Harry Hlavac

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Harry Hlavac, DPM, MEd, is a podiatrist, author, consultant, and inventor. With his wife, Connie, Dr. Hlavac is the proprietor of Footguru, LLC, and Lavac Foot Products, based in Mill Valley, California. He is a past president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and a Clinical Professor of Biomechanics at the California College of Podiatric Medicine. Along with Drs. Richard Schuster and Steven Subotnick, Dr. Hlavac is considered to be a pioneer in the modern use of podiatric clinical biomechanics for the management of knee, hip and back pain and treatment of athletic injuries.[1]

[edit] Inventions

The 'Lavac Strap' was developed by Hlavac for controlling foot function, as an alternative to the adhesive tape commonly used by athletic trainers. The foot aid replaces the use of tape to control pronation and maintain proper alignment of the foot. The Lavac Strap prevents expansion and relieves these conditions, restoring resiliency and 'spring'. Regular use of the Lavac Strap during daily activities prevents recurrence of heel and arch pain. The Lavac Strap reduces tension on the plantar fascia, and can be beneficial in treating patients who have arch sprains and heel problems. According to Hlavac, the strap helps to prevent injury as it cushions the arch of the foot, curbing over expanasion and elongation. Patients can use it while barefoot or in water. It is washable, reusable and fits either foot.

The 'Biopedal' is an adjustable bicycle pedal for balanced performance on bicycle and rehabilitation equipment. The Biopedal can be adjusted to alter foot pedal position in the two planes of movement (varus-valgus & inversion-eversion) and in leg length height. In a study aimed at determining whether the standard platform foot pedal position, in comparison to the Biopedal foot pedal position, affected the highest tolerated work-rate during prolonged cycling performance measured by critical power, Moran, Robertson, and Einhorn-Dicks (1992) determined that the use of the Biopedal foot pedal position was successful in rehabilitation of knee pain in bicyclists.

The 'Hlavac Heel', also marketed under other trade names including 'Sports Wedge' and 'Gait Wedge', is a wedged heel cup designed to relieve stresses caused by ankle and foot imbalances.

[edit] Publications

The Foot Book: Advice for Athletes, World Publications: Mountain View, California,1977, ISBN 0-89037-119-9
"Redefining Plantar Fasciitis", Podiatry Today, November, 2001