A REALISTIC APPROACH TO RUNNERS KNEE

One of the top injuries that affects both runners (22%) and cyclists (15%) is Iliotibial Band Syndrome, also known as ITBS. The Iliotibial Band is a thick band of tissue that runs along the outside of the leg, from the hip to the knee. Together with the quadriceps, the band provides stability to the outside knee joint when you move.

The pain associated with ITBS typically occurs on the outside of the knee, thigh or hip and may be more noticeable when you’re walking down stairs or when you stand up from a sitting position. You may start to feel ITBS pain in the middle or at the end of a run.

As a sports specific chiropractor with a great deal of experience treating running athletes, I can say that it is usually a combination of multiple factors that lead to this frustrating condition. Possible causes of ITBS include:

Overuse

ITBS is considered an overuse injury that is common among runners who run the same route all the time or the same way around a track.  We all have our favorite footpaths to run. However, running paths that are crowned or sloped will force the pelvis to tilt down in favor of the lower side of the path. The same occurs if you perform a lot of work on a track. The outside leg consistently takes a longer stride which also causes the pelvis to drop, stressing the iliotibial band.

Short leg (Unequal leg lengths)

If a runner has one leg shorter than the other, it is reasonable to see that the pelvis will drop on the side of the short leg. In runners more than cyclists, the short leg will also be the side taking a longer stride.

Imagine running with one shoe on and one shoe off, which side is covering the most distance? The one without the shoe. This can be found during a gait assessment performed by your Chiropractor. However, it is possible to visually recognize a leg deficit in runners that have larger calf muscles on one side compared to the other. Usually the leg with larger calf muscles is the short leg side because the athlete is subconsciously running more on their forefoot trying to compensate for the leg deficiency.

Flat feet (Over pronators)

Over pronators (aka flat feet), even in mild cases, occur when the arches drop and feet fall in. This causes the tibia (shin bone) to rotate medially and thereby the thigh bone follows suit. Now our entire lower extremity is rotated inward which twists the IT-Band into a lengthened position, leading to pain and occasionally presents with a snapping sound or feeling at the hip or knee joint.

Weakened glutei and/or quads
Inactive gluteal muscles are almost always present when dealing with this condition. The glutes have many functions, one of which is abduction of the hip. This means raising the leg laterally, away from the body. If the gluteus medius muscle groups are weak or inactivated during running, it will allow the pelvis to drop in relation to the hip rather that abducting the hip itself. Whether from weak glutes, over pronation or a short leg, the side that the hip is dropping on will elevate the contralateral (opposite) hip by default. This is where the increase in tension occurs to the IT-Band (as depicted by the photo).

How do I avoid ITBS?
Here are some tips that may help avoid Iliotibial Band Syndrome:

• Incorporate foam rolling into your routine
• Speak to a qualified Chiropractor and learn how to incorporate proper stretches and strengthening exercises before you go out on a run or cycle
• Have your running or cycling form evaluated by an expert who specializes in biomechanics
• If you’ve been told by an expert that you tend to over pronate when you run, look into custom-made orthotics

Photo courtesy of John Davis via RunnersConnect
I think I have ITBS. What should I do now?
Schedule an appointment with your Chiropractor to discuss your treatment options. Be sure to specify your health and training goals. Also look for a chiropractor who specializes in athletics and extremity work.

The regular consideration for overuse injuries is to stop performing whatever it is that’s causing the irritation. The old adage, “if it hurts, don’t do it” is something that doesn’t bode well with athletes. As an athlete myself, I understand the mental effects of withholding from one’s passions. I try to treat my patients while they continue their activities or at least with minimal down time. There are a variety of natural treatments and therapies I utilize to get my patients back on their feet and out on the road.

Helping you hit the pavement pain free,

—Dr. Kory Johnson, DC, LMT

Dr. Kory Johnson is a Chiropractor at Douglas Chiropractic and Rapid Rehab in Miramar and Lauderhill Florida. He specializes in preventing and treating athletic injuries, auto accidents and personal injury using a variety of non-invasive techniques. You can learn more about Dr. Johnson at www.douglaschiropractic.com or schedule an appointment with him by calling 877.777.8040

A REALISTIC APPROACH TO RUNNERS KNEE

One of the top injuries that affects both runners (22%) and cyclists (15%) is Iliotibial Band Syndrome, also known as ITBS. The Iliotibial Band is a thick band of tissue that runs along the outside of the leg, from the hip to the knee. Together with the quadriceps, the band provides stability to the outside knee joint when you move.

