Orthotics and Chiropractic CareIn my practice of family-oriented chiropractic care, I’m able to treat a variety of issues in people of any age. From back and neck pain to headaches and migraines, chiropractic methods help to neutralize pain and fix subluxations (aka misalignments) in the spine. But what many people may not know is that chiropractic care can also assist in orthotic treatment to fix posture problems, foot and ankle pain, and issues with walking. What is orthotics? Orthotics is a medical method of correcting the bone and muscular structures of feet, ankles and legs using braces and other external support devices. It’s used to treat a variety of afflictions such as:
What is gait? Gait is just another word for stride, or the way in which someone walks, but it is one of the major components of orthotics as a treatment method. The reason analyzing it is so important is because a number of gait abnormalities are caused by particular medical conditions. For example, Parkinsonian gait describes the posture and walk of somebody that suffers from Parkinson’s disease or other condition(s) that cause Parkinson’s-like symptoms such as chronic drug use. How to analyze gait One important part of analyzing the gait cycle in my practice is the heel strike to toe off. When I watch someone walk, I pay close attention to how their heel strikes the ground and then how their foot rolls to push off the big toe. Some may find it surprising that there are a lot of moving parts in between these two seemingly insignificant motions. The next step is that I look at their knees to see how they are moving during the gait cycle, especially if they have a knee valgus (knock-kneed) or knee varus (bow legged). Finally, I check the hips for rotation. Hip rotation will also play a big factor into how much pressure is being put on each leg. All of these play a big role in determining how that gait cycle is doing. Quality analysis means you really have to look at the entire chain (foot, ankle, knee and hip) to put the puzzle together. By analyzing your gait, we are able to make more precise conclusions about any underlying conditions you may suffer from, which greatly affects your treatment regimen. We are able to analyze the way you (literally) go about daily life. Having improper gait means that your weight distribution is off and is probably exacerbating issues in the spine that stem from poor posture. By having a comprehensive gait analysis, I am more accurately able to assess any underlying issues to help improve your life on a day-to-day basis. My practice also has the technology to do on-site creation of orthotics and perform your full gait analysis. Patients have been amazed at the difference they see when properly fitted with well-made orthotics. It also helps athletes train their movements properly in order to avoid injury and future wear and tear on the body. If you’re ready for your custom orthotics and gait analysis, schedule a consultation today.
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