Insoles & Orthotics

AmFit Custom Orthotics

Amfit Orthotics are extremely helpful for people of all ages looking for pain relief in their feet, lower limbs, knees, hips, and lower back.  People with specific medical problems can also be treated effectively with orthotics.  In addition to providing relief from painful foot problems or an injury, people who must walk or stand excessively in their job can also benefit from orthotics.

The first question you may ask yourself is, “what do feet have to do with BACK PAIN?”  The feet are the foundation of the whole body, much like the foundations of a building.  If the foundations are properly aligned and supported, the structure above it can function in the way it is designed to.

The human foot has evolved to walk on soft surfaces such as the earth and sand; nowadays we spend most of the time walking on hard flat surfaces such as pavements and floors.  These surfaces force our feet to roll inwards in order to gain more contact with the ground that causes our arches to flatten. This rolling inward of the feet, termed over-pronation is very common and affects in excess of 50% of the population.  Poor alignment of the feet can cause increased stress and problems in other parts of the body. As the feet pronate, the lower leg, knee and hip rotates inwards. This causes the pelvis to drop down and rotate inwards, increasing the curve in the low back. If the pronation is greater on one side than the other, it will cause the pelvis to tilt, creating a curvature in the low back. Due to this ‘knock-on’ effect of foot pronation, it is not uncommon for chiropractors to see patients with a wide range of conditions from foot and ankle pain to knee and hip pain or just generally achy or tired legs.

Chiropractic & Orthotics

As always with chiropractic, the answer is not just to treat the symptoms, but to treat the underlying cause, giving a long term solution. So, as well as treatment to address joint mobility, nerve function and muscle balance. If appropriate, Dr. Kunard will prescribe foot orthotics to be worn in the shoe. These will help to align the foot to its neutral position, thereby supporting all the structures higher up, allowing them to function properly.