The American Chiropractor Volume 36, Issue 6 | Page 47

FEATURE
So here is the rub: ovelWeight and obese patients often come in to us knowing they
need to exercise. They don't realize the arch collapse in their feet is a major cause of
their pain. They tell us they try to walk, get on the treadmill, or perform some other
type of weight-bearing exercise. What happens? Their feet, knees, or back hurt more
so they can' t exercise. It is a vicious cycle, so how can you help them break it?
Try this:
1. Appropriate physiotherapy modalities (i.e. , laser, US, EMS, etc.) to the affected
areas.
2. Adjust the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and affected spinal regions.
3. Scan the patient and get them a pair of custom, three-arch, flexible orthotics.
4. Use elastic sports tape to support the three arches of the feet while you wait
for the custom orthotics to arrive. Elastic sports taping is extremely helpful
for the painful body part as well. Taping of ankles, knees, and the low back is
common for my practice.
5. Check that patients are wearing supportive shoes appropriate for their body
weight.
6. Prescribe home care, which may include:
Creams, gels, or products for pain, swelling, inflammation, etc.
Appropriate exercises (i.e. , stretches, pool exercises, walking, or other
cardiovascular activities that are not too stressful for their bodies).
7. Nutritional consultation. Whether you do it or you refer outside of your
practice, patients need ideas and recommendations for how to eat and make
healthier choices.

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Now, let's go back to Allie. 1 knew the pain in her knees and lower back was due
to her excessively pronating feet, so we treated and adjusted her in the affected areas.
Since 1 had scanned her and she understood her arches were a big factor, 1 put elastic Eat Normal Supermarket Foods
tape on her feet to simulate the support the orthotics would give her.
Research Validation: University
She felt relief when she left my office, and was very shocked when she came back
two days later to find that the adjustments and taping had worked together to help
reduce her pain by 50%. She ordered the orthotics that next visit. 1 kept her feet taped
and saw her two more times over the next week. Then the orthotics arrived and she
was surprised at how comfortable they were the first time she wore them.
Allie returned two weeks after getting the orthotics and said to me, "I put those
orthotics in and 1 have never taken them off. 1 feel amazing. 1 even put them in my
slippers. My knee pain and lower back pain have improved over 90%. 1 can walk
longer and farther, and for the first time in years, 1 am exercising. 1 am walking, doing
aquarobics, and want to try yoga. 1 also love the nutritionist you referred me to. We
have changed my diet and 1 am eating healthier."
Obesity is rampant in our society today. It unfortunately has many facets. Our
patients usually come to us after seeing the allopathic physician and trying a slew of
fad diets. As chiropractors, we need to know how to recognize the relationship that
feet have to the pain patients are exhibiting in the lower body and spine, and the way
these problems contribute to, and perpetuate, weight problems (and vice versa).

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When we help break the cycle, we free patients to take control of their lives again
and go on the offensive to be healthier and pain free. We help them start and build momentum. Not many health practitioners actually understand the feet enough to make it
part of a treatment plan. So go the extra step and be that practitioner. Do you have any
patients like Allie in your office? 1 challenge you to look at them from the ground up.
Dr. Kevin Wong is an expert on foot analysis, walking and standing postures
and orthotics. Teaching patients and chiropractors is a passion for him, and he
travels the country speaking about spinal and extremity adjusting. Dr. Wong
practices full-tim e in Orinda, California. Contact Dr. Wong at 925-254-4040
or drkevinw