herniated disc

Custom Orthotics vs Over The Counter – Is There Really A Difference?

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custom orthotics

The first step taken in the morning can tell you a lot more about the spine than you think. Any degree of stiffness or discomfort that you experience when your feet hit the floor can be indicative of an irregular posture, walking gait or misalignment in the spine.

The feet in a sense, are the window to the spine. When the pain starts in the feet at the foundation, it can, and often time does creep up through the weight bearing joints which then makes it to our low back. It can show up initially as a number of different conditions, such as: 

However, these are just a few of the diagnoses. All in which may be a sign that it’s time to take a closer look at what’s happening below. 

Did You Know?

“External rotation of the foot during running reduced the loads on the medial compartment of the knee.” –Journal of Sports Science & Medicine

Click here to read, “Acute Effects of Foot Rotation in Healthy Adults during Running on Knee Moments and Lateral-Medial Shear Force”.

foot pain

So How Do You Know? 

If you’re not already experiencing the clear signs of low back or foot pain, try this simple test. The next time you’re putting on your shoes, take a second to turn them over and look at the soles. What do you see? Where are they worn out?  “What are the bottoms of your shoes telling you?”.

Well, if your shoes are worn mostly in the middle of the heel and under the 1st and 2nd toe, you’re part of the minority that has a correct and NEUTRAL gait. These two spots indicate that you’re going through the motions of heel strike and toe off appropriately. 

If your shoes are worn mostly in the middle of the heel to the inside of your heel and primarily under the big toe, you are part of the 90% of the population that PRONATES (to some degree!). In simpler terms, this means that your feet and more noticeably your ankles lean inwards when you walk or stand. 

If your shoes are worn under the outside edge of the heel and near your pinky toe, you are part of the 3-7% of the population the SUPINATES– this is way more rare! Simply put, your feet and your ankles, lean outwards when you walk or stand. 

Click here to read, “How To Choose The Right Running Shoes – Part 1”and “How To Choose The Right Running Shoes – Part 2”.

foot scan
foot impression

So What Should You Do? 

Alleviating foot discomfort and associated stress to the low back is all about giving the feet the support they need. That’s where CUSTOM ORTHOTICS come into play! Custom orthotics are inserts that are created to cater to the needs of YOUR feet. Unlike store solutions, (ie. Dr. Scholl’s gel inserts) custom orthotics are made from a more rigid material that is based off the shape of your foot (literally a scan or foam cast of your foot is used!) to reshape and incorporate support where you need it.

Modifications can be made to address every part of the foot and the pain associated. Pressure can be taken off the heels. The arch can be reshaped. They can also cushion the toes amongst many other changes. But most importantly, with the right support, you are able to keep your feet, ankles, knees hips and low back in the RIGHT anatomical position. 

How Do I Get The Right Orthotics?

Orthotics can be prescribed and fabricated by a number of physicians, including your chiropractor. BUT be weary! Even custom orthotics can be made incorrectly. Here are some tips to optimize your orthotics and their wear: 

  1. Don’t Rock The Boat – A neutral rearfoot post should be included at the back of your orthotic to keep it from moving from side to side in your shoe. This also allows for a more comfortable wear in the shoe. 
  2. Let Your Orthotics Do The Heeling – Your heels deserve to be noticed too. A “hole in heel” feature will take pressure off your heels. 
  3. Level Them Out – If your doctor finds a leg length discrepancy, you can have a heel lift added to your orthotic to compensate for the difference in height on that side. It’s a great idea to keep you equal and to ensure a proper gait. 
  4. You Can Mix It Up – You don’t have to restrict your orthotic to only one pair of shoes. It’s recommended you do wear them in your most used shoes. For example your gym or work shoe. However you can move them around. Ask your doctor about a sulcus length orthotic that is shorter. This makes it easier to more around. 

Numbness or Tingling

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If your life is afflicted by numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet or toes then you will be interested in this clinical study that showed…

How Patients Significantly Improved Their Sharp Pains, Grip Strength, and Eliminated Numbness and Tingling Without Drugs or Surgery

Numbness, tingling, and pain affects all parts of your life

Numbness and tingling is a huge problem which affects every part of your life from sleeping, sitting or walking.  The thought of getting a good night sleep or playing with your kids or grandchildren may seem like a pipe dream because your arms or legs are in too much pain and may even be weak.

