Your Feet Affect More Than Your Feet
Your feet form the foundation for how your body moves and bears weight. Changes in foot mechanics can affect the ankles, knees, hips and even the way forces are transferred through the pelvis and spine.
At 1 Body 1 Life Chiropractic, custom orthotics are considered as part of the overall mechanical picture—not simply as something to put inside a shoe when your feet hurt.
If foot mechanics appear to be contributing to discomfort, uneven weight bearing or problems elsewhere in the body, Dr. Michael Wohlmaker may evaluate how the feet function while standing and moving to determine whether additional support may be appropriate.
A Detailed Foot and Ankle Evaluation
Custom orthotics shouldn’t begin with simply choosing an insert. Dr. Wohlmaker performs a detailed foot and ankle examination to evaluate how the joints, arches and supporting structures are functioning.
Depending on the individual, the examination may include:
- Foot and ankle joint motion
- Arch structure and weight-bearing position
- Muscle strength and function
- Forefoot and rearfoot alignment
- Ankle and Achilles alignment
- Areas of restricted or excessive joint motion
- The relationship between the feet and the rest of the lower extremity
When appropriate, the feet may also be adjusted before measurements are taken. The goal is to determine what type of support, if any, is appropriate for the individual rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Customized Support Based on Your Needs
Not every patient needs the same type of orthotic. Depending on the examination findings, Dr. Wohlmaker may recommend either a fully custom-casted orthotic or a quality prefabricated insole that is further customized with specific posting.
For custom-casted orthotics, measurements and a cast of the foot are used to create an orthotic based on the individual’s foot structure and examination findings. In other cases, customized posting can be added to an existing insole to provide more individualized support without requiring a fully custom-casted device.
What Can Foot Mechanics Affect?
Problems with foot mechanics don’t always stay in the feet. Because the feet are the body’s contact point with the ground, changes in how they support and transfer weight may influence movement throughout the lower extremity.
Patients may be evaluated for orthotic support when dealing with concerns such as:
- Foot or arch discomfort
- Heel discomfort
- Ankle problems or recurring ankle injuries
- Uneven shoe wear
- Knee discomfort
- Hip or pelvic mechanics
- Difficulty with prolonged standing or walking
- Problems that seem to worsen with certain activities or footwear
Orthotics aren’t intended to treat every problem on this list, and not every patient with these complaints needs an orthotic. The examination helps determine whether foot mechanics appear to be part of the problem and whether additional support may be useful.
Orthotics as Part of a Bigger Picture
Foot support is only one part of addressing how the body moves. When appropriate, orthotics may be used alongside chiropractic care, extremity adjusting, corrective exercise and other recommendations based on the examination findings.
The goal is not simply to change what is underneath your foot, but to improve the mechanical foundation supporting movement throughout the body.