The pain associated with ITBS typically occurs on the outside of the knee, thigh or hip and may be more noticeable when you’re walking down stairs or when you stand up from a sitting position. You may start to feel ITBS pain in the middle or at the end of a run.

As a sports specific chiropractor with a great deal of experience treating running athletes, I can say that it is usually a combination of multiple factors that lead to this frustrating condition. Possible causes of ITBS include:

Overuse

ITBS is considered an overuse injury that is common among runners who run the same route all the time or the same way around a track.  We all have our favorite footpaths to run. However, running paths that are crowned or sloped will force the pelvis to tilt down in favor of the lower side of the path. The same occurs if you perform a lot of work on a track. The outside leg consistently takes a longer stride which also causes the pelvis to drop, stressing the iliotibial band.

Short leg (Unequal leg lengths)

If a runner has one leg shorter than the other, it is reasonable to see that the pelvis will drop on the side of the short leg. In runners more than cyclists, the short leg will also be the side taking a longer stride.

Imagine running with one shoe on and one shoe off, which side is covering the most distance? The one without the shoe. This can be found during a gait assessment performed by your Chiropractor. However, it is possible to visually recognize a leg deficit in runners that have larger calf muscles on one side compared to the other. Usually the leg with larger calf muscles is the short leg side because the athlete is subconsciously running more on their forefoot trying to compensate for the leg deficiency.

Flat feet (Over pronators)

Over pronators (aka flat feet), even in mild cases, occur when the arches drop and feet fall in. This causes the tibia (shin bone) to rotate medially and thereby the thigh bone follows suit. Now our entire lower extremity is rotated inward which twists the IT-Band into a lengthened position, leading to pain and occasionally presents with a snapping sound or feeling at the hip or knee joint.

Weakened glutei and/or quads
Inactive gluteal muscles are almost always present when dealing with this condition. The glutes have many functions, one of which is abduction of the hip. This means raising the leg laterally, away from the body. If the gluteus medius muscle groups are weak or inactivated during running, it will allow the pelvis to drop in relation to the hip rather that abducting the hip itself. Whether from weak glutes, over pronation or a short leg, the side that the hip is dropping on will elevate the contralateral (opposite) hip by default. This is where the increase in tension occurs to the IT-Band (as depicted by the photo).

How do I avoid ITBS?
Here are some tips that may help avoid Iliotibial Band Syndrome:

• Incorporate foam rolling into your routine
• Speak to a qualified Chiropractor and learn how to incorporate proper stretches and strengthening exercises before you go out on a run or cycle
• Have your running or cycling form evaluated by an expert who specializes in biomechanics
• If you’ve been told by an expert that you tend to over pronate when you run, look into custom-made orthotics

Photo courtesy of John Davis via RunnersConnect
I think I have ITBS. What should I do now?
Schedule an appointment with your Chiropractor to discuss your treatment options. Be sure to specify your health and training goals. Also look for a chiropractor who specializes in athletics and extremity work.

The regular consideration for overuse injuries is to stop performing whatever it is that’s causing the irritation. The old adage, “if it hurts, don’t do it” is something that doesn’t bode well with athletes. As an athlete myself, I understand the mental effects of withholding from one’s passions. I try to treat my patients while they continue their activities or at least with minimal down time. There are a variety of natural treatments and therapies I utilize to get my patients back on their feet and out on the road.

Helping you hit the pavement pain free,

—Dr. Kory Johnson, DC, LMT

Dr. Kory Johnson is a Chiropractor at Douglas Chiropractic and Rapid Rehab in Miramar and Lauderhill Florida. He specializes in preventing and treating athletic injuries, auto accidents and personal injury using a variety of non-invasive techniques. You can learn more about Dr. Johnson at www.douglaschiropractic.com or schedule an appointment with him by calling 877.777.8040

How to Choose Your Shoes

We have all been there-standing in front of the towering shoe department looking for that perfect pair of athletic shoes that suites our functional needs as well as our choice of obnoxious colors. So what do you do? That’s where I come in. Not all shoes are created equal and I am here to shed some light on this topic for my readers in hopes to enlighten and help save you some time and stress.  There are a few things to consider when looking to purchase a new pair of athletic shoes. But first, let me explain the 3 main types of stance/gait that way as you read along you can focus on what applies to you. ( I’m thoughtful like that, ya know?)

