For Feets Sake

Author: Deborah Caruana

Article source: http://www.kabish.com/. Used with author's permission.

I want to introduce my brother Tony, who's primary concern and preoccupation other than his wife and family is now all about concern for …Your Feet's Sake. As Tony says "If your feet aren't healthy, neither is the rest of you!"

As a young man Tony practiced sports like hockey, soccer and then squash, with a sprinkling of running. He performed all the forms of exercise that are hardest on the knees. He was also constantly plagued with knee problems. Until he met his wife Linda. Linda owned a foot orthotics practice and she wooed Tony with a pair of orthotics. Soon his knee problems resolved. Tony was so impressed with Linda's orthotics that he left his successful real estate practice. He determined he would have a more fulfilling and satisfying occupation in orthotics. Tony discovered he had an affinity for the science and the creative aspects of making orthotics. As Tony's rational sister I figured he had lost his senses because he was so in love. But together Tony and Linda proved me wrong and built up a very successful orthotics practice. Then they made a pair of orthotics for me.

Now, my entire life I've had a problem with my hips going slightly out of alignment. They would lock up and just not fall properly into the joint. Since I've had my orthotics my hips 'pop' but they haven't seized up and come out of the joint the way they used to. After a year with this pair they will fit me again with a more corrective model which will solve my hip problem completely. The adjustments are necessary to do in phases, otherwise it would be too drastic mechanically, setting you up with other problems. I am very pleased and though I'm not in love with Linda the way Tony is, I am in love with my orthotics.

I have decided that orthotics are a worthy cause and a very necessary component of the health and fitness model. So I will be taking a deeper assessment of all my clients foot mechanics and total body alignment to determine whether an orthotic is something beneficial for you. As a nurse and someone who has studied indepth anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and physics the information I collect from your assessment and pass on to Tony and Linda will be used. They then will ply their skills to create a precise therapeutic orthotic for you. I will have a list of other resources you could alternatively go to as well. I just thought bringing this extra service would help alleviate a lot of knee, hip, alignment, headache, shoulder and foot problems. Whatever I can do to keep you working to your optimal self is my goal.

Now I will give you some facts about orthotics that you should know. All About Orthotics Orthotics are devices which fit into the shoe to aid the foot. "Functional orthotics" are rigid and designed to control motion and correct the function of the foot. Individuals with flatfeet, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, certain foot deformities, knee, hip and back problems may benefit from functional orthotics. The goal of the functional orthotic is to improve the mechanics of the foot, control the abnormal motion in the foot, decrease the pain in the foot, ankle, knee, hip or back and to add support. The orthotic should make standing, walking, jogging or running more comfortable. The orthotic must be rigid to help control the motion in the foot and add support. If the orthotic is soft, the weight of the body would collapse the device and it would no longer function. Abnormal motion is typically in the form of pronation. Pronation is the rolling in of the foot and collapse of the arch. The motion starts at the rearfoot, or heel area. When the heel turns in, it allows the arch to collapse. This puts undue stress on the ligaments and tendons in the arch area and contributes to the development of tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, bunions and hammertoes. The functional orthotic helps to control the abnormal motion in the rearfoot. This is accomplished by taking a mold of the foot in its neutral position. The neutral position is the position the foot should be in when walking. When standing, the over-pronated foot is in the uncorrected position. The mold of the foot should be taken with the patient sitting so the foot can be placed in the neutral position.

The molds are sent to a lab and scanned into a computer. A reverse image is produced and the computer generates an image of the foot in neutral position. The computer adjusts the image based on the corrections recommended by your podiatrist. A model of the foot is then cut out, in some cases out of wood. The orthotic material is pressed over the foot model and the orthotic is created. The most common material is polypropylene, but other materials, such as graphite are used. In some cases, hand-made molds are created out of plaster. This was the classic way orthotics were made until newer technology made the process much less labor intensive. Functional orthotics are a successful treatment for many problems affecting the lower extremity. In a recent article in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 75% of patients surveyed had good to excellent results from functional orthotics. This includes 17% who felt the orthotics "cured" their pain. Less than 10% had no relief. The most commonly treated condition in the study was a painful heel. Over 20% of patients surveyed were treated for a painful heel and 20% were treated for a painful arch. Fourteen percent of the individuals were using orthotics for flatfeet. Other conditions treated with orthotics were knee, hip and back pain, foot arthritis, bunions and high arches. Tendonitis was not specifically evaluated.

Individuals with plantar fasciitis (heel and arch pain) who also have flatfeet usually respond best to orthotics. The plantar fascia is a ligament type structure on the bottom of the foot which helps to hold up the arch. When the foot collapses, the weight of the body stresses the ligament and results in tearing and inflammation. This results in plantar fasciitis. These individuals typically respond well to orthotics in combination with other treatments. Certain types of tendonitis respond well to orthotics and other types require orthotics. Posterior tibial tendonitis is the tearing and inflammation of the tendon that helps to hold up the arch. When this tendon is overstressed by arch collapse it cannot heal. Orthotics are essential in the treatment of this condition.

Individuals with high arches may require orthotics as well, but they do not respond as well. Orthotics can help slow the progression of bunions and hammertoes, but they will not prevent this process. Orthotics may help with some pain at a bunion, but they will not "cure" the bunion. When the motion in the foot is contributing to the problem, orthotics are generally recommended. If the foot is stable and does not require support, the bunion, hammertoe, neuroma, tendonitis or even plantar fasciitis may not require custom made orthotics for treatment. These individuals may do well with a pre-fabricated orthotic.

"Accommodative orthotics" are soft and designed to reduce pressure and prevent excess friction. Diabetics and those with a loss of sensation or circulation in their feet will benefit from accommodative orthotics. Both types of orthotics are custom made by taking a mold of the foot. Many insurance companies cover orthotics for certain diagnoses. The most commonly covered diagnoses are plantar fasciitis (heel and arch pain), and diabetes. Orthotics range from $250 (accommodative) to $600(functional).

Currently licensed Registered Nurse specializing in Rehabilitative Nursing Medical Exercise Therapist: certified by AAHFRP, an internationally recognized physical rehabilitation certification Maternity SpeCialist Pre & Post Natal certified by Maternal Fitness Personal Fitness SpeCialist: certified by NASM, an internationally recognized certification Yoga Teacher Professional Health Member, National Organization of Fitness Instructors (IDEA), a leading membership organization of health and fitness professionals Deborah Caruana RN, AAHRFP, NASM, ACE.

email deb@vitalsignsfitness.com call 212-677-3185 Get Free Fitness Tips, Strategies and Secrets from a recognized expert at my web site: http://www.Vitalsignsfitness.com