OFAC LASER THERAPY OPEN HOUSE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012 , 6:00PM-7:30PM

Come together with physicians, staff, patients and friends of the Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center for an evening of information, a free consultation with our staff, and a chance to win the latest treatment for toenail fungus or spider veins- FDA approved laser therapy.

EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION  6:15-6:45PM

OFAC’S Dr. Jennifer Swan will share her insights into stubborn fungal nail conditions and unsightly leg veins with an emphasis on recent advances in prevention and treatment options.

ATTEND TO SAVE AND WIN:

• Door prizes and giveaways throughout the evening.
• A grand prize drawing for a complete Toenail Fungus Laser Therapy treatment package valued at $700 or two FREE Leg Vein Laser Treatment sessions valued at $600. You’ll receive an additional entry for every guest you bring, too.
• Special savings of $200 on a $900 Toenail Fungus Laser Therapy treatment package or receive $50 off each Vein Laser Therapy Treatment when you schedule your treatment package the night of the Open House.

TO LEARN MORE, CALL 614-895-8747 OR VISIT WWW.ORTHOFOOTANKLE.COM.

Thanks Insane in the Membrane, our friends in Georgia; great idea.

The challenge is: Go Dancing. You can go out to a club, ballroom dancing, dance to the Wii, whatever. Individuals will get a point for completing 2,000 dancing pedometer steps and posting a pic to the OFAC facebook page.

One additional point given to the team that has the highest cumulative dancing steps/team member ratio.

Our challenge is to record the maximum amount of time that you can hold the position of a “perfect plank” as demonstrated by our model Diane Berlet.

For the basic plank you start on your elbow and knees, with the hands locked together. The elbows are under the shoulders. The legs are straightened and the pressure is applied to the balls of the feet with legs shoulder distance apart. Face the floor, keep your back straight and do not stick your bottom in the air. The reported result is the best you achieve in the week. Remember that poor form does not count.

The plank is an excellent exercise to build your core muscles. It will aid your posture, unload pressure from your spine and improve your performance in any sporting activity.

Points will be awarded to everyone who shares their high time for the week and their plank picture on Facebook.  A bonus point will be awarded to the top 10 times for the fitness challenge, and top 5 times in the health challenge. The highest times in each category will receive and additional bonus point (2 total bonus points).

Good luck and happy planking.

Back by popular demand this weeks challenge is the stair step- easy enough to do in your own home or challenging enough to climb the steps at Alum Creek.  Health Challenge participants, climb 10 flights of stairs (1 flight = up and down), Fitness Challenge participants, climb 20 flights (1 flight = up and down).

If there are no stair cases available for you to use, then we will accept using a piece of equipment at the gym, but it has to be a stair climber not a stair stepper.

Remember, please post your pictures on Facebook to receive credit.

Good Luck!

We all know breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, but sometimes the most difficult to fit in. This week, share your healthiest breakfast. Calculate the total calories, fat and protein content.

3 egg whites, 2 veggie sausage patties, and a medium orange, and a cup of coffee. 285 cal; 6.4 g fat; 28.7 g carbs; 31.4 g protein

Challenge #2 Example: Dr. Berlet’s Breakfast

Protein shake with banana (265 calories, 3.6g fat, 45g protein). A 100 calorie whole wheat sandwich thin with peanut butter and banana (calories 290, 12g fat, 17g protein). Although there is considerable fat in the peanut butter it has reasonable protein and seems to get Dr. Berlet through most of the morning without feeling hungry.

For your weekly challenge, take a picture of your healthiest breakfast, share your picture along with all of your statistics on the OFAC Facebook page.

Here is some great information that explains why breakfast can help control your weight, click here.

Complete a 5K Run/Walk (3.1miles).  Join us for Frist on the First at the Westerville Medical Center or complete one on your own during the first week of the competition.

The 5K can be done inside or outside, grab a friend and make it fun. The deadline to post a picture of yourself participating in the challenge or showing your completed time is due on the OFAC Facebook page by Sunday, Jan. 8.

Health Challengers:

1.    Each Sunday, email Katie Allen at allenkm@orthofootankle.com a “yes” or a “no”. YES  means you accomplished your weekly goal (ie, you went the the gym 3 times that week or went to a fitness class 4 times that week) or a NO means you came short of completing your goal.- First email is due to Katie by Sunday, Jan. 8, no exceptions to receive points.

2.    Post a picture on the OFAC Facebook page each week of you completing/participating in the weekly challenge. Pictures must be posted by each Sunday to receive points. –The first pictures must be posted by Sunday, Jan. 8. Please note, if there are multiple participants in the Facebook picture, please identify all the people in the picture.

Fitness Challengers:

1.    Purchase a pedometer. Track the number your number of steps you take each day. Report a weekly total to Katie Allen at allenkm@orthofootankle.com by end of day Sunday for each week.  Start tracking your steps on Sunday. Jan. 1. The first week will run Sun. Jan. 1- Sat. Jan. 7. Totals need to be reported by Sunday, Jan. 8- No exceptions to receive credit for the week. Points will be awarded to people who have 70,000 steps per week (ave. 10, 000 per day). Bonus points will be given to the person with the most steps during that week. High totals will be posted on the OFAC Facebook page.

