Orthotics

Athletes place grueling, constant demands on their weight-bearing joints, including the numerous joints and supporting tissues of the feet. When your arches succumb to excessive or unnatural strain, you may feel the painful results not only in your feet, but in your ankles, knees, and lower back as well. That's when chiropractic orthotics from Empower Sport & Spine can make all the difference in your ability to compete.

Normally, the arches of the normally distribute your body weight to minimize strain on the feet and other weight-bearing joints. Unfortunately, the arches themselves are not always normal in construction. High arches (over supination) or flat feet (overpronation) can cause stress and inflammation in the plantar fascia, the tissue that supports the arch's shape. The result is a painful overuse injury called plantar fasciitis. Untreated arch imbalances can also place abnormal stress on the knee, hip, or ankle structures.

Athletes with arch support issues find themselves at special risk for injuries. The extra pressure they place on their feet as they run, jump, or support heavy loads of aggravating tissue strain. Overpronation can also promote sports injuries such as toe fractures and shin splints.

Dr. Daniel Gifeisman can restore balance to unbalanced arches through the use of orthotics. These shoe inserts conform to your individual feet, providing the right degree of cushioning in the right areas to normalize your weight distribution and ease the strain on your arches. These corrections can also help to straighten out your posture, reducing low back pain, knee pain, hip pain, and other common sports afflictions.

Orthotics often complement a holistic sports injury recovery program that also features other drug-free, non-surgical methods. Our chiropractic team may recommend spinal adjustment or other kinds of therapy to help you get the greatest benefit from your orthotics. Dr. Gifeisman may also recommend changes to your workout regimen, sports technique, or everyday lifestyle that can help you maintain optimal musculoskeletal balance and avoid future sports injuries. 

Don't miss out on your favorite athletic activities due to nagging foot inflammation or other sports injuries -- find out whether orthotics can help you keep playing. Contact our chiropractic team to schedule a consultation.