Q: What are foot orthotic inserts?
A: They are custom made shoe inserts that help to restore proper structural stability of your feet.
Q: Why do I need foot orthotics?
A: Not all people would need foot orthotics. This can be examined by your doctor of chiropractic or a podiatrist.
Your feet are your base. If you have a problem in your feet it can cause you to have pain into your ankles, legs, knees, hips, back/spine, shoulders, neck, and head! One tiny problem can cause major dysfunction up the chain.
These problems may include: Knee problems, Scoliosis, Sciatica, Shoulder pain, Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction (TMJ), Headaches/Migraines, etc.
Q: How can I find out if I need custom made foot orthotics?
A: If you suffer from any of the above conditions you may have an imbalance somewhere in your feet. Schedule an appointment with us and receive a free consultation along with a foot and orthotic examination/scan.
This picture represents how a problem with your foot (specifically "pronation") can affect your WHOLE body.
If your foot "pronates" (low arch) it causes your Tibia (lower leg) to rotate inwards, causing excess strain on your ankle. This rotation causes your knee to rotate and bend inwards. This in turn causes your Femur (thigh) to rotate inwards, causing excess strain on your knee. All of this rotation of the leg causes a "functionally short leg".
Your pelvis and spine must then compensate for this "functionally short leg" by bending away from the shortened leg in an effort to straighten your spine and head out. While your pelvis and lower spine bend one way, the shoulders and neck must bend opposite to this to further keep your head straight so you can still have some balance when you walk.
All of these compensatory mechanisms cause a lot of stress at different parts of your body. All this can happen WITH OR WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF FOOT PAIN!
One day I was getting new tires put on my car at The Tire Warehouse in Niskayuna.
There was a poster on the wall that said "Warning... Wheel MISalignment is the leading cause of premature tire wear.
It then showed a picture of a tire with abnormal wear on the sides.
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This poster perfectly illustrated how a MISALIGNMENT in one area can
throw off another area. THIS is the same thing for our bodies! If we have a
spinal or pelvic misalignment it can throw off the way we walk
(don't believe me? Check the tread on YOUR SHOES!)
Also,
if there is a muscular imbalance in your feet/legs it can throw off the
alignment
of your knees, hips, back, shoulders and neck! (see image of skeleton above)
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The image below shows the similarities between a cars alignment and our own. Just as you would go to
an auto mechanic to get your car maintained to avoid these problems, or fixed to solve this problem
people see chiropractors for the same reason (when a problem arises with us however it can cost A LOT MORE than
tires, shocks, etc.). If you have the symptoms of misalignment in YOUR BODY (low back pain, neck pain, headaches,
knee pain, abnormal wear on the bottom of your shoes, etc.) then come to your body's mechanic (me) to get
balanced and re-aligned! Makes sense, right?