Maybe you’re frustrated because you’ve been told that you have to live with it as all the medical testing indicates that you shouldn’t have a problem. Or maybe you’re even fearful because the only options left are drugs with heavy side effects or surgery.

I can tell you one thing…… you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from some form of peripheral neuropathy which can be caused by different things. It is described by webmd.com as a condition that results when nerves from the brain and spinal cord which carry messages to and from the rest of the body are damaged or diseased.

This condition obstructs the nerve signals that control your muscles, joints, connective tissues and organs and if ignored could lead to more serious complications.

“I feel like I’m 30 years older than I actually am.  I can’t walk great distances without pain.  My hands go numb while doing the simplest activities like watching tv or lying in bed.  I am tired of living this way.”

More Pills Are Not the Solution

There have been many clinical studies which have demonstrated the benefit of chiropractic and nerve conditions:

Patients showed an 85.5% resolution of the nerve symptoms after only 9 chiropractic treatments. – Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2008

With chiropractic care, patients had “significant improvement in perceived comfort and function, nerve conduction and finger sensation overall.” – JMPT 1998

“Significant increase in grip strength and normalization of motor and sensory latencies were noted. Orthopedic tests were negative. Symptoms dissipated.” – JMPT 1994

What these studies mean is that there is hope for you to get your life back.

Where should you start?

Finding the cause of your neuropathy is where you should start.  The doctor of chiropractic is trained to identify the causes of neuropathic conditions and if your case is beyond the scope of chiropractic you would be referred to the appropriate health professional.  However, often these conditions are caused by a degeneration or misalignment of the spine which can press on the roots of the nerves.  This pressure can arise from the bones or intervertebral discs anywhere on the spine from the base of the head down to the tail bone.

Whether you have been to a chiropractor before or this would be your first experience, you may be wondering what to expect with us.  We want you to understand everything about your case and our procedures before we get started.  Our exams are thorough and our patients describe our techniques as “gentle and effective”.  We have many techniques that we can use to ensure that you are comfortable without hindering the results of your care and progress.

The goal is to release pressure on the nerves to allow your body to heal.

“I wish I had found you sooner”

The first step is to help you find the right practitioner in your area.  We know that you may have tried everything else without success but we could help you find the answer to your nerve problems.  We hear this from many people…

We want to make it easy for you to explore if we can help which is why we’re extending this opportunity to you.   We have a network of doctors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and have let us know that they will provide an examination for you for over 65% off so that you can get the answers to your questions…. finally.  We will connect you with them for an appointment

You would receive all of what is included with our full initial consultation:

  • A thorough examination exploring all potential causes of your condition
  • A complete neuromuscular examination
  • Specialized testing which may include x-rays if necessary. This can help to determine if any spinal problems are contributing to your condition
  • An in-depth review and analysis or your findings
  • A detailed plan of the course of action
  • We’ll really listen to all of your concerns, answer all your questions and let you know how we can help and what to expect.

The goal of this evaluation is to help find the problem and then correct it.  Imagine what your life could be like without these frustrating nerve problems.  In no time you could be feeling normal again.

Exclusive Numbness and Tingling Evaluation Website Offer

Your life could change for the better.  It’s time to start your body on the right path towards living normally again.  Watch your mobility improve, muscles relax and your pain ease up.

It’s so easy to take advantage of our network of doctors and the over 65% savings for your initial exam.  Simply fill out the form below and we will contact you to arrange the best health professional in your area that can help.

What The Neck? Are You Short-Circuiting?

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Have you ever thought about how how much you strain your neck throughout the day?

You look down to:

  • Text
  • Reply to your email
  • Check Facebook
  • Send a tweet
  • Type on your keyboard
  • Read
  • Speak with your children

…And the list goes on and on!  This can potentially add up to several hours each day that your neck is tilted forward and/or down.

Why Does This Matter?

Your neck is the connection between your brain and the rest of your body.  The messages your brain needs to send must travel through your nervous system which is encased by the bones of your spine.  Therefore, if the spinal bones in your neck are continually forced into a forward (or looking down) position, it puts a great deal of pressure on your nervous system.