The three types are over-pronator, supinator or neutral foot/gait types. Obviously neutral is ideal but in today’s world the most common situation we run into is over-pronators (where your foot rolls inward toward your other foot when you stand or walk). If you have ever been diagnosed with flat feet, chances are this is your foot type. The supinator foot type means that you walk and stand on the outside edge of your feet. A person with this situation won’t have the plantar fasciitis symptoms as frequently as the over-pronator will, but they will be more susceptible to stress fractures and repetitively sprained ankles as well as knee, hip and low back problems. Now a word of advice, those foot scanners that you find at your local grocer are not accurate when it comes to deciphering all the complexities of your feet and gait. Unfortunately, asking the salesman who is helping you with your shoes won’t give you much incite either (unless you find yourself in a specialty shoe store). Understanding your foot type is the most important step because if you choose the wrong pair you’re not only burning money but potentially damaging your feet, knees, hips and low back further.

Now that you better know your foot type, let’s talk shoes. People with flat feet
(over-pronators) need a motion control shoe to help prevent further breaking down of their arches. People with a high arches (supinators) need a cushioning shoe that doesn’t restrict the pronation motion it needs during the gait cycle. Lastly, neutral gait types require a neutral shoe. Do you have a pair of orthotics? Did you know they should ONLY be put into a stabilizing neutral shoe? Putting an orthotic or insert in a shoe that is formed to correct for something else won’t offer a level base for that orthotic to sit on and making sure you have a stabilizing shoe will keep your foot in the position above the orthotic that it is meant to be in.

A word on the minimalist shoes. These are ultralight shoes that are almost hard not to buy due to the fact that it seems like every shoe company out there has their hand in that market. Some examples include Nike Frees, Adidas Adipure, NB Minimus, Brooks Pure-line, Merrell’s or Vibrams just to skim the surface. It’s my opinion that these shoes are not well suited for the majority of people who use them. Chronic over-pronators should not be in minimalist shoes. They need to be in a more rigid, protective shoe. A pair of minimalist shoes will be much more forgiving to someone who is a supinator and even they need to proceed with caution given their propensity for ankle sprains and stress fractures as I mentioned earlier. An argument is often made that a minimalist shoe can strengthen the arch of a flat, over-pronated foot. While I agree with this notion to a degree, I feel the risks outweigh the benefits. It would be much safer to work with someone’s foot to build strength and stability within it before expecting it to handle the stresses of a shoe with no support. If your foot cannot sustain you in supportive shoes how are they supposed to support you in less of a shoe? Probably not going to happen.

Be sure you keep your old athletic shoes! Your chiropractor, podiatrist or even you can retrieve a mountain of information from these smelly gems. Let’s look at the soles of your shoes. Take notice of the wear that has occurred. Does your shoe wear at the rear outer corner? Most rearfoot strikers as well as people with one leg shorter than the other will wear at this part of the shoe. This occurs for most heel strikers because this is the point of first contact with the ground. If you see that it is worse on one side compared to the other then you are taking a longer stride with one leg that can be caused by a short leg or pelvic imbalance. Now place your shoes on a table and look at them from the back. Do you notice a bulging over the middle part of your shoe or that the heel is tilted? This is yet another sign that you may be an over-pronator. Consider a more supportive shoe or perhaps getting a new pair sooner next time. Sock balls on the inside where the back of your heel rests against your shoe indicates that there is too much motion inside the shoe when you move. This indicates a modification to the lacing pattern or sometimes a completely different shoe altogether. So next time you upgrade foot apparel be sure you keep your old shoes and bring them with you when you visit your chiropractor!
A couple of fun facts before I leave you reminiscing about your shoe closet or next pedicure Please remember athletic shoes should be replaced around every 200-250 miles. If you are lifting weights, working a laboring job or generally do more on your feet, then you should consider replacing your shoes much sooner, think around 160 miles. If the midsole of your shoe (inside bottom part) get wet, they lose shock absorption by 30%. Keep that in mind as you work or exercise and also if you are planning on throwing your shoes in the washer. The cushioning on the inside loses its resilience after taking on water. People often ask what shoes I prefer for myself. I too am guilty of mild pronation in my gait and have found that the Brooks Ghost to be one of the best shoes for my foot and training style. They hold an orthotic well and are a good general shoe for a variety of athletic endeavors.

