• Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Change Mailing Address
    • Surveys
    • Guidelines for Authors
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Editorial Deadlines
    • Dynamic Chiropractic
      • Newspaper
      • Subscription
    • The American Chiropractor
      • Magazine
  • Practice
    • Business Tips
    • Chiropractic Schools
    • Clinical & Technique
    • eBooks
    • eCourses
    • Sponsored Content
    • Infographics
    • Quizzes
    • Wellness & Nutrition
    • Personal Growth
    • Podcast
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Resource Centers
  • Products & Services
    • Buyers Guide
    • Products Directory
    • Submit a Product
    • Vendor Login
  • Datebook
    • Become an Events Poster
    • Post an Event
    • View Events
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
  • Advertise
    • Advertising Information
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us

Your Online Chiropractic Community

Chiropractic Economics Your Online Chiropractic Community
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • News
  • Webinars
  • Chiropractic Research
  • Students

Foundational support

John Davila, DC January 30, 2016

orthotics

Should you be using orthotics in your practice?

At a recent seminar, in a discussion about the use of orthotics that covered some of the technical aspects of providing and fitting them for patients, one of the doctors present asked, “What I don’t understand is, why do chiropractors need to use orthotics? I don’t use them in my practice and I don’t see what the big deal is.”

As orthotics have been an integral part of chiropractic and rehabilitation for many years, his question suggests that there are still DCs who don’t appreciate the value and benefits of orthotics for their patients. You could list all of the spinal and lower extremity conditions that can be improved with an effective combination of chiropractic care and orthotics; however, the primary reason you should use orthotics is to benefit your patients.

Key orthotic benefits

Orthotics are helpful in addressing a variety of conditions, but the benefits fall roughly into three areas:

First, they can alleviate many symptomatic musculoskeletal conditions, including the No. 1 reason patients visit a chiropractor: low-back pain.

Next is their ability to improve musculoskeletal efficiency and sports performance.

And finally, custom-made orthotics can aid in the prevention of future problems. These benefits are due to the combination of improved lower

extremity biomechanics and better absorption of repetitive skeletal impact.

Better biomechanics

One of the major goals of custom- made orthotics is to improve foot and ankle function by supporting the foot’s arches and reducing pronation forces. In addition to interfering with gait and decreasing athletic performance, excessive pronation is dangerous for two major reasons: The likelihood of developing painful foot and ankle disability over time and (especially important for doctors of chiropractic) the probability of transferring abnormal stresses up the lower extremities and into the pelvis and spine.

Athletes often suffer from a number of overuse injuries that can be linked

to excessive pronation. Often, these developing problems go unnoticed for months or years, and it is only when a new walking or recreational program is begun that symptoms arise.

Other times, it is the painful end stage of abnormal biomechanics that brings a patient in for care. The following is a list of symptomatic conditions and musculoskeletal pathologies that are associated with excessive pronation.

Foot conditions

  • Calcaneal periostitis (heel spur)
  • Hammer toes
  • Hallux valgus
  • Interdigital neuroma
  • Longitudinal arch collapse
  • Medial calcaneal compartment syndrome
  • Metatarsal calluses
  • Metatarsalgia
  • Navicular stress fracture
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Sesamoiditis
  • Spring ligament sprain
  • Tailor’s bunions
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Toe extensor muscle spasms

Lower Leg Problems:

  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Fibula stress fracture
  • Flexor digitorum longus strain/tendinitis
  • Flexor hallucis longus strain/tendinitis
  • Peroneal tendinitis
  • Tibialis posterior strain/tendinitis
  • Tibial periostitis
  • Tibial stress fracture

Knee Pathology:

  • Anterior cruciate injuries
  • Chondromalacia patellae
  • Knee joint capsulitis
  • Patellofemoral pain syndrome
  • Pes anserine bursitis
  • Hips, pelvis, and spine
  • Anterior pelvic tilt
  • Excessive lumbar lordosis
  • Functional scoliosis
  • Hip adductor muscle strain
  • Hip flexor muscle strain
  • Hip joint capsulitis
  • Iliotibial band syndrome
  • Piriformis muscle strain
  • Sacroiliac problems
  • Tensor fascia lata strain
  • Trochanteric bursitis

Reduced   skeletal   impact Orthotics can significantly reduce the deleterious skeletal effects of the repeated stresses of walking. At the moment of impact during heel strike, a shockwave is propagated through the entire musculoskeletal system.

