| By :
Nick Messe
Imagine riding a bike that has a wobbly wheel. As you pedal, the wheel moves in directions it's not supposed to. As the wheel moves along this unusual path, you'll notice that the bike is difficult to steer, difficult for you to balance and causes vibration in your hands, arms and shoulders. If you were to pedal like this for an extended period, you would eventually develop problems in the arms and shoulders even though they're far away from the wobbly wheel. If you look at a foot or ankle that isn't working properly due to age, pregnancy, deformity or injury and compare it to the wobbly wheel, it might seem more clear. As your foot hits the ground with each walking or running step, a number of things happen in the many joints of your foot and ankle. For example, a low arch will cause the foot to flatten out when it bears weight, this will cause the foot to turn in. When the foot turns in, the knee twists. With the flattening of the foot and twisting of the knee, tendons, muscles and joints are stressed in ways that were never intended. A foot doctor can make you an orthotic that will support the foot, and cause the joints to work properly thus eliminating the wobbly wheel effect. Your muscles and joints will align better. Stress will be decreased along an entire line of weight bearing joints to eliminate pain, fatigue and aches. Some people go to a department or drug store and buy generic inserts that they call orthotics. Only a trained Podiatrist and technicians at a clinic should be fitting you with an orthotic insert. An effective foot orthotic is custom made after an evaluation done by a skilled technician. These technicians are specially trained to use computer diagnostic equipment that can map the movement and pressure points of your foot while you walk. They will also evaluate your actual walking pattern. This is extremely important as the patterns of your step, and the movement of joints all the way up to your back will be mapped. This will show the technicians what your foot does as it bears weight, and how it may be causing you pain or discomfort. Even athletes who don't currently have any complaints may find that custom orthotics will give them much improved speed and agility when their biomechanics are working in top form. While orthotics are practically miracles, there are some things they can't do. Badly healed fractures, avulsed tendons and torn tendons can lead to instability and other problems that require correction by a foot surgeon. Other problems that may require the services of a foot surgeon are acquired or congenital conditions such as arthritis, bunions, foot malformation and deformity. Orthotics can help relieve a little of the pain these things will cause, but ultimate relief is had from surgical intervention. The foot and ankle are comprised of multiple joints that work on different planes. Not only are many joints involved in each and every step, but so are a myriad of specialized muscles, tendons and supportive tissues. Because each step involves all of these structures, all of the time, analysis becomes very complicated. Only a Podiatrist has gone through the extra schooling necessary to properly understand these intricate joint relationships.
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