Chiropractic Economics Summer Buyers Guide: orthotics and 3D foot scanning

Especially for patients dealing with lower-back issues, the feet can be the foundation of chiropractic health — but a lot of times, patients have no idea their feet can be the culprit, which is where 3D foot scanning comes in.

When patients don’t respond as well as you expect to chiropractic care, a source of interference is frequently located in the pedal foundation. An abnormal gait contributes to musculoskeletal imbalances throughout the lower extremities, and eventually back pain develops as a result.

One way to address issues in the pedal foundation as the basis of your treatment plan with patients is to incorporate 3D foot scanning into their first visit and your very first report of findings, says chiropractor Amanda Bledsoe, DC.

“When I was choosing which equipment from my previous practice to purchase for my own first clinic, one of the initial purchases I made was to order a 3D foot scanning kiosk,” Bledsoe said. “It has definitely helped me educate my patients on how long they have had this condition beyond just their back hurting last month by explaining how their arches have affected them for many years.”

Research shows how custom orthotics help your patients

A 2017 Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation report showed that custom orthotics from one major manufacturer were clinically proven to improve low-back pain almost immediately.

The peer-reviewed study saw that six weeks of wearing custom orthotics reduced low-back pain by 34.5% and improved function by 18.5%. The addition of chiropractic care to wearing custom orthotics led to a 32.3% improvement in function. While more research needs to be conducted, an impressive body of literature supports foot orthotics — not only for back-pain relief, but for additional beneficial effects throughout the body.

3D foot scanning and orthotics make business sense, too

“Every single patient who comes in our clinic gets custom laser 3D foot scanning with our two-foot kiosk … Afterward, we talk about orthotics before they even meet the doctor,” Bledsoe said. “We go over the scan with every new patient … We even invite them to bring their family in for a free scan and have a consultation.”

3D foot scanning is “a great addition to your initial exam procedure and will generate revenue,” Bledsoe says.