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July 14, 2011 — A pilot study showed that wearing shoe orthotics can reduce low-back pain and discomfort after six weeks, according to the recent study, “Shoe Orthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study,” (Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, May 2011, Vol. 34, Issue 4, pgs. 254-260).
Manuel Duarte, DC, was one of the authors and researchers of the study. Duarte felt it was necessary to do a pilot study, because orthotics are commonly used in the treatment of patients suffering from low back pain. However, evidence and documentation supporting this form of treatment could not be found.
“I was searching the literature for evidence supporting the premise and was surprised to find a gap in literature on orthotics treating low back pain,” Duarte stated. “As a result, I decided to carry out a pilot study with the cooperation of the National University of Health Science Research Department and Foot Levelers.”
Foot Levelers provided the orthotics patients in the test groups used in this peer-reviewed study. The study found patients suffering from chronic low-back pain experienced a significant decrease in back pain when they wore Foot Levelers’ orthotics. Other findings included a decrease in foot and leg pain. The preliminary results of this pilot study were promising, and a larger follow-up study is planned.
“Currently, the concept of evidence based is permeating the field of healthcare. The more research the chiropractic profession has to support its practices, techniques and procedures the faster chiropractic will move toward acceptance in the healthcare arena while maintaining [a] distinct identity,” concludes Duarte. “I feel this study helps to contribute evidence for a common practice in chiropractic in providing orthotics to treat patients suffering from low-back pain.”
Source: Foot Levelers, www.footlevelers.com
