THE PERFECT BALANCE — BODY & SOLE
"Age has the tendency
to
accentuate
structural
deficiencies. From watching
how someone walks (from their
neck and shoulders to arm
swing, knee function and leg
swing and not just their feet),
you can make a temporary
device, and subsequently make
improvements once you know
you are on the right track."
Photo from: @Shutterstock.com/monkeybusinessimages
have to be modified to adjust for someone else
with other health problems.
Over time, studies have shown that, although
the loss of balance among the elderly occurs
gradually and progressively, there are many
methods for enhancing balance performance
amongst the population. Age has the tendency
to accentuate structural deficiencies. From
watching how someone walks (from their neck
and shoulders to arm swing, knee function and
leg swing and not just their feet), you can make
a temporary device, and subsequently make
improvements once you know you are on the
right track. This will allow you to use orthotics to
try and control the real problem which is the foot
and how it is actually functioning mechanically.
Orthotics are made to address a variety of
structural deficiencies, such as excessive
pronation and arch integrity, in an attempt to
minimize differences in structural alignment.
For example, by creating extra support
underneath specific parts of the feet, like lifting
the ankle a few millimeters with insoles made
of foam rubber or carbon fiber, you can actually
rebalance the action of the foot and help to
correct other mechanics of the gait.
Your feet are the foundation of every step you
take. A minor problem down there can become
a major problem higher up in the body. Often
times, there is no pain in the feet at all, but when
there is, the result can be pain and dysfunction
in the knees, hips, and sometimes even the
spine. Arch pain, heel pain, calluses, corns,
tendonitis, shin splints, bunions or hammer
toes, cramping, plantar fasciitis, even aching or
tired legs are all common conditions that can
be caused by abnormal foot arches. If there is a
Current Pedorthics January/February 2016
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