As many of my patients know, there are complexities that come with these conditions that cannot merely be “paid off” by a shiny new pair of kicks. Some feet require some therapy, some specific exercises to strengthen and rebuild the arches in the foot (of which there are 3) and some even require customized orthotics that I mold to your feet. The sooner your concerns are brought to light, the faster they can be alleviated! There is so much more to talk about when it comes to shoes, gait assessments and foot function but that is better saved for another time.

Nocturnal Enuresis is the medical term for bed wetting, for which there are several causes. If a young child urinates in their sleep, it is embarrassing and stressful for them. Sleeping at a friend’s house, camping or traveling with the family all contribute to the psychological distress of the child and the parent responsible for changing linens and washing clothes.

What Causes Bed Wetting?

Setting aside Psychosocial factors which include emotional trauma, or developmental delays, there are a couple of biomechanical causes which are often correctable. There is a reflex in the human body called the phrenic reflex. This is a spinal reflex that relates to the phrenic nerve. The phrenic nerve originates from the neck and innervates (controls) the diaphragm, our primary breathing muscle. This reflex is not developed at birth and takes time and as the child grows so does this reflex. When an infant or child sleeps, they usually sleep very deeply (growing, developing and playing are exhausting!). Often as the infant sleeps, respiration continually slows down. With younger infants it may even seem like they stop breathing for a period, but will soon take a deep breath and restart the cycle. As the breathing slows, carbon dioxide (CO2) will increase within the lungs and body. Once CO2 reaches a certain level, this stimulates the phrenic reflex and normal breathing patterns return. If this reflex isn’t developed or isn’t functioning properly, CO2 continues to increases to a point where the automatic muscles in the body (called smooth muscles), like the heart, lungs and postural muscles and sphincters begin to relax. As I mentioned, Smooth muscles operate without conscious control, like the valve at the end of the urinary bladder. If it relaxes enough, it will not retain fluid. This is called CO2 intoxication and most bed wetting children and is what causes the child to sleep so deeply (Many parents can attest how difficult it is to wake up a child to go to the bathroom).

A child plays to exhaustion, sleeps hard with ever slowing respiration and increasing CO2 due to immature phrenic reflex, the valve/sphincter relaxes and involuntary urination occurs.

There are also cases where the low back (lumbaosacral) segments are slightly misaligned or not articulating properly. This can cause impingement to the nerves that control bowel or bladder function. Although in my clinical experience, this is more rare than the aforementioned.

How Can You Help This?

In some cases underdevelopment of the reflex is present and will take time to develop. If there are psychosocial concerns or hereditary factors those will need to be taken into consideration as well. As I have shared, the phrenic nerve comes out from in-between the 3^rd-5th cervical vertebrae. A painless, fun and interactive examination with the child will help conclude if there is joint malalignment or dysfunction contributing to impingement or irritation of the nerves exiting the neck.

I also make sure to discus the importance of limiting fluids before bed, prevent complete exhaustion by offering naps or quiet times throughout the day and by limiting diuretics or bladder irritants. Excess sugar acts like a diuretic,. Acidic foods can sometimes irritate the lining of the bladder or urethra and caffeine can do the same. It is not unusual for this to resolve after one adjustment (see the ICPA-International Chiropractic Pediatric Association if you are unsure of the safety or validity of chiropractic with prenatal, infant and children’s care). I have personally seen it take up to 7 adjustments but that is rare and would not consider that standard practice. Children respond much faster than adults to chiropractic care as their bodies are more receptive to change and stimulus introduced to their system.

Remaining supportive of your young one is very important. They see the frustration and stress that their problem brings and will internalize it. Which could lead to more problems in resolving it in the long run.

A REALISTIC APPROACH TO RUNNERS KNEE

One of the top injuries that affects both runners (22%) and cyclists (15%) is Iliotibial Band Syndrome, also known as ITBS. The Iliotibial Band is a thick band of tissue that runs along the outside of the leg, from the hip to the knee. Together with the quadriceps, the band provides stability to the outside knee joint when you move.

The pain associated with ITBS typically occurs on the outside of the knee, thigh or hip and may be more noticeable when you’re walking down stairs or when you stand up from a sitting position. You may start to feel ITBS pain in the middle or at the end of a run.

