Thank you to all patients.
2,400 meals provided to underprivileged pupils in schools across India by the Insole Academy.
The Insole Academy is a Cardiff based orthotic lab.
To every patient who had orthotics prescribed as part of their treatment plan this year - thank you!
Heel Pain? Have A Read...
Are you really suffering with Plantar Fasciitis?
Here are a select few potential causes of your heel pain:
- Baxter's neuropathy
- Insertional Achilles tendinopathy
- Calcaneal apophysitis
- Fat pad issue
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis
- Reactive arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Stress fracture
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Osteomyelitis
- Haglunds deformity
- Heel spur
- Bone tumour
- Posterior tibial tendinitis
...and plantar fasciitis)
Treatment modalities vary from condition to condition, dont presume - get checked!
'The' Arch
Did you know...? The foot has 3 arches
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B-C - Transverse arch
C-A - Lateral longitudinal arch
B-A - Medial longitudinal arch
•
The arch you've heard of (the medial longitudinal arch [MLA]) makes up the inner portion of the foot. The other arches are labelled. The arches play a major role in shock absorption. Followed by ankle dorsiflexion, lowering of the ankle mortise, internal tibial rotation... all the way up to depression of the lumbar curve of the spine. The MLA has a unique four-layer load-sharing system consisting of the plantar fascia, intrinsic muscles, extrinsic muscles and ligaments. The intrinsic and extrinsic muscles are under direct central nervous system control and serve to increase or decrease the stiffness of the arches depending on the type and intensity of the activity of the individual. The ligaments and fascia however are not, and will control passively regardless of terrain or proprioceptive/neurological feedback – working simultaneously to provide a smoother ride, just like a good suspension!
Do Orthotics Really Weaken Your Feet?
I would like you to come to your own conslucion. I'd like you to give this a go...
1. Stand up
2. Tense your glutes (bum)
3. Lift the arches of your feet, and tense your glutes again.
4. Lower your aches to the floor, and attempt to tense your glutes once more.
Your glute medius (pictured) shortens as you lift your arches and it lengthens as you flatten your arches.
Of 1, 2 or 3, which enabled you to get a better contraction?
Researchers have measured that foot orthoses actually cause positive trends in muscle activity during gait. If a muscle is put into a lengthened position, its significantly disadvantaged and is unable to work to its optimal capacity, have a read around glute amnesia. Walking on a muscle within its optimal range allows it to function properly. This is where orthotics come into play... •
Still in doubt? Have a read: https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/podiatry/blogged/do-foot-orthoses-cause-muscle-weakness
[[Consider the patient with a flatfoot deformity. Murley and others studied electromyography (EMG) muscle activity in 30 adults with flat arched feet and compared them to 30 adults with normal arched feet during walking.4 During the contact phase of gait, the flat arched group demonstrated increased activity of the tibialis anterior and decreased activity of the peroneus longus muscles. During midstance and propulsion, patients with flat arches exhibited increased activity of the tibialis posterior and decreased activity of the peroneus longus in comparison to those patients with normal arched feet. Therefore, a flatfoot posture creates more demand on the foot invertors and has reduced demand on the evertors during gait. Under-activity or over-activity of muscle function can be pathologic and occur in the same patient with a flatfoot deformity. (D. Richie Jr. DPM, 2013)]]
