As a practicing Podiatric Physician and researcher for over thirty years, I have had a passion for understanding the link between foot mechanics and overall body health. I can still remember my professor in biomechanics saying 'the patient's manner of walking not only affects the general health of the feet, but also the general health of the body'. At that time I failed to fully appreciate how prophetic his statement was.
How the foot functions, known as biomechanics, is a major determinant in the overall wellness of the patient. From an engineering purpose of read, this is easy to understand. An unstable foundation can turn out issues in the entire building. Likewise, an unstable foot (e.g., one that abnormally pronates) will produce issues in the entire body.
For years I tried to stabilize foot mechanics by using supportive type foot insoles. These insoles usually incorporated an arch support with forefoot posting (wedging). They were very effective for controlling foot, knee and low back pain, however at a terribly high price. Over the years, it became apparent to me that by supporting the foot I was weakening it. As long as my patients wore their foot insoles, their body pain was less. But, their pain quickly came when the insoles weren't worn. It appeared I used to be addicting my patients to their orthoses!
The link between foot and musculoskeletal health can not be overstated. However, we tend to recently discovered another vital link between the foot and also the body: POSTURE. Our analysis indicates that a weak and unstable foot will and usually results in postural distortions (poor posture). And these postural distortions occur in young children. It also became clear that postural distortions are a harbinger in the development of chronic body pain. The child with poor posture is that the adult with chronic body pain.
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In my pursuit to reverse and correct these postural distortions, I continued to use supportive sort insoles. The long run results were less then desirable: These foot insoles undoubtedly improved posture. However, when the insoles were not worn, the postural gains were quickly lost. And alarmingly, in many cases, the posture appeared even worse in comparison to pre-therapy photos. This suggested a disturbing link between supporting the foot and weakening the posture.
Obviously, a different approach in therapy was required!
Proprioceptive Foot Insoles
Ten years ago I started using non-supportive type foot insoles which incorporate a form of acupressure therapy. These insoles, referred to as proprioceptive insoles, apply a tactile stimulation to the underside of the foot. In theory, this tactile stimulation transmits a symbol to the cerebellum (the balance center of the brain). Engaged on this signal, the cerebellum initiates a postural correction affecting the entire body. The posture shifts from a forward, inward position to a straighter a lot of upright position. Postural photos visualize the immediate and so much reaching impact proprioceptive insoles have on the body.
Published studies have confirmed the link between improving posture and reducing/eliminating chronic musculoskeletal problems. Whereas both proprioceptive and supportive type foot insoles improve posture, unlike supportive kind devices, proprioceptive insoles do not weaken the foot. Of course, several of our patients find that they're able to use their proprioceptive insoles less and less and still maintain their level of wellness (a method known as an engramming).
Author Resource:- Dorothea Diaz has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in foot health, you can also check out his latest website about:
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