As a sports specific chiropractor with a great deal of experience treating running athletes, I can say that it is usually a combination of multiple factors that lead to this frustrating condition. Possible causes of ITBS include:

Overuse

ITBS is considered an overuse injury that is common among runners who run the same route all the time or the same way around a track.  We all have our favorite footpaths to run. However, running paths that are crowned or sloped will force the pelvis to tilt down in favor of the lower side of the path. The same occurs if you perform a lot of work on a track. The outside leg consistently takes a longer stride which also causes the pelvis to drop, stressing the iliotibial band.

Short leg (Unequal leg lengths)

If a runner has one leg shorter than the other, it is reasonable to see that the pelvis will drop on the side of the short leg. In runners more than cyclists, the short leg will also be the side taking a longer stride.

Imagine running with one shoe on and one shoe off, which side is covering the most distance? The one without the shoe. This can be found during a gait assessment performed by your Chiropractor. However, it is possible to visually recognize a leg deficit in runners that have larger calf muscles on one side compared to the other. Usually the leg with larger calf muscles is the short leg side because the athlete is subconsciously running more on their forefoot trying to compensate for the leg deficiency.

Flat feet (Over pronators)

Over pronators (aka flat feet), even in mild cases, occur when the arches drop and feet fall in. This causes the tibia (shin bone) to rotate medially and thereby the thigh bone follows suit. Now our entire lower extremity is rotated inward which twists the IT-Band into a lengthened position, leading to pain and occasionally presents with a snapping sound or feeling at the hip or knee joint.

Weakened glutei and/or quads
Inactive gluteal muscles are almost always present when dealing with this condition. The glutes have many functions, one of which is abduction of the hip. This means raising the leg laterally, away from the body. If the gluteus medius muscle groups are weak or inactivated during running, it will allow the pelvis to drop in relation to the hip rather that abducting the hip itself. Whether from weak glutes, over pronation or a short leg, the side that the hip is dropping on will elevate the contralateral (opposite) hip by default. This is where the increase in tension occurs to the IT-Band (as depicted by the photo).

How do I avoid ITBS?
Here are some tips that may help avoid Iliotibial Band Syndrome:

• Incorporate foam rolling into your routine
• Speak to a qualified Chiropractor and learn how to incorporate proper stretches and strengthening exercises before you go out on a run or cycle
• Have your running or cycling form evaluated by an expert who specializes in biomechanics
• If you’ve been told by an expert that you tend to over pronate when you run, look into custom-made orthotics

Photo courtesy of John Davis via RunnersConnect
I think I have ITBS. What should I do now?
Schedule an appointment with your Chiropractor to discuss your treatment options. Be sure to specify your health and training goals. Also look for a chiropractor who specializes in athletics and extremity work.

The regular consideration for overuse injuries is to stop performing whatever it is that’s causing the irritation. The old adage, “if it hurts, don’t do it” is something that doesn’t bode well with athletes. As an athlete myself, I understand the mental effects of withholding from one’s passions. I try to treat my patients while they continue their activities or at least with minimal down time. There are a variety of natural treatments and therapies I utilize to get my patients back on their feet and out on the road.

Helping you hit the pavement pain free,

—Dr. Kory Johnson, DC, LMT

Dr. Kory Johnson is a Chiropractor at Douglas Chiropractic and Rapid Rehab in Miramar and Lauderhill Florida. He specializes in preventing and treating athletic injuries, auto accidents and personal injury using a variety of non-invasive techniques. You can learn more about Dr. Johnson at www.douglaschiropractic.com or schedule an appointment with him by calling 877.777.8040

How to Choose Your Shoes

We have all been there-standing in front of the towering shoe department looking for that perfect pair of athletic shoes that suites our functional needs as well as our choice of obnoxious colors. So what do you do? That’s where I come in. Not all shoes are created equal and I am here to shed some light on this topic for my readers in hopes to enlighten and help save you some time and stress.  There are a few things to consider when looking to purchase a new pair of athletic shoes. But first, let me explain the 3 main types of stance/gait that way as you read along you can focus on what applies to you. ( I’m thoughtful like that, ya know?)

