At Your Service: Helene Rodgers

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Updated: February 17, 2012 8:01AM

Position: Assistant manager and certified pedorthist at New Balance, 600 W. 81st Ave., Merrillville.

Job duties: Shoe fitter and apparel and accessories purchaser.

What job training have you had? “I went to Robert Palmer Institute in Elwood, Ind., and successfully completed levels 1, 2 and 3 of a NCOPE approved pre-certification pedorthic educational program. I also completed 1,000 hours of patient care experience working for New Balance for several years.”

How can a pedorthist help a person? “Pedorthists are trained on the different conditions of the foot as well as gait analysis. This is most important for runners and walkers because they experience the most injuries. Getting fitted professionally for shoes and orthotics can change a person’s life. Good fitting shoes are essential for everyday life. Your feet support your whole body!”

What common foot problems do customers have? “Most people come to see me for plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Neuropathy also is common from complications of diabetes.”

What advice do you give people with aching feet? “Make sure you go to a shoe store that measures the foot. Most problems come from ill-fitting shoes or shoes that are too small. If your feet ache, stretch the arch before you take your first step in the morning. Most importantly, don’t walk around barefoot. That is very hard on the arch.”

Why did you become a pedorthist? “When I first started at New Balance, I was not familiar with the pedorthic practice. My owner Tony Miroballi is a certified pedorthist and it was interesting to watch him work his magic on his customers. I knew then that I wanted to achieve success in helping others feel better, too. I told Tony I wanted to go to school to get my certification and he got the ball rolling. He sent me to the best school and I studied hard and passed the test. It was very exciting! Nothing is more gratifying then to help someone recover from foot pain.”

What do you need to do to be successful in the field? “To be successful in this field, you need to ask a lot of questions. Know what types of exercise this person will be doing. Ask about foot pain, or changes to the foot. Educate yourself on gait patterns and medical conditions of the foot. Go to seminars and keep up on new and improved pedorthic devices.”

What’s most fulfilling about your work? “The most fulfilling feeling is when you get a call from a patient and they tell you their pain is gone, or when they tell you they are going to recommend you to friends and family. That just makes my day!”

How does someone know when a special shoe is needed? “I take a look at the arch type and I watch you walk. From a gait analysis, I can tell what type of support system you will need in a shoe. If your foot pronates in, a motion control shoe will help get that arch off the ground. If your foot supinates out, a neutral shoe would be the better choice.”

— Compiled by Idelle
Kerzner, Post-Tribune
correspondent