Contact: Karen Paradiso
616-281-0666
k.paradiso@footandankledoctors.com

Detroit Tigers legend Ty Cobb was known to be fleet of foot, having held the record for most stolen bases in a season for nearly half of a century.

Indeed, the image of Cobb forever etched in the minds of most baseball fans is the sepia photo of him sliding into a base, his steel spikes sending a shower of dirt into the air.

So it's fitting that the Whitecaps are teaming with Foot & Ankle Speciailist of West Michigan to promote Ty Cobb Bobblefoot Night on Tuesday, July 31.

"We are excited to be working with the Whitecaps since their fan base mirrors the people we serve, from newborns to the elderly, athletes to diabetics who are high risk for foot complications," said Karen Paradiso, business administrator for the practice.

Foot & Ankle Specialists of West Michigan (FASWM) is the state's largest podiatric center, with five offices in Grand Rapids, Greenville and the Lakeshore. The group is also partners in the new Walker Surgical Center with Grand Rapids Ophthalmology and Michigan Hand Surgeons.

Serving the area since 1999, FASWM includes seven physicians who are leaders in the specialized field of podiatric medicine and surgery. Together they strive to offer the highest quality treatment for a wide range of foot and ankle conditions and injuries.

"We see all types of sports medicine cases, including baseball, football, basketball, skiing and even roller derby," Paradiso said. "Our physicians are specially trained in all areas of foot and ankle trauma."

• Dr. Michael David, for example, is the only Michigan physician certified in the Ponseti Method, a non-surgical treatment option for young children with clubfoot.
• Dr. William Decker has advanced training in the treatment of lower extremity wounds, helping the healing process for patients facing possible amputation.
• Dr. Richard Rozelle is well-versed in the field of biomechanics, working with custom-made arch supports to quell heel pain associated with flat feet and high arches.
• Dr. Timothy Hulst and Dr. Patrick Meyer are knowledgeable in the treatment of complex injuries and disease of the rear foot and ankle, an area especially important in sports medicine.
• Dr. Jeffrey Rewitzer and Dr. Corwyn Bergsma, who serve the lakeshore community, offer the whole spectrum of podiatry, from primary podiatric health care to complex injuries associated with the foot and ankle.

Creating the Ty Cobb "bobblefoot" doll (typically it's the head that shakes on the popular giveaways) was the idea of Whitcaps marketing manager Mickey Graham.

Paradiso said the unique promotion appealed to Foot & Ankle Specialists, who have tried to stay on the forefront of medical and scientific advances. The practice, for example, is the only one locally that offers shockwave treatment for plantar fasciitis.

Plantar faciitis is the condition that results from strain of the ligament-like band on the bottom of the foot. Sufferers often experience pain when walking or standing.

Using sophisticated shockwave equipment, the non-invasive procedure relies on a single 20 to 30 minute session to promote gradual healing of the foot. "It's relatively new to this area, but it's a procedure that more and more patients are requesting," Paradiso said.

Newman, Mark
""Bobblefoot Night" will honor Baseball Hall of Fame great Ty Cobb."
Grand Rapids Press 10Dec.2006: Adv.Sec.4.