We Look at Our Patient's Feet!! (No, we don't have a foot fetish!)
We have found that looking at our patients' feet is the rule of thumb when addressing low back, hip, knee, and ankle injuries. During our evaluation for injuries or conditions at these joints, we always examine a patient's foot posture and gait mechanics. Why?? Because faulty foot mechanics directly affect joint position and movement at the ankles, knees, hips, SI joints, and low back.
An example of this is with patients who are diagnosed with patello-femoral syndrome by their physicians and referred to us for treatment. We often find that the crepitus, pain, muscle weakness, and poor patella tracking is caused by poor medial support at the ankle and foot arches, resulting in rearfoot valgus at heel strike and increased forefoot pronation throughout the gait cycle. As a result, when the patient's foot hits the ground, the force creates a valgus moment at the knee which causes the patella to track laterally. As these faulty joint mechanics continue with time, the lateral articular surface of the patella becomes worn down as it continues to grind against the femur. This causes the pain and muscle weakness associated with patello-femoral syndrome.
ORTHOTICS EQUATION: Supported Feet = Less Pain in the Chain
Faulty foot support and biomechanics can also lead to other problems such as Achilles tendonitis, plantar fascitis, hip bursitis, SI joint instability, and low back facet joint impingement. We can often correct foot support and biomechanic issues using support tape. In many instances, when we improve a patient's foot support and positioning throughout the gait cycle via support taping, it relieves some of their pain and dysfunction up the kinetic chain at the injured joint or muscle group. This allows us to progress them in stabilization and strength training exercises with normal biomechanics throughout the entire kinetic chain. If foot taping techniques work, we believe it is an indication that the patient needs some permanent foot and ankle support via off the shelf arch supports or custom orthotics.
Custom Orthotics at a Fraction of the Cost!!
As a result of our training, we are able to assess for and cast our patients for custom orthotics when needed. Our business relationship with Sole Supports, the company that fabricates our orthotics after we have sent in a patient's foot cast, allows us provide custom orthotics for people of all ages at a significantly decreased out of pocket cost as compared to other orthotic providers who charge anywhere from $450 to $650 for a pair of orthotics. Our orthotics cost $350 with a built-in outgrowth policy for children under 18. The orthotics Sole Supports manufactures for us have a six month adjustment guarantee. That way if we receive a pair that isn't perfect for our patient, we can send them back at no cost to the patient to have them refurbished or repaired. Patients needing an additional pair of orthotics can order them within the six month period from time of casting, at a reduced rate.
If you have an insurance plan that covers orthotics, we can give you a bill for you can submit to the insurance company once you have received and paid for the orthotics we have manufactured for you. Otherwise, we will refer you to a local orthotist or podiatrist who accepts your insurance plan for reimbursement of custom made orthotics.
While our patients wait for their orthotics to be manufactured, we continue to provide support tape and advance our stabilization programs for the injured area and its surrounding structures. This approach allows us to hasten a patient's care and return them to normal function sooner.
Services | Locations & Hours | Staff | Registration | Links | Quarterly Newsletter | Informational Videos
Web Design by Techevolution 2004
|
|
