Some Simple Facts:
Did you know that the average human being takes about 6,000 steps per day? That adds up to about 115,000 miles in a lifetime or more than four times around the world. That is a lot of walking with ill-fitting shoes or painful feet!!
Do you realise that if you are 30lbs overweight, you carry in excess of 150,000lbs per day? One stone overweight equals 70,000 lbs per day?
If you live to 80 years of age, you will have walked approximately 460,000 miles – that’s if you’re not very active!
Would you expect your car to clock up 460,000 miles without having it serviced?
Do you expect your precious feet to propel you 460,000 miles without having a biomechanical assessment?
Be kind to your feet. Choose footwear that affords you maximum shock absorption and mobility. Avoid walking on a non shock- absorbing, hostile environment i.e. concrete.
The peak pressure generated when you run can be 4 times your body weight. Imagine 75kgs x 4 going through your big toe!!!
Do I need Orthotics?
The million dollar question!
In the end it is always YOUR decision. It is YOUR body so YOU decide how to deal with it.
It the USA, Australia, and the Scandinavian countries, the % population with orthotics is significantly higher than here. Irish health insurers are increasingly aware of the significant benefits they can bring with some a covering the total cost.
Orthotics are helpful if:
• You have sore feet on a regular basis e.g. Plantar Fasciitis, heel spur
• If you have pain in your knees or Achilles tendons (runners knee, Achilles Tendonitis, tibialis posterior tendonitis)
• If you spend a good portion of your day standing or walking
• You play sport regularly, especially running sports
• Standing, walking or running gives you joint pain
• You have visible foot problems (bunions, fallen arches, corns)
• One of your legs is shorter than the other
• You have knock-knees or bow legs
• Your shoes wear out quickly or unevenly
• Your feet “toe out” when you walk i.e. Metatarsalgia (Pain in the ball of the foot)
• you have Tired/ Aching feet and legs
• you have Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints)
• you have Pes Planus (Flat feet)
• you have Lumbar-Sacral Pain
At The Spine Clinic, we have helped people of all ages and all abilities with orthotics. Our clients vary from the professional (and ex-professional) athletes to the child to the elderly patient with osteoarthritis. We take great pleasure in seeing you return to injury-free sport and activities following our help – without having to give a thought to heel pain, foot pain, leg pain, knee pain or hip and back pain
If you have foot problems, do your body a service – look after your feet. You only have one pair to do you for life. Click here to contact our a member of our staff to organise a biomechanical assessment. A slight adjustment could make all the difference.
Finally, don’t let these facts depress you. No computer or machine will ever be able to come near the incredible performance and adaptability of the human body.
Click here to find out the 5 things you MUST know about orthotics.
