How do orthotics work by Dr. Melanie Stewart Many of my patients will ask, How do orthotics work?. Orthotics do more than just support your feet! As you walk (or perhaps limp) you may experience pain in your feet, knees and/or low back, a chain reaction that occurs from the sole of the foot all the way through the spine. Have you even noticed how a sprained ankle, a torn knee ligament or even hip arthritis can change the way you walk? Or maybe you feel compression in your low back after knee surgery? This is your body telling you the way you walk has changed and is now causing excessive strain to the spine. Orthotics will help you move more efficiently so there is less wear and tear on your joints and muscles. Many lower limb problems are due to irregular motion patterns, muscle imbalances, poor posture and in some cases, extra weight gained. When I assess a patient, I will often notice over-pronation at the foot or a shorter leg on one side. These are common reasons to consider wearing orthotics, because over time these problems will cause pain and dysfunction. Custom orthotics will help restore proper motion patterns by activation and showing your body how to function properly. Patients also wonder How long before I start feeling better once I start wearing my new Orthotics? Some patients will feel immediate relief. Others who have chronic problems will start experiencing pain relief within a couple weeks or months because their body has learned to compensate and it takes time to unlearn the poor posture. The good news - the body does not become dependent on orthotics. In fact, it’s the opposite! Orthotics are used as a teaching tool for your body. Once you have corrected the problem by wearing orthotics and your limb is stronger, you should be able to walk without pain - even without your orthotics. For some patients with a more complicated or chronic problem, their body may not fully heal. In this case, I would recommend continued use of orthotics. At Kent Chiro-Med, we use the latest GaitScan™ technology to assess foot function. We have helped many patients by introducing custom orthotics to our practice. I have found orthotics to be extremely effective for patients with the following: • Inflammation in the foot or big toe • Heel spur • Plantar Fasciitis • Knee Pain (even after surgery) • Shin Splints • Bunions • ITB Dysfunction • Leg Length Discrepancy (shorter leg) • Low Back Pain Even better news....at our clinic, the GaitScan™ analysis is FREE. When you book your next appointment, simply ask to include a GaitScan™ so we can allow for extra time following your appointment to conduct the scan. Custom orthotics are covered by most extended health plans. Call your insurance company today and find out if you are covered for custom orthotics. Our clinic is happy to answer any questions you may have regarding custom orthotics.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 14:58:37 +0000
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