
"There's probably another factor," Hofacker said. "I think some players think, 'If LeBron uses them, they must be good.'"
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/02/z_lebron_just_two_of_several_c.html
So when do Nike and LeBron team up to sell $200.00 N-Orthos?
