Traditional Therapies - Perfect Fit for Naturopathy! Custom Orthotics

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Perfect Fit for Naturopathy!
Custom Orthotics

By Dr.Anthony G. Ziagos, Sr., AMD, NMD, MBA

Naturopathy is a distinctive system of non-invasive health practice in which neither surgery or drugs are used. The Naturopath, through assessment, education, and counseling can recommend natural occurring substances. To help stabilize and maintain the body’s intrinsic self-healing process for natural health custom orthotics may help.

Your feet are the foundation of your body. When you walk, stand or run your feet support your body. They protect your soft tissues, bones and spine from damaging shock and stress as you move. Your feet help you get from one place to another and perform best when all of the components (bones, muscles, arches, tendons, and skin surface) are in top condition. Any weakness or unstable condition in the feet can contribute to postural problems in the rest of the body. If the pedal (foot) foundation is out of balance, your entire structure is under stress. This stress can lead to distortion that affects your over all health. Bones and joints are more susceptible to degeneration. Postural stress and unbalanced muscles drain your energy and strength. Misfired nerve endings of you Autonomic Nervous System could reduce the effectiveness of your immune system. Structural imbalances create biomechanical stress throughout the entire kinetic chain.. Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers (Custom Orthotics) can keep the feet in a stable and balanced position. Custom orthotics are used to correct, support, align and prevent dysfunction or improve function of movable body parts.

The Five red flags of spinal instability are; foot flair, excessive shoe wear, low medial arches, bowed Achilles tendons and internal knee rotation. These common conditions associated with biomechanical stress and foot mis-alignment (pronation) are low back pain, shin splints, hip pain, sciatica, scoliosis, knee pain, and foot problems. Only a qualified physician can diagnose the cause of specific conditions and rule out any serious health problems. This is not meant as a substitute for medical advise or treatment.

Custom Orthotics are however proven to create a more symmetrical pedal (foot)) alignment which reduces biomechanical stress.

Naturopaths and other certified health care professionals can provide a valuable service to their patient. By observation you can assess a preliminary need, make a weight bearing cast of your patients feet for custom orthotics, and if necessary refer them to a specialist or to a Chiropractor for an adjustment to reduce or eliminate re-occurring subluxations. Your feet and your posture are as unique and individual as you are. Since no two people are alike, customized weight bearing foot castings can help produce an orthotic made especially for your patient and their specific needs. If your feet are contributing to a postural problem in another part of the body, a chiropractor may need to adjust or correct an imbalance. Custom made orthotics can help the adjustments “hold” better. Mass produced orthotics cannot offer the same custom support an individual may require to keep their feet in the proper structural position. Your patient will not benefit from the experience or knowledge of the Naturopath when purchasing mass market or on the shelf orthotics.

If custom orthotics are recommended a “weight bearing” cast should be taken and sent to a quality laboratory where stabilizers (custom orthotics) are created to correct any imbalance found in your casting. 16 different measurements and careful dimensions are taken, from the weight bearing cast, to insure maximum stability and effectiveness. Custom Orthotics best suited for them are based on a variety of factors including; age, weight, height, sex, lifestyle, and potential posture problems. Education and lifestyle changes are essential to correct and improve postural stress and strain. As a Naturopath you can provide valuable service for your patient by recommending they consider custom orthotics. Their decision to invest in custom orthotics may be an opportunity to help them restore balance to their body and reduce biomechanical stress.

Perfect Fit for Naturopathy! 1. Christiansen KD: Orthotics: do they really help a chiropractic patient, ACA J of Chiropractic 1990; 27(4) : 63-71 2. Greenawalt MH: Spinal Pelvic Stabilization, 4th ed. Foot Levelers, 1990:43 3. Levetz SJ: Biomechanical Foot Therapy, Clinics in Pod. Med. & Surg. 1988,5:3 Foot Levelers graphics used with permission. www.footlevelers.com