When walking, each foot lifts and hits the ground without us consciously thinking about how it’s happening. We just walk. Then, one day, we set our foot down and, “Ouch!” We have pain in the low back. How did that happen? There is something off in the biomechanics of your gait cycle. In other words, your foot is not lifting or landing correctly and it sets off a chain of events from your foot to your hip that causes pain. As your chiropractor, I can perform a Gaitscan, a computerized test, to see where along that chain the disruption occurs, so that we can correct it.
So, what does the Gaitscan (a dynamic evaluation of your feet while standing and walking) tell you as it relates to your current pain, and how will orthotic support (if indicated) help you now and in the future?
The gait cycle (walk cycle) describes what happens to the foot and ankle from the point of initial contact of one foot with the ground to the point at which the same foot contacts the ground again. The gait cycle is divided into the swing phase and the stance phase. During the swing phase, the foot is not in contact with the ground. As the name implies, it is the phase of the gait cycle in which the foot swings forward to take another step. During the stance phase, the foot is in contact with the ground. The stance phase of the gait cycle can also be divided into three stages. The first stage is called heel strike; the second stage is called mid-stance; and the third stage is called heel lift.
During heel strike of the stance phase, the foot begins to pronate. Pronation of the foot is the term that describes the rolling motion of the foot inwards and flattening of the inner (medial) arch of the foot. Pronation allows the foot to adapt to uneven terrain and absorb the impact of the foot striking the ground. It is during this phase that the foot begins to act like a shock absorber.
During mid-stance, the entire foot is in contact with the ground, and the weight of the body is directly over the foot. It is during this phase that the foot is maximally pronated. The foot also acts as a shock absorber during the early part of this phase.
Heel lift occurs at the end of the stance phase. Supination of the foot is the term used to describe the rolling motion of the foot outwards and the rising of the inner (medial) arch of the foot. During heel lift, the foot supinates to act as a rigid lever. The plantar fascia is a strong connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot connecting the heel to the base of the toes. The bones, muscles, and the plantar fascia act together to form this rigid lever.
Abnormal amounts of pronation or supination can cause a variety of foot and leg problems. Abnormal pronation (overpronation) occurs as a result of the foot pronating when it should be neutral or supinating. Abnormal supination occurs when the foot is too rigid. These abnormal biomechanics can create lower back, hip, knee, ankle and/or foot problems.
Healing Tip of the Week
If you are having pain in the feet, ankles, knees or back, take the time to consider the following:
Are your shoes in good working condition? Worn out shoes can contribute to more than just pain. They can assist in the acceleration of joint degradation.
Do you ignore foot pain and hope it goes away? It usually doesn’t.
Do you feel that you can’t afford to get the appropriate help regarding foot pain and its primary cause?
A consultation at the Advanced Wellness Center is free.
