Treating the cause, not just the symptom!
Solving foot, ankle, knee, hip, and back pain is usually not as simple as putting an arch support into a shoe, as many advertisements claim. Anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone shots, heel lifts, heel cups, and cushion shoes may treat the symptom temporarily but do not address the cause.
The Human Body is made up of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The mechanics of the body are all interconnected, functioning at different times in the walk cycle, and having a certain range of motion. Anytime there is a breakdown in the muscular/skeleton system, the affects can transfer the pain to another part of the body. Understanding the biomechanics of the body and being able to trace the symptom back to the cause of the pain is the only effective solution to solving the discomfort for the future.
We treat the cause, not just the symptom!
Common Foot Problems – Plantar Fasciitis
Jim Murray – Murray’s Shoes Littleton
Pedorthic evaluations are done between 10am to 5pm Monday-Friday for a cost of $50.
Please call us at 303-972-8436 for an appointment or more information.
What is a Pedorthist
Pedorthist take their experience and knowledge of lower limb musculoskeletal biomechanics and applies it to either the doctor’s diagnosis or to their own assessment of the patient’s symptoms. Their goal is to balance both sides of the lower extremities; from foot and ankle to knees and hips. As the pedorthist assesses the biomechanics, they give the physician or the patient many conservative, or non-surgical, treatment options. These options can range from professionally fitted shoes to shoe modifications to assist in the control or realignment of the foot deformity, to over-the-counter or custom-made foot orthosis for improved support.
Pedorthic Evaluation
The evaluation, like the diagnosis from a doctor, is the most important part of determining the form of treatment that will be required to correct the cause and to address the symptomatic discomfort. The form of treatment will vary per individual according to the outcome of the evaluation. The following is an overview of our Pedorthic evaluation:
- Basic questions
- Have you seen a doctor and is there a diagnosis
- Have there been any surgeries or systemic diseases such as Arthritis, Diabetes, Peripheral Neuropathy, etc.
- Are there any other areas of pain, back, legs, knees, hips, etc.
- What all, if anything, has been done to date?
- Shoe inspection
- Fit of old shoes
- Broken counters
- Outsole wear pattern
- Insole wear pattern
- If modifications to shoes are correct
- Foot inspection
- Basic foot observation (foot shape, swelling, open wounds, calluses,
arch height, etc.) - Range of Motion of the joints in the foot through Ankle
- Abnormalities (bunion, hammer toes, Haglund deformity at heel, etc.)
- Basic foot observation (foot shape, swelling, open wounds, calluses,
- Leg Length Discrepancy
- Anatomical or functional
- Gait analysis
- Balance in the sagital and frontal plane
- Overpronation or supination
- Observe for normal or abnormal foot gait (heel strike to toe off)
- Forefoot abduction or adduction
- Review current foot orthotics.
- Basic questions
Our assessment is in no way to be a substitute for a diagnosis from a medical doctor. Once the assessment has been completed the certified Pedorthist will explain what the symptomatic pain is and what is causing the pain. From there, the Pedorthist will explain and show what would be the appropriate course of treating the condition and set up a program to work with.
Cost of Pedorthics
Over the course of a lifetime, most people experience some type of foot problem. Like all other medical care a cost is going to be applicable to seeing any type of practitioner. The Certified Pedorthist works as part of the allied health care team. Our function is to determine the cause of the diagnosis or symptom and to treat the cause. In doing so a full pedorthic assessment must be performed or we would only be treating the symptom. Pedorthic care undertaken at the onset of a foot condition, can reduce pain and a later need for hospitalization or surgery. Keep in mind that the form of treatment will vary according to the outcome of the evaluation.