Pattaya City Expats Club puts its foot down at the Sunday, September 18, meeting at the Amari’s Tavern by the Sea Restaurant. Even before Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg called on fellow member Gavin Waddell, International Executive for Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, to introduce Dr. Cherdpong Hansauta, M.D., many members and guests were literally putting their foot down – on to a scanner called an “iQube, which provides a 3 dimensional image of the foot.
Looking at the resulting image, you could say everyone was getting to the foot of the matter. In addition to the free foot scans, the hospital provided a nurse to give free blood pressure checks.
In introducing Dr. Cherdpong, Gavin mentioned that he is one of the few Pedorthists practicing in Thailand; a Pedorthist is a health care professional who specializes in the use of footwear and supportive devices to address conditions which affect the feet and lower limbs.
Dr Cherdpong Hansauta, M.D., Pedorthist, of Phyathai Sriracha Hospital demonstrates the mechanism of the foot and bone structure for PCEC members & guests. Gavin Wardell, of the International Department of Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, assists.
He received much of his specialized training in the USA. He has a fellowship in Podiatry medicine from the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He also attended additional training and received certificates from the Institute of Biomechanics in Seattle, Washington and Hyperbaric Medicine Training at the Nix Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. To add to his medical skills, he also is certified in Acupuncture from Shanghai University.
Using diagrams, photographs, and plastic models of the foot, Dr. Cherdpong gave an interesting and illustrative talk about the human foot and the type of foot problems you can experience. Dr. Cherdpong pointed out that the foot has 26 bones and that the combined 52 bones of both feet make up one third of the number of bones in the human body.
Hawaii Bob returns to his Pattaya holiday from his Philippine holiday, and the members’ lucky draw, two for ones and other specials at some of Pattaya’s better value restaurants, is on again! MC Richard Silverberg looks on.
Dr. Cherdpong also commented on the versatility of the foot noting that man, until the last few centuries, did not walk on smooth surfaces or concrete. Thus, the foot was capable of adjusting to various terrain and conditions, such as being able to partially wrap around a coconut tree trunk when climbing.
He also described and illustrated several foot conditions such as flat feet and high arches which can have an adverse effect on the body’s alignment that can lead to other problems such as back or hip pain. He explained some of the options for treatment of various foot conditions including fungus, bunions, ingrown toenails, neuroma, calluses and more. He mentioned the importance of proper footwear and foot hygiene. There were many questions from the audience about various foot conditions and the appropriate treatment.
After the Doctor’s presentation, member Pat Koester described the arrangements for a day trip to Bangkok on October 18 for Club members and guests. The primary purpose will be to see the full dress rehearsal for the Royal Barge Procession that will take place on September 22 to honor His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday. But, to make it a full day trip, there will be a morning tour of the Vimanmek Mansion, which is the world’s largest golden teakwood mansion, built in 1900 by royal command of HM King Rama V (King Chulalongkorn). Then, in the afternoon, everyone will go to a restaurant on the Chao Phraya River to enjoy a great meal and have a river-side seat to view the Royal Barge Procession.
The meeting concluded with Richard Silverberg updating everyone on upcoming events and calling on Roy Albiston to conduct the always informative and sometime humorous Open Forum; where questions are asked and answered about expat living in Thailand, recommendations for restaurants and movies are made, an and perhaps a joke or two are told.
