You may be wondering why you want to consider getting rid of your orthotics. This may not be for everyone but if you’ve tried orthotics and still have lingering pain throughout your body, there may be another way. Did you know that there are 28 different bones in the human foot? With every step that you take there is an intricate system of bones, muscles, tendons and nerves that work together to propel and stabilize the entire body. With more than a quarter of the all the bones in your body belonging in your two feet, it is extremely important that your feet have the proper motion and stability it needs. Without the proper biomechanical movement in your feet, the intricate structure that makes up the feet start to break down and begin to create unwanted problems not just in your feet but in your knees, hips and back due to compensatory factors. When that happens we start to have degenerative changes and painful symptoms that occur, including low back pain, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and iliotibial band syndrome.
The arch in our foot is like the arch of a building. Any downward force applied to the center of the arch will strengthen the arch, but an upward force applied to the center of the arch will cause it to destabilize. The arch of our feet work in a similar way in that the arch can actually lock and unlock so that our feet can mold to the terrain in which we are walking. This is why it is beneficial to consider ditching your orthotics and transform your feet to a more natural state.
A Natural Approach to Proper Foot Biomechanics and Health
Did you know that chiropractic care can help restore proper foot biomechanics? It is important to understand that our body works together in a way that if one area of the body isn’t working properly, another part of the body has to work overtime to make up for that deficiency. Here are a few tips on how to restore your feet back to their more natural state.
- Have your feet evaluated by a chiropractor or other practitioner who adjusts feet! It is so important that your feet be able to move and function properly.
- Consider ditching your orthotics. This should be done slowly and only after your feet have been biomechanically evaluated.
- Try low support shoes to slowly progress to a more natural state. Nike has a line of shoes called “free” that offer low support.
If you or someone you know has foot, knee, hip or back pain this may be something to consider. Our team of doctors have a lot of knowledge in the proper biomechanics of the feet and the rest of the body so please give us a call to set up a no-cost consultation to learn more!
