| There are literally millions of people who suffer | | | | arches work together to support the foot. In turn |
| some sort of back pain in the United States alone. | | | | the foot supports the ankles, knees, and |
| Some have lower back pain, others mid, and still | | | | eventually the spine. |
| others neck pain. The consistent issue with all of | | | | As we get older or if we continue to wear shoes |
| these patients is imbalance in their spine. Whether | | | | that are not very supportive, the arches have a |
| the condition be due to poor posture, trauma, or | | | | tendency to drop. As the arch drops the support |
| hereditary factors, the fact remains that back | | | | required diminishes and affects the entire |
| pain can interrupt a person's life and lifestyle. | | | | structure. Typically, the outside arch is the first to |
| During the last 27 years of active chiropractic | | | | start dropping. |
| practice I have utilized a variety of treatment | | | | I have noticed some patients wearing over the |
| techniques that have consistently proven | | | | counter arch supports. While these may feel |
| effective in treating the majority of spinal | | | | comfortable, they certainly are not made to |
| conditions that have entered my office. Always | | | | specifically help YOUR condition. Many |
| looking for better and more efficient ways to help | | | | professionials that make customized orthotics still |
| patients led me to direct my attention to support | | | | use old technology to make the support. The |
| the spine AFTER the patient had received their | | | | patient steps into a foam cast which is then sent |
| treatment. | | | | to the orthotic company for production of the |
| In the past I had seen orthotics and knew that | | | | orthotic. The problem that I have seen is that it is |
| there was a benefit to supporting a patient's | | | | difficult if not impossible to make a perfect cast |
| arches. Unfortunately, after using orthotics | | | | using this old technology. |
| occasionally over the years the technology to | | | | Thankfully, technology has developed that digitizes |
| make these supports didn't seem to be as | | | | the process. Use of an electronic digital scanner |
| consistent as I would have liked. | | | | takes multiple measurements to give the most |
| Let's go over a bit of anatomy to understand the | | | | accurate casting procedure possible. In my office |
| benefits of orthotics. Your foot has not one, but | | | | this has allowed patients who previously had |
| three arches. There are two arches that travel | | | | chronic lower back pain, to finally get the support |
| the length of your foot, one on this inside of the | | | | their conditions required. This meant less pain, less |
| bottom of your foot, and the other on the | | | | treatment, and more consistent results. |
| outside of the bottom of your foot. The third | | | | If you are interested in learning more about |
| arch is called the transverse arch. It is located | | | | chiropractic treatment and the use of orthotics |
| across the bottom of your toes, sometimes | | | | for your particular spinal condition feel free to visit |
| called the ball of your foot. All three of these | | | | the link in the resource box below. |