Orthotics
The human foot was designed to walk on natural surfaces such as earth and sand, not concrete. The hard flat surfaces
we now spend most of our time on force our feet to flatten and twist. This has resulted in a new type of injury.
The normal lower leg has a 3-4° angle of the tibia (very slightly bow-legged) when approaching the ground. Under natural conditions where the foot strikes a surface such as sand, these surfaces yield to accommodate the strike angle of the foot.
However when the foot strikes a hard surface such as footpaths and floors, the foot flattens and pronates (rolls inwards) upon contact.
It is estimated that at least 75% of people suffer from excess pronation. This can disrupt normal knee function and hip alignment, and increase imbalance in the pelvis. And of course the obvious problems with toes, bunions, foot pain, ankle problems, tired and aching legs, and so on.
An orthotic is a special insole for your shoe, designed to correctly align the foot. By supporting the arch and realigning the lower leg to its natural angle, an orthotic can reduce the strain and traction of the underside of the arch (the plantar fascia), reducing excess pronation and decreasing internal rotation of the leg.
Your Doctor of Chiropractic may supply or recommend orthotics for you, depending upon the cause and your level of spinal imbalance.
p.s. I know the correct usage is one orthotic, two orthoses. But everyone just says orthotics!
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Related posts:
- More on Orthotics – Plantar Fasciitis
- More on Orthotics – Achilles Tendonitis
- More on Orthotics – PatelloFemoral Syndrome
- More on Orthotics – Low Back Pain
- A note on jogging
Reader Comments
I know that some people are unfortunate in that no matter how good their shoes have been over the years develop or are born with this type of problem. I do often wonder however how many of these problems develop through the use of ill-fitting shoes.
In the UK there was a fairly long period of time when there did not appear to be any thought for the wider foot. People that I worked with often complained that they were in fact reduced to purchaseing shoes that were up to two or more sizes larger than they were in order to get the width fitting and even then suffered pinching. Another problem which is still quite common is that many shoe manufacturers add in in-step supports which can feel like a large stone rammed in the bottom of the shoe. A further common practice is unnecessary stitching which rubs toes, etc. So people are often gingerly walking trying not to aggravate the shoe on the flesh. I feel certain that some of these may currently be aggravating factors.
Men I think have the best chance of true shoe comfort – as there are a range of shoes made by Anatomic & Co called Anatomic Gel and they are made from the softest of leather and fully lined with even softer leather and are truly soft and exceptionally comfortable. Unfortunately – they do not make ladies or childrens shoes.
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