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Kish Chiropractic Clinic: Peter J, Kish, RN, DC

Foot Pain and Orthotics

There are many types of and reasons for foot pain. The origins of pain include nerve damage in the low back or leg, overuse plantar fascitis, osteoarthritis, foot pronation or supination, trauma and neuromas to mention a few. Still, many of these conditions will respond favorably to orthotics.

Patients come in with a variety of seemingly unrelated pains with no history of injury and no history foot problems. They may have been treated elsewhere but their problem keeps coming back. In my office, these people will be evaluated for Orthotics. Other people come in specifically for Orthotics because they know someone who I have made orthotics for and are requesting that specific service.

Let's break down this foot problem to the basics. Our feet are the foundation of our entire body. How our feet function affect everything above them, just like the foundation of a building. A dramatic case is the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy. If the foundation is unstable, or if it off even a fraction of an inch, it will affect everything above it. If a person's feet are unstable from weak ligaments and collapsing arches such as in "pronation", they may have pain in their heels, arches, ankles, knees, hip, back, neck, headaches, or all of the above. This is called a closed kinetic chain dysfunction.

Orthotics are supports made to hold the 3 arches of your foot in a natural and neutral position. The arches of your feet are made up of a dozen tarsal bones of your feet and the ligaments that support them. Problems occur with the arches both from genetically weak ligaments (congenital) or as people age and have overuse trauma to their feet. The ligaments fail and overstretch, overusing the bottom of the foot muscles and connective tissue (plantar fascia) causing deformation and flattening of the foot.

Why do people need orthotics (arch supports)? While many people do not need orthotics, the people that do will undoubtedly benefit from custom molded orthotics. These orthotics are made specially for each foot of only one person, YOU. These orthotics are not off the shelf pre-made rigid plastic or rubber orthotics that generically support the big arch ( Medial Longitudinal Arch ) of your foot. These flexible orthotics are made specifically for you from molds of your feet and support all 3 of the arches of your foot. The orthotics can also be made to correct many other common foot problems such as pronation.

The Orthotics that I carry are made in a three step process.

First, I test the strength and balance of specific muscles that indicate foot problems. I then perform a series of adjustments to the feet and I tape the arches for a two day period to see if orthotics would be of benefit to the patient. In many cases, after two days of pain relief, many patients request that I tape their arches again until their orthotics come in.

After the determination is made that the orthotics would be beneficial, I mold the feet in a special foam mold. The moldings are sent to the manufacturing lab and usually return in 7-10 business days.

Lastly, the patient performs various mobilization procedures on their feet that I prescribe from my findings from their history and examination. Once the orthotic is given to the patient, a period of breaking-in is outlined lasting from 1-2 weeks.

If you have questions or think you would benefit from orthotics, please call me at 608-437-3600.

If you have questions about a problem you are having, or have a condition that other treatment has not helped, call for a consultation or examination today. 608-437-3600.

For more information, e-mail us at info@kishchiropractic.com

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