Dr. Gregory Kolwaite

Over-pronation puts strain on entire body

Question:
My chiropractor insists that I get a pair of orthotics for my shoes in order to decrease my back pain. How would orthotics help me?

Answer:
Many people wonder what the connection is with chiropractics and feet. The fact is your feet are the foundation on which your entire body rests. If the foundation isn't stable, your posture will suffer and symptoms will result.

Over-pronation is a postural fault in which the foot rolls inward when bearing weight. When this happens the entire leg also rotates, putting stress on the shin, knee, hip and spine. This chain reaction also causes postural faults such as knock-knees, forward head carriage and a slumped appearance when standing.

Symptoms

Symptoms include arch pains, shin splints, inside knee pain, hip pain, and low back and neck pain that does not remiss with standard care.

Runners are usually the first to notice symptoms of over-pronation because of the increased stress on their lower extremities; however, it is estimated that 80 percent of the population has pronation problems.

Treatment

Custom-made orthotics can help by neutralizing the foot imbalance, which can reverse the above-mentioned posture abnormalities and associated symptoms. The relief of symptoms can be so profound with custom orthotics that many chiropractors center their practice around the use of orthotics along with spinal adjustments.

Dr. Gregory Kolwaite, whose column appears monthly in Healthy Living, operates Adirondack Chiropractic at 4947 Commercial Drive, Yorkville 13495. If you have a question, you can write to him at his office or call 768-7578.