Know Thy Foot, Love Thy Orthotic

The foot is one of the most complex structures in the human body. Being our connection with the ground below us, the foot provides important sensory information and many aspects of balance while affecting all the structures above it. That’s why orthotic therapy can help to reduce foot pain as well as discomfort and malfunction in the knees, hips, back and neck.

The most important thing to understand about the structure of the foot and how it functions relates to our gait cycle. The foot has adapted to our biped nature with its swivel motion at the subtalar joint, allowing for pronation and supination.

In general terms, supination happens when you’re picking your foot up from the ground, while pronation happens when you’re placing your foot down on the ground for your next step. The most common malfunction of the foot is over-pronation, which is basically when the arch collapses and the ankle falls inward. This malfunction can lead to misalignment of the skeletal structures all the way up your body, even to the position of your head. But don’t worry - non-invasive orthotic therapy can help!

Many other concerns and pains can arise from the feet, as they support our skeletons day in and day out: plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, bunions, and shin splints just to name a few. Click on the subjects above to read more about specific functions and ailments, or feel free to contact us if you have a specific question about your feet and how orthotic therapy can help!