The three types are over-pronator, supinator or neutral foot/gait types. Obviously neutral is ideal but in today’s world the most common situation we run into is over-pronators (where your foot rolls inward toward your other foot when you stand or walk). If you have ever been diagnosed with flat feet, chances are this is your foot type. The supinator foot type means that you walk and stand on the outside edge of your feet. A person with this situation won’t have the plantar fasciitis symptoms as frequently as the over-pronator will, but they will be more susceptible to stress fractures and repetitively sprained ankles as well as knee, hip and low back problems. Now a word of advice, those foot scanners that you find at your local grocer are not accurate when it comes to deciphering all the complexities of your feet and gait. Unfortunately, asking the salesman who is helping you with your shoes won’t give you much incite either (unless you find yourself in a specialty shoe store). Understanding your foot type is the most important step because if you choose the wrong pair you’re not only burning money but potentially damaging your feet, knees, hips and low back further.

Now that you better know your foot type, let’s talk shoes. People with flat feet
(over-pronators) need a motion control shoe to help prevent further breaking down of their arches. People with a high arches (supinators) need a cushioning shoe that doesn’t restrict the pronation motion it needs during the gait cycle. Lastly, neutral gait types require a neutral shoe. Do you have a pair of orthotics? Did you know they should ONLY be put into a stabilizing neutral shoe? Putting an orthotic or insert in a shoe that is formed to correct for something else won’t offer a level base for that orthotic to sit on and making sure you have a stabilizing shoe will keep your foot in the position above the orthotic that it is meant to be in.

A word on the minimalist shoes. These are ultralight shoes that are almost hard not to buy due to the fact that it seems like every shoe company out there has their hand in that market. Some examples include Nike Frees, Adidas Adipure, NB Minimus, Brooks Pure-line, Merrell’s or Vibrams just to skim the surface. It’s my opinion that these shoes are not well suited for the majority of people who use them. Chronic over-pronators should not be in minimalist shoes. They need to be in a more rigid, protective shoe. A pair of minimalist shoes will be much more forgiving to someone who is a supinator and even they need to proceed with caution given their propensity for ankle sprains and stress fractures as I mentioned earlier. An argument is often made that a minimalist shoe can strengthen the arch of a flat, over-pronated foot. While I agree with this notion to a degree, I feel the risks outweigh the benefits. It would be much safer to work with someone’s foot to build strength and stability within it before expecting it to handle the stresses of a shoe with no support. If your foot cannot sustain you in supportive shoes how are they supposed to support you in less of a shoe? Probably not going to happen.

Be sure you keep your old athletic shoes! Your chiropractor, podiatrist or even you can retrieve a mountain of information from these smelly gems. Let’s look at the soles of your shoes. Take notice of the wear that has occurred. Does your shoe wear at the rear outer corner? Most rearfoot strikers as well as people with one leg shorter than the other will wear at this part of the shoe. This occurs for most heel strikers because this is the point of first contact with the ground. If you see that it is worse on one side compared to the other then you are taking a longer stride with one leg that can be caused by a short leg or pelvic imbalance. Now place your shoes on a table and look at them from the back. Do you notice a bulging over the middle part of your shoe or that the heel is tilted? This is yet another sign that you may be an over-pronator. Consider a more supportive shoe or perhaps getting a new pair sooner next time. Sock balls on the inside where the back of your heel rests against your shoe indicates that there is too much motion inside the shoe when you move. This indicates a modification to the lacing pattern or sometimes a completely different shoe altogether. So next time you upgrade foot apparel be sure you keep your old shoes and bring them with you when you visit your chiropractor!
A couple of fun facts before I leave you reminiscing about your shoe closet or next pedicure Please remember athletic shoes should be replaced around every 200-250 miles. If you are lifting weights, working a laboring job or generally do more on your feet, then you should consider replacing your shoes much sooner, think around 160 miles. If the midsole of your shoe (inside bottom part) get wet, they lose shock absorption by 30%. Keep that in mind as you work or exercise and also if you are planning on throwing your shoes in the washer. The cushioning on the inside loses its resilience after taking on water. People often ask what shoes I prefer for myself. I too am guilty of mild pronation in my gait and have found that the Brooks Ghost to be one of the best shoes for my foot and training style. They hold an orthotic well and are a good general shoe for a variety of athletic endeavors.

As many of my patients know, there are complexities that come with these conditions that cannot merely be “paid off” by a shiny new pair of kicks. Some feet require some therapy, some specific exercises to strengthen and rebuild the arches in the foot (of which there are 3) and some even require customized orthotics that I mold to your feet. The sooner your concerns are brought to light, the faster they can be alleviated! There is so much more to talk about when it comes to shoes, gait assessments and foot function but that is better saved for another time.