In a recent study published by Harvard Medical School, 80 percent of Americans at some point in their lives experience lower back pain. It’s the fifth most common reason for visiting a doctor, one of the top reasons people miss work and the most common cause of work-related disability in people under age 45.
Outside of trauma, research suggests that more than half of those suffering are caused by improper biomechanics of the feet. This is also true with knee and hip pain.
Poor alignment between the feet and legs can affect the kinetic chain all the way up to the spine. This in turn causes an increase of stress on the joints and surrounding structures which can lead to tendonitis, muscle pain and cramps, meniscus damage and arthritis. This can be magnified more so in the active and overweight populations. Studies have shown that over 90 percent of those surveyed found improvement or total relief of lower back, hip, knee and foot pain by correcting the abnormality in their foundation, their feet.
How is this done? With corrective custom Orthotics (insoles). This can be accomplished by various methods including plaster casting, foam impressions, pressure analysis and high tech digital infrared scanning. Custom Orthotics correct the biomechanical deformity by properly supporting the feet into a neutral position, improving alignment between the feet and legs, reducing stress from the feet up to the lower back, creating better posture and improving your gait (walking). Professional athletes use Custom Orthotics as prevention to injury and as performance enhancers. They are proven to increase speed, quickness and vertical jump by improving foot and leg alignment.
The latest and most accurate technology in designing Custom Orthotics is by The PedAlign Infrared Digital Scanning System. This is the same method currently used in Aerospace Engineering. PedAlign is the only infrared optical scanning system that uses true foot contours and arch height measurements in order to produce the highest quality Orthotic. The digital cast combined with the practitioner’s prescription is electronically transmitted to the lab where technicians decode, analyze and evaluate every order prior to Orthotic fabrication. Contact you local Podiatrist for a foot screening to see if this is the root cause to your ailment. Orthotics are covered by most insurance plans.
Pain is the body’s way of warning you something is wrong. If you ignore your pain, the condition causing it could become worse. Relief is closer than you think. Why live with pain if you don’t have to?
For more information, please call 661-288-2321.