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Our poor feet.
They take the shock that is produced with every
step we take. Walking with improperly functioning feet is similar
to a driving a car with poor shocks, yet we stuff them away
in stinky shoes and forget about them all day.
Patients often say to me, "I am a pronator."
My response is "Great, so am I !" We are all pronators,
it is how our body absorbs the impact with the ground. The problem
arrives when you "over-pronate" When the foot over
pronantes it doesn't successfully absorb the impact with the
ground. Physics tells us that this force needs to go somewhere
and that somewhere is the other joints of the body that are
not designed to absorb shock (i.e. knees, hips, back etc..)
These joints start to break down faster than they should due
to the excessive wear and tear that is placed on them.
So what can be done to prevent this wear
and tear on joints known as arthritis?
Using a shoe insert called an orthotic that is
custom designed for your foot will prevent over pronation and
therefore prevent excessive wear and tear. The orthotic is designed
to fit underneath your arch to support it as you take a step.
The orthotic allows your foot to pronate,
but not over pronate.
Check at home to see if you over pronate.
(This is a simple test that is not intended to be diagnostic)
1. Find a clean white sheet of paper.
2. When you get out of the shower (or any other time your feet
are wet), put both of your feet on the paper with the full weight
of your body.
3. Examine the imprint that your feet made on the paper.
4. There should be a semicircle area that is cut out under your
arch.
If you do not see the semicircle under your arch,
you are likely an over pronator and in need of custom orthotics.
As always it is best to have a qualified healthcare
provider examine your feet to determine your need for orthotics.
What if I over supinate?
Because you are the minority (only 5% of the population
over supinates), not as much attention has been given to the
condition. This condition is more complicated to treat and typically
responds to a program of spinal and extra spinal manipulation
along with stretching and exercises.
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