Taking a Peek at Your Feet

"Taking a Peek at Your Feet"

 by Dr. Sandy Sachs

TWO LITTLE FEET

Greg Brown, a well known folk singer, sings, “two little feet, they’ll carry you away…”  His song underscores the importance of our feet, helping us get to where we want to go.  Unfortunately, we often neglect our feet, unless they begin to scream, “I’m hurting!”

            Consider the following:  There are 206 bones in our entire body, with 26 bones in each foot.  Said another way, 25% of the bones in our body are found in our feet; their job is to function in synchrony to allow for a variety of actions from standing, to walking, to running.  The feet provide a base of support from which the rest of our body can function.

ADJUSTING THE FOOT

Over the past few decades, Chiropractors have more convincingly demonstrated, both through research and clinical evidence, that joint motion, especially in the spine, is crucial for a healthy nervous system and subsequently a healthy body.  While chiropractors are better known for adjusting the spine, some chiropractors take the same principles of joint motion, and adjust other bones of the body, including the feet.

FOOT FUNCTION

The feet are the body’s contact points with the ground, so they are critical in both moderating and modulating forces from the ground to the rest of the body and visa versa.  If you don’t have proper foot function, it is possible to experience a whole host of different symptoms, from foot/ankle/knee/hip pain to low back/neck pain, to headaches.

TAKING A PEEK AT YOUR FEET

Just like for posture, everyone should have their feet checked to determine if abnormal anatomy and /or foot function is either creating problems or in the future may create problems.  A chiropractor will first take a thorough history and then inspect the feet for bony abnormalities (i.e. bunions) or signs of abnormal function (i.e. abnormal callous formation, flat feet).  Next, he/she will palpate the feet for proper motion between the bones of the feet and determine if they need to be adjusted.  Adjustments consist of quick movements to help restore function to the feet.

WHATS AN ORTHOTIC?

Orthotics are supportive devices placed in one’s shoes for pain relief and functional restoration. While some patients benefit from chiropractic adjustments followed by muscle stretching and strengthening, others require the prescription of orthotics as an additional treatment protocol.  There is great variety both within and between the various health care professions regarding types of orthotics.  A conservative approach is to first consult your chiropractor, podiatrist or physical therapist for their recommendations regarding orthotics.  They often will simply recommend  first purchasing an “over the counter” orthotic to determine if a reduction in symptoms can be achieved.  If a more specific orthotic is needed, an imprint of the foot can be made and a specific orthotic can be designed.

CHOOSE CHIROPRACTIC

Whether you are an avid runner or someone who is on their feet all day, you should take care of your feet.  Remember, wherever your feet go, so goes the rest of your body.  So, let those “two little feet” carry you into your chiropractors office today and get them checked.