This shockwave passes through the skeleton at over 200 miles per hour, and jolts the base of the brain up to half a millimeter in normal walking.

Benefits of orthotics

– Alleviate musculoskeletal symptoms

-Improve musculoskeletal efficiency and sports performance

-Prevent future musculoskeletal problems

This amount of force can be the cause of persistently painful and stiff joints, especially in patients with degenerative changes in their spinal discs and joints. When made with modern viscoelastic materials, orthotics can decrease current symptoms and can help to prevent further degeneration.

Desirable outcomes

The combination of better biomechanical function during   gait and decreased skeletal impact when walking and running provides significant benefits to patients. Symptomatic conditions are more easily treated, sports and daily activities are less taxing thanks to improved mechanical efficiency, and numerous musculoskeletal problems can be either avoided or minimized.

Orthotics should be considered a vital component of chiropractic care for many if not most patients. Doctors of chiropractic who employ these effective tools are bound to experience better outcomes and greater treatment satisfaction.

John Heyland

 

John K. Hyland, DC, DACBR, DABCO, CSCS, is a graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic. A popular speaker, Hyland is a postgraduate lecturer for several chiropractic colleges and a frequent contributor to chiropractic publications.

 

 

 

1 Rosner A, et al. Influence of Foot Orthotics Upon Duration of Effects of Spinal Manipulation in Chronic Back Pain Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2014;37:124-140.

2 Stude DE, et al. Effects of orthotic intervention and nine holes of simulated golf on club-head velocity in experienced golfers. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2000;23(3):168-74.

3 Jensen B, Austin W, Wilder NJ, et al. Effectiveness of custom orthotics at reducing injuries in a college football team. J Chiropr Educ. 2007;21(1):109.

4 Busseuil C, et al. Rearfoot-forefoot orientation and traumatic risk for runners. Foot & Ankle Intl. 1998;19:32-37.

5 Hartley A. (1991). Practical Joint Assessment: A Sports Medicine Manual.

St. Louis: Mosby YearBook:571.

6 Schweitzer ME, White LM. Does altered biomechanics cause marrow edema? Radiology. 1996;198:851-853.

7 Beckett ME, et al. Incidence of hyperpronation in the ACL injured knee: a clinical perspective. J Athl Train. 1992;27:58-62.

8 Eng JJ, Pierrynowski MR. Evaluation of soft foot orthotics in the treatment of  patellofemoral  pain  syndrome.  Phys  Ther.  1993;73:62-70. 9 Voloshin AS. Shock absorption during running and walking. J Am Pod

Med Assoc. 1988;78:295-299.

10 Voloshin AS. Force wave transmission through the human locomotor system. J Biomed Eng. 1981;103:48-53.

 

Filed Under: 2016, Foot Orthotics, issue-01-2016, Orthotics

Current Issue

CE issue 2 cover

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube logoYouTube logoYouTube

Compare Subscriptions

Dynamic Chiropractic

The American Chiropractor

3948 3rd Street South #279,

Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Phone 904.285.6020

CONTACT US »

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Copyright © 2021, All Rights Reserved

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE

Get Chiropractic Economics magazine
delivered to your home or office. Just
fill out our form to request your FREE
subscription for 20 issues a year,
including two annual Buyers Guides.

SUBSCRIBE NOW »

Latest Chiropractic News

  • Foundation for Chiropractic Progress’ Podcast Wins Gold in the AVA Digital Awards
    Foundation for Chiropractic logo
  • Foot Levelers Names Jamie Greenawalt as President, Signifies a New Era of Growth for the World’s Leading Provider of Flexible Custom-Crafted Orthotics
  • Logan University names Petrocco-Napuli new dean for college of chiropractic