2.    Post a picture on the OFAC Facebook page each week of you completing/participating in the weekly challenge. Pictures must be posted by each Sunday to receive points. –The first pictures must be posted by Sunday, Jan. 8. Please note, if there are multiple participants in the Facebook picture, please identify all the people in the picture.

Welcome to the OFAC 2012 Challenge. We are excited to present a health and fitness challenge that we hope will inspire you to better your health in 2012.

 Registration has been strong with over 150 participants joining us from Afghanistan, Calgary Canada, Tennessee, Georgia and of course, Ohio.



The weekly challenges are designed to introduce some variability into your routine. We have created the first few weeks starting off with a 5k walk/ run. If you are in Columbus please join us for First on the First at the Westerville Medical Campus.

The fitness challenges for February and March will be inspired by you. Start thinking of your suggestions.



OFAC Facebook page is the challenge headquarters. Use this site to log your accomplishments, comments, questions, and challenges. Everyone needs encouragement.

Katie Allen from the OFAC team has graciously accepted the role of contest coordinator. Together we are excited to guide you through a great kick start to 2012
. We look forward to celebrating all of our accomplishments and announcing the winners of this years challenge at our “Guilty Pleasure Party” in April.

Good luck to everyone, have fun with the competition, and here’s to your good health in 2012!

Dr. Greg Berlet

Fausto & Kevin

I have participated in the OFAC Health & Fitness Competition since its inception.  Rhonda (the aforementioned beautiful wife) is Dr. Berlet’s nurse and my best friend.  She also can be my biggest critic, competitor and motivator.  The competition has always been a way for us to come closer while working on fitness.

Obviously fitness is a priority in my current situation.  This is an environment where 16 hour days are the norm, not the exception, and the stressors are magnified.  Each Soldier is required to meet the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and weight control standards and I am a firm believer in holding my Soldiers to these standards.  That being said, you have to lead from the front, and all eyes are on you.  Joining the competition is another opportunity as First Sergeant to set the standard for the company.  Soldiers have ample opportunity to work out in all of our 5 locations and many are transforming their bodies into lean specimens.  Regardless, everyone needs a little incentive to push themselves even harder.  That is why the 684^th will be attempting to shadow OFAC Health and Fitness Challenge from here in Afghanistan.

Contrary to what the slogan says, there is no “Army of One”.  When we move out, we leave the most important parts of our team at home, our friends, families and significant others.

The stress that they have at home can be just a hard on them as what we have here. Challenging them to participate in the competition is a way to get them involved in the fun with us, while helping them maintain a health and fitness level that will ensure a happy reunion on our return.

The last thing I would say is that almost every person here is a competitor.  Anytime we get the chance to compete against other units, services or each other, we are eager to do so.  The results and comments are usually hilarious. I will be sure to share during this blog.

Hope everyone enjoys the competition as much as we will!

1SG Kevin Runyon

684^th ASMC (Med Dogs)

Protecting the Pack, Leading the Way!

Having helped thousands of patients through a similar event I was confident that I knew how to handle this situation. Prior to surgery I made a checklist of items to make my recovery as easy as possible. Some of these items are time tested and true, while others are more evolving technology. I purchased or rented all of these through FootSourceMD, who I must say are wonderful.

My list:
- Crutches that are spring loaded, In Motion (spring loaded) These are more efficient and more comfortable.
- Turning Leg Caddy
- Cast cover so I could shower- FootSourceMD carries 2 types. Seal Tight or Dry Pro (2 styles). Seal Tight is used for patients to sit while showering and will fit both soft or hard cast – Dry Pro is 100% waterproof and fits hard cast only – great for summer swimming.
- Adjustable Shower Bench so I would not fall over balancing on one leg.
- DonJoy cold therapy- DonJoy IceMan- call FootSourceMD to order.
- TENS unit. This gives a low level electrical current that decreases the pain experienced at the brain. Very helpful
- NMES ( neuromuscular electrical stimulation ) to keep my muscles contracting at a low safe level. This is to minimize the atrophy while I am not on the leg and to potentiate the contractions once I begin my physical therapy
-Compression Socks- 20-30 Compression ribbed socks to keep swelling to a minimum.
- Anti inflammatory medication. I chose Celebrex for its long half life and being easier on my stomach.
- Antibiotics. A short duration after surgery so that my wound remains clean.
- Pain medication; which I took very little of.

Home preparation:
- Pillow by bedside to help elevate
- Be really nice to my wife Diane and my kids Logan and Jenna since I am their captive for awhile.
- Computer and Ipad by couch so that I do not get bored.
- Remove any throw rugs, backpacks & shoes from the house so that I will trip over them on my crutches.