How Orthotics Help Back Pain
While there is a laundry list of reasons why you may be experiencing back pain, the most common reason is the way you walk. Many doctors will observe a patient's gait to determine if they are a candidate for orthotics. An altered gait could cause chronic back pain amongst other chronic pain issues. Orthotics in Amarillo can be given by the doctor or bought over-the-counter in most stores.
Every time you take a step, your weight is shifted from one point on your foot to another. It begins with the heel landing slightly inverted to the ground followed by a flattening of the foot. The foot then rolls up with the toes being the last thing to leave the ground. A structural problem can cause the foot to collapse under your weight. Eventually, if the problem is not addressed early, the constant abnormal stress to your foot can cause deformities and chronic pain in your feet, knees, hips, and back. To absorb the shock of your body's weight with each step, the foot flattens at the arch. This allows the weight to be distributed through the entire foot. A high arch won't flatten, causing more stress and weight to fall on the rest of the foot. The shock will then radiate back up the leg. The opposite condition can occur where the arch flattens too much. In this case the weight is distributed on one side too much and the foot becomes unstable. Eventually bones can become misaligned causing issues like bunions and hammertoes.
Functional orthotics are used to support the feet. They prevent abnormal foot pronation, or flattening of the foot. They can also help to reduce the shock from traveling back up the leg. Functional orthotics support the rear foot as well as the midfoot. This can prevent overuse injuries and correct any current foot deformities. An accommodative orthotic is soft and supportive rather than hard and rigid. It is used to relieve foot pain and correct minor problems. These are often used with children and infants to correct foot, leg, or hip abnormalities. By correcting the gait and relieving any abnormal stress to the feet, the orthotics then prevent that pain from radiating up into the back. With an abnormal gait, the back also has to work harder to keep you upright and balanced. Orthotics in Amarillo will help you correct these minor problems that can cause chronic back pain.
Causes
Every time you take a step, your weight is shifted from one point on your foot to another. It begins with the heel landing slightly inverted to the ground followed by a flattening of the foot. The foot then rolls up with the toes being the last thing to leave the ground. A structural problem can cause the foot to collapse under your weight. Eventually, if the problem is not addressed early, the constant abnormal stress to your foot can cause deformities and chronic pain in your feet, knees, hips, and back. To absorb the shock of your body's weight with each step, the foot flattens at the arch. This allows the weight to be distributed through the entire foot. A high arch won't flatten, causing more stress and weight to fall on the rest of the foot. The shock will then radiate back up the leg. The opposite condition can occur where the arch flattens too much. In this case the weight is distributed on one side too much and the foot becomes unstable. Eventually bones can become misaligned causing issues like bunions and hammertoes.
Types
Functional orthotics are used to support the feet. They prevent abnormal foot pronation, or flattening of the foot. They can also help to reduce the shock from traveling back up the leg. Functional orthotics support the rear foot as well as the midfoot. This can prevent overuse injuries and correct any current foot deformities. An accommodative orthotic is soft and supportive rather than hard and rigid. It is used to relieve foot pain and correct minor problems. These are often used with children and infants to correct foot, leg, or hip abnormalities. By correcting the gait and relieving any abnormal stress to the feet, the orthotics then prevent that pain from radiating up into the back. With an abnormal gait, the back also has to work harder to keep you upright and balanced. Orthotics in Amarillo will help you correct these minor problems that can cause chronic back pain.
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