Why Do Chiropractors Recommend Orthotics
October 5, 2021Our feet consist of 26 bones and an array of muscles, ligaments and tendons. Your feet support and balance your body weight. Any alterations in foot structure and alignment can have poor consequences for other joints in your body. Custom orthotics are supports which are worn inside the shoes to correct foot alignment issues which can cause biomechanical imbalances during activity.
Let’s take a look at some of the important benefits of custom orthotics for feet and for your overall spinal health.
Why Do Chiropractors Recommend Orthotics?
Providing support for your feet
Custom orthotics are designed to provide support for the anatomical arches of your feet to give you more stability while you stand and walk. Custom orthotics will specifically help to correct misalignments in your problem areas and provide support along the surface of your feet. Unlike over-the-counter generic insoles, custom orthotics can correct foot abnormalities such as collapsed and high arches.
Protecting your joints
When you your feet meet the ground, the actual force applied to the joints of your feet, legs and spine is equivalent to several times your weight. Over time, the wear and tear on the body’s joints can cause pain and soreness, especially for individuals who are overweight. Custom orthotics can help your feet support the force load of your body, distributing the pressure more evenly across the surface of your feet. Importantly, custom orthotics are also effective when your feet are different from each other.
Reducing pain
Misalignments in foot structure can cause significant pain in other parts of the body. This happens due to increased strain on the ankles, knees and lower back as the body struggles to adjust its biomechanical balance to compensate for the poor foot alignment. Custom orthotics can help to alleviate pain due to biomechanical misalignments and help to promote healing.
Enhancing your athletic performance
Custom orthotics can also help you improve your athletic performance. Wearing orthotics specifically designed for athletic activity can help to reduce the force load of a specific sport, helping you produce more efficient and precise movements. Orthotics can also provide foot protection, create better motion control, improve foot and leg movements and even reduce muscle fatigue.
Injury prevention
Custom orthotics can help to prevent and treat many types of muscle and bone problems, including injuries to the tendons, muscles and joints, as well as stress fractures. According to research, custom orthotics can help to prevent injury such as medial tibial stress syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and knee pain. According to research findings, foot orthotics reduced the risk of injuries by 28%, and reduced the risk of stress fractures by 41%.
The Van Ness Chiropractic Difference
At Van Ness Chiropractic, we specialize in chronic and difficult cases and realize that managing pain and imbalance in the body is not one size fits all. We have the clinical knowledge and expert staff to offer targeted treatment and patient education that is effective and empowering. Call us today at 847-842-8070 to set up your appointment for a comprehensive examination and get on the road to health today. You can also visit us at vannesschiro.com to find out more.
References:
https://www.mayo.edu/research/labs/motion-analysis/research/prosthetics-orthotics-research
