One’s feet are the foundation of the entire body, leading the way of dynamic movement up the body from the ankles, through the knees and hips, into the pelvis, and right up into the spine. If you have flattened arches, bow legs or pigeon-toed alignment, a hyper-extended or over-arched back, or a forward-tilted neck and head–even without pain–you are a perfect candidate to get scanned for custom orthotics. If you do have pain, then orthotics are not simply a way to align your body when bearing weight, but they also act as a remedy to the cause of your symptoms.
Our very own Dr. Kathy Coutinho races in off-road triathlons and runs all year round. She uses full-length running shoe orthotics and has not only prevented a recurring case of “Achilles’ heel”, which is really caused by iliotibial band syndrome (pain in the lateral knee), but her running performance and speed has improved dramatically, since the orthotics help reduce shock absorption in her feet/ankles/legs and everything above!
Orthotics are not only for athletes, but for anyone striving for proper spinal alignment from the ground up! They are especially perfect for those of us who are on their feet all day, as they provide support that makes such a difference in one’s quality of life.