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Services & Specialties
Services: Custom-made Orthotics
Feet are the foundation of the body. Without proper alignment of the joints of the feet, excessive stress and strain can occur elsewhere in the body. Do you have pain in your back, hips, knees, or feet? Do you have arthritic changes, bunions, or flat feet? The pain and dysfunction of these syndromes may be reduced effectively by the use of custom-molded orthotic devices.
Orthotic devices are, essentially, insoles for your shoes that are highly contoured to your feet and designed to flex with the joints of the feet throughout the gait cycle. Orthotic devices realign the joints of the feet to their neutral, mid-range positions. They maintain the structure and stability of the feet to help prevent subluxation of joints and strains of muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the feet and all joints up the kinetic chain.
Did you know that there are more nerve endings per square centimeter on the bottom of the feet than anywhere else on the body? These nerve endings provide the brain with sensory information, such as pressure, joint position, and temperature. Orthotic devices improve sensory awareness and, thus, can improve balance reactions and muscle recruitment patterns during gait.
People who walk or stand for excessive periods at work, overweight individuals, and athletes who routinely subject their feet to the increased stresses of their sport all may benefit from the extra support that orthotic devices provide. In each of these individuals, even minor muscle or joint imbalances can become magnified, leaving the individual vulnerable to injury.
The physical therapists of Bethesda Physiocare have taken numerous courses on the biomechanics of the feet and fabrication of orthotic devices. They perform a thorough evaluation of your skeletal alignment, movement patterns, and shoe wear patterns to create an orthotic prescription to meet your specific needs. By providing your body’s foundation with the support it needs, orthotic devices can help treat painful syndromes and change years of muscle, tendon, and joint dysfunction.
If you believe you may benefit from an orthotics evaluation, any of the therapists on our team can help you assess the right track for you. In the Bethesda Physiocare office, contact Louise Kelley
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