Did you know the average person takes approximately 10,000 steps a day? Whether you realize it or not, your feet do a lot of walking! And your feet are you body’s foundation, balancing your weight with every step.When we think of foot problems, we often think of bunions, heel spurs, and tendinitis. However, not all foot problems cause pain in the feet. Flattened arches affect your body’s posture and weight distribution, which can lead to pain in the neck and lower back. Structural problems in your feet result in displaced pressure to other parts of your body, forcing your knees, hips, and back to overcompensate. You can literally become bent out of shape! That’s why your Doctor of Chiropractic looks at your feet.If your Doctor discovers structural abnormalities, he or she may recommend that you wear flexible, custom-made orthotics. Unlike off-the-rack varieties, custom-made orthotics are designed especially for the unique contours and conditions of your feet. These custom-made orthotics should also be flexible, so they offer the right amount of supple but sturdy support for all phases of foot movement. Overall, by providing 1) a normal range of function for your feet and 2) full corrective support, flexible, custom made orthotics let your feet do what they were meant to do — provide a sound and balanced foundation for your body.Here is some “foot” for thought:

1. Foot problems do not always result in foot pain.
2. Inadequacies in foot structures shift pressure to other parts of your skeleton, often resulting in pain to your knees, hips, lower back, and neck — even causing headaches.
3. Chiropractic adjustments won’t hold if your feet (the spinal column’s foundation) are imbalanced.

If you think that orthotics might help your body back in balance, ask your doctor. Your joints will thank you for it!