MOtion is life

Over the course the last several years, I have reviewed hundreds of 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional scans that evaluated the integrity of the arches of the feet. These evaluation revealed that nearly everyone has structural imbalances that began at their feet. I am yet to see a perfectly balanced foot and I consistently see a connection between foot imbalances structural disturbances affecting the hip, knee, spine and even the shoulders.

You see, there are three arches in each foot. When one of these arches begins to fail, it applies a much greater stress on the other arches. By the time two of the arches collapse the loss of structural integrity will begin to affect both the hard and soft tissues of the foot. This may lead to symptomatic problems like Plantar Fascitis, the development of a heel spur or increased joint stress that will later result in very significant ramifications.

Over time the arches fall as a result of gravity and repetitive stress from daily activities. As the arches fall, a person may feel as though their feet are getting bigger as they age. The reality is that the surface area of the foot contacting the ground is larger due to the fallen arches. This is why supporting all three arches is necessary, even when your arches seem to be pretty good at the moment. Proper support of the gait cycle will limit the wear and tear over time.

Our structural management program relates the structural imbalances in the spine and extremities to what is happening at the foundation. Proper arch support with custom made foot levelers orthotics are designed to level the foundation so that every else above may function better. If ignored, these biomechanical imbalances will lead in to problems at the feet, ankles, knees and hips and will increase your risk for severe damage over time that would necessitate a joint replacement. As my Biomaterials Professor told me in Engineering School: “Keep your own parts. We have nothing and never will have anything that is as good as what you were given in the first place.”

Collapsed arches could give the appearance of one leg being shorter than the other. This could be a functional short leg, which responds very well to Chiropractic and Physical Therapy interventions. However, if it is an anatomical difference, that would mean the long bones of your legs are different lengths. This requires precise measurement to diagnose the difference and then a lift to balance out the lengths. There are very few offices who have the technology to do this. Our office is proud to be one of very few who perform a custom leg length x-ray to determine the difference in long bone length. Most offices use clinical measures which are not reliable or x-ray measures which are educated guesses. A custom leg length x-ray is the only way to get an accurate measure of long bone length.

Our office specializes in the detection of biomechanical imbalances that may lead to injury at some point in the future. Whether you are a teenage athlete, a professional level athlete or simply a person who is on their feet throughout the day, the health of your structure will have a critical impact on your overall health. Our Structural Fingerprint Examination will reveal your unique structural findings which will help us understand the mechanical blueprints that explain how your body works. Schedule your evaluation today. You need answers.