Integrated Therapy Program
Unhappy feet contribute to pain, and misery throughout the body. This integrative therapy program seeks to relief pain and restore proper function to the feet. It uses highly effective non-drug and non-surgery methods to determine the underlying cause and support regeneration of tissues of the feet and ankles. A comprehensive evaluation is conducted and a written report is provided to recommend the therapies and resources needed to remedy your specific condition.
About the Happy Feet Program
One truth in evaluating and treating thousands of unhappy backs is that often the feet are not keeping up their end of the bargain. We have become well acquainted with the limitations to your quality of life that comes from unhappy feet. It’s hard to enjoy life when every step you take makes you want to sit down.
This manifests clinically as arch drop, hammertoes, neuromas, plantar fasciitis, or bunions. These are all degenerative conditions that come from bad bio-mechanics. On occasion foot problems can be caused by nerve and circulatory issues. The majority of painful feet that come into my practice have been given the mis-diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. Most of these clear by relieving pressure to the nerves in the ankle and feet with an adjustment. On deeper inspection we see the biomechanics of the foot are usually to blame. At times this is aggravated by degenerating joints, nerves and circulatory systems.
Our formula for success is to adjust the feet using highly specific procedures, support the feet with taping, custom, biomechanically correct foot orthotics, prescribe regenerative nutritional and electrical therapies. We combine these into a personalized therapy program just for you.
Can adjusting the feet relieve my foot pain?
Often it can. The foot has to endure major bio mechanical stress and small misalignments of the joints of the foot can cause pain and inflammation in the surrounding tissues. If left unattended degeneration can set in. Sometimes underlying biomechanical problems, from the way your feet grew, causes ongoing issues and must be supported with orthotic inserts.
What orthotics system is used?
Here at Dr. Akers Natural Health Clinic we use Sole Supports, which are custom fit biomechanically correct orthotics that are created from a mold of your feet. This will provide full support to your arch, giving you the corrected foot posture that you need.
Before Sole Supports can make a truly custom device, Dr. Akers has to cast your feet in a very specific way in order to capture the corrected position we want the orthotic to impose on your foot. If you just stepped in a box of foam, we would capture all that is wrong about your feet: the fallen arch, the splayed forefoot, etc. These orthotics actually change how a foot functions on the ground. That is why Dr Akers is carefully trained in their casting technique. Sole Supports only accepts orders from providers trained in this technique.
Who does the casting/fitting?
Dr. Mark Akers D.C. –Link to Bio.
Sole Support description and why are they different:
Sole Supports is an innovative, medical-grade foot orthotics manufacturer, pioneering a completely new paradigm for foot correction, and casting and manufacturing technology that implements it. They offer the first credible and comprehensive alternative to Neutral Position theory and methodology. I use Sole Supports as it is the only lab that follows MASS Posture principles and fabrication techniques in orthotic fabrication to halt and reverse degeneration.
The widely accepted Neutral Position paradigm, fails to address the critical and commonly absent function of adequate foot re-supination after heel lift in stance phase gait. The compensations that result from failed re-supination constitute the cause of most common orthopedic foot pains and deformities. MASS Posture Theory was developed by Dr. Edward Glaser and his biomechanics team to address the problem of re-supination and achieve all of the key biomechanical goals during stance phase.
What conditions can be helped?
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Flattening Feet
- Severe Pronation
- Big Toe Arthritis
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Low Back Pain
- Knee, Hip and Back Problems
- Shin Splints
- Pregnancy
- Sports Performance
- Reduce Deformities
- Calibration
- Correcting Posture
- Custom Calibrated Flexibility
- IT Band
issues
What other benefits do Sole Supports give?
By restoring optimal foot function, you should find that you have a marked increase in standing and walking endurance because each step requires less energy. You will also notice more “spring” in your step because the orthotics facilitate a more propulsive gait. If you exercise, you will notice more power through your feet, especially if you bicycle. Your standing posture should improve considerably, and your new shoes will not splay out sideways like they used to.
What types of orthotics does Sole Supports have?
- Sole Supports Custom Orthotics
- Copley High Heel Orthotics
- Sole Posture Kids Orthotics
What to expect during your casting/fitting:
To complete your custom orthotics you will need two separate 15 minute appointments. The first visit for your custom orthotics will require 15 minutes for the actual casting process. Dr. Akers is trained in a specific way in order to cast your orthotics in the optimal corrective position for your body. At this point your foam mold will be shipped to the Sole Supports facility where they will fabricate your custom orthotic and return it to our office. This process can normally takes 1-2 weeks. Your next visit will also consist of a 15 minute custom “fitting”. During this visit you are advised to bring in several of your shoes, to ensure the optimal fit, and instructed on how to utilize your new orthotics.
I have problem feet and have not been successful with other orthotics. Why should I try this?
Problem feet often have not been properly adjusted and treated to relief inflammation before orthotics are supplied. Other orthotic systems do not address the full range of biomechanical issues and can aggravate these conditions. Our integrated approach addresses these shortfalls that you may have experienced before.
How long does it take to get used to new orthotics?
The “break-in” phase is explained during your second/fitting visit. It can take 1-3 weeks till you completely forget that there are inserts in your shoes. During this phase you may experience mild discomfort while your body is adjusting to its new posture. This is why it is important to fully follow the instruction given by Dr. Akers and Sole Supports.
How long will my orthotics last?
The plastic shell should last indefinitely with normal use and are covered by warranty against cracking or breakage for one year (long enough to protect from manufacturing defect). As long as they remain in a pair of shoes, there is little that is likely to happen to them. Of course, it is possible to accidentally run over them with a car or a dog could chew them up -things that are reasonably easy to avoid. The only other thing that might damage the shell is excessive heat exposure: if you were to leave them under the rear window of a closed car during a hot summer day, they could change their shape. Top cover is a soft covering which is degradable over time, depending on use. It could easily last several years or disintegrate in 8 months, depending on how active the person is. It is covered by warranty for the first 6 months. It can be replaced when worn out.
How long will I need to wear my orthotics?
Once there has been loss of arch height and function, the only way to regain them is through direct support. With years of regular orthotic use, the ligaments in your feet will tighten up somewhat, but a few days of going without the support will stretch them out again. The persistent effects of gravity and hard floor surfaces can only be offset by regular orthotic use.
Resources:
- Sole Supports biomechanically correct orthotics Sole Supports.com
- Extremity chiropractic adjusting of Feet, knees, and hips
- Kinesio-tape
- Anti-inflammatory and joint repair nutrients
- Microvas electrical therapy
- Blood tests for uric acid of gout and other arthritic conditions
- Xray or MRI of feet