This interference causes “electrical problems”.  Whereby, the information that needs to flow freely in the nervous system can no longer do so.  It can cause a “short-circuiting” effect in your body.  This is where certain areas of your body develop illnesses or issues because they are lacking all of the information they need to function at 100%.

Additionally, these misalignments can lead to Forward Head Posture.  This is a serious condition that must be addressed by a chiropractor.  The doctor must work on bringing the carriage of the head back into alignment with your neck and shoulders.

alignment

What Is The Proper Alignment For Your Neck?

If we look at you from the side, your ears should be centered on your shoulders.  This gives your cervical spine (your neck) the correct curve to allow your nervous system to function properly.  Free of any misalignments.

However, if your ears are lining up closer to (or surpassing) the front of your shoulders, your neck is no longer in proper alignment.  This means you are experiencing a significant loss of curve in your neck.  Therefore aren’t able to allow the messages to travel properly within your nervous system.

This is a very serious problem, because even a loss of curve by 1 degree puts significant pressure on your nervous system, never mind the potential for a couple of inches.

Misalignment can actually develop into a loss of curve, or even a reversed cervical curve and can put immense strain on your health.

This Condition Can Lead To Experiencing:
  • Migraines
  • Breathing problems
  • Heart disease
  • Various nose, throat and ear problems
  • Learning difficulties
  • Emotional problems

This is such a critical area of your spine that must be free of misalignments to allow your body to express real health.

Have you noticed this problem in your spouse or your children?  It is especially worrisome for children to have reversed cervical spines, as it can compound into many problems throughout their lives.  And as we all know, when problems are left unaddressed, they tend to get worse, not better.

As we are spending more and more time on our devices and computers, the unnatural strain we are putting on our necks becomes even more prominent.

Click here to read, ” Is Today’s Technology Destroying Your Health?”

What Is The Solution?

Find a chiropractor in your area that can help you to express optimal health.  Follow the care plan laid out for returning the proper curve to your spine.  Especially in children as the rate of complete correction can be quite high, as they are growing and developing quickly.

Chiropractic Heals Nothing!

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subluxation

In the mainstream world, chiropractic is thought of as healing the back and neck pain.  However, in reality, chiropractic doesn’t heal anything!!  What it actually does is remove the interference (subluxation) in your central nervous system, which allows YOUR BODY to restore health through its innate healing abilities.  All on its own!!

Your body functions because your brain says it must. Your brain controls every aspect of your body with messages that are sent through your central nervous system which is encased by the bones of your spine.  If any of the bones in your spine become out of alignment, they put pressure on your nervous system.

Misalignments, also referred to as a subluxation, can happen from hunching over at your computer desk, continually looking down at your phone, or repetitive use injuries.  They can also happen due to stress, traumas and toxins.

chiropractic

When your spinal bones put pressure on your nervous system, the nerves are unable to properly send all of the messages from your brain to the rest of your body to allow your body to function and heal at 100%.

This is why it is critically important to have your spine checked regularly by a Doctor of Chiropractic.  They can identify areas in your spine that have shifted out of alignment, and adjust them back into alignment.

Once your bones are trained to stay back in alignment, the interference to your nervous system are removed.  Your brain can now regain the ability to communicate at 100% with the rest of your body.  Thus, allowing function and healing to return.

This philosophy is true of healing back pain and any other health condition experienced.  For example, if you had a subluxation (misalignment) at the area of your spine that allows the messages from your brain to get to your stomach, your stomach would be unable to function at 100%.  You may experience various digestive issues and discomfort.  By removing the interference to the nerves that direct the function and healing of your stomach, health is able to return. For further help with gut help, click here to read, “6 Easy Ways to Improve Your Gut Health”.

What Your Body Wants!

Your body wants to be at 100% health all of the time.  Give it the opportunity to create healing by removing the interference.  These interference’s are generally subluxations in your spine.  However, they can also be emotional stress and toxins you are exposed to.

To support your healing, it is important to feed yourself with care, try:

Have your spine checked to remove the interference’s from your nervous system so that you can express optimal health!  Click here to find a chiropractor in your area.

Remember, the very first subluxation happens at birth, so be sure to have your little ones checked too.