The arches in your feet are extremely important because they reduce the impact on the rest of the body (that occurs from walking). The foot’s arch acts as a shock absorber; it protects all the joints above it from receiving the full impact of each step you take. If you lose your arch, all your joints will be more susceptible to faster wear and tear. Normal arches also help maintain the most level foundation for the rest of your structure. When the arch starts to fall, the foot drops down. This causes the medial sides of the knees to angle downward and begin to wear unevenly. Soon, the imbalance naturally effects the hips, lumbar spine and even as high as the neck.
In regenerative medicine, restoring a patient’s arches can be an important factor in the success of a case, particularly degenerative knees and hips. At Solutions, we recommend orthotics to help establish a level foundation as joint space improves during both regenerative medicine and chiropractic treatment. Besides helping with structural improvements, many patients who start using orthotics have less foot and ankle pain and mention feeling straighter and more stable on their feet. Some even report better balance. We highly recommend Foot Leveler orthotics in many of our treatment plans. Orthotics are not only important in establishing new function in a joint, they’re also important for maintaining it too. Supported arches from orthotics help contribute to more level joint spaces which translates into better joint health and longevity.
