Put Your Best Foot Forward

Believe it or not but your feet play a vital role in how your entire body functions, from the ground all the way up! A study was performed and the results showed that 77% of those examined had moderate to severe flatness of their feet! That means that roughly less than a quarter of the population has a proper arch to the foot!

Let’s discuss the arches of the foot. (YES! There are THREE!) All three arches combine to form the “plantar vault“.

Medial longitudinal arch (inner)
Lateral longitudinal arch (outer)
Transverse metatarsal arch

Most people have heard of “pronation“, so what is it? Over pronation happens when the arches of the feet become flattened out and the foot rolls inward.

Here are the 5 RED FLAGS of over pronation:

Foot flare (toe out)
Internal knee rotation (the knee doesn’t line up straight over the foot, it turns inward)
Bowed achilles tendon
Flat foot (look for collapse of fabric along the inner portion of a shoe)
Uneven shoe wear

What types of foot problems can this create?

Plantar fascitis
Bunions/hammer toes
Tendonitis
Heel spurs
Arthritis

Not only are these detrimental for your foot health, it can also affect the rest of your body! This can lead to ankle, knee, hip, pelvic, and spinal issues.

How can a chiropractor help you with these problems?

Here in our office, we first start by using a state of the art foot scanner to evaluate your feet. It generates a number of different types of data for the doctor to review.
We then continue by doing a comprehensive foot exam and spinal exam to check for further issues.
Finally, the doctor may recommend x-rays to evaluate further how orthotics can best help your feet and the rest of your body.

The type of orthotic prescribed depends on several factors including:

age
type of activity/work performed
level of intensity performed
type of shoe

Special considerations are made for people who wear dress shoes and tight fitting flats. These people often get 1/2 or 3/4 length orthotics to fit properly. We have a special set for women’s heels up to 2 inches. We also have the ability to create orthotic flip flops.

If you’d like to get checked, all you need to do is call to set up an examination. Our foot scanner is used complimentary to your first visit at no extra charge.

Yours in health,

Dr. Glenn Ezell

About the author:

Glenn Ezell

As a young man, Dr. Ezell took great interest in discovering the human body’s natural ability to heal itself. His fascination led him to further his studies at Southern Illinois University of Ewardsville and Logan College of Chiropractic. His studies and clinical training have led him to create positive changes in the lives of many people. Dr. Ezell enjoys an active lifestyle consisting weight lifting, running, kayaking, and many other outdoor activities. He gets adjusted at least 2 times a week to maintain an optimal state of wellness. He is very active in the St. Charles community and is available for health talks, screenings and presentations at no charge.