Be Kind To Your Spine By Treating Your Feet!

Most adults remember trekking to the school nurse’s office once a year to bend over and touch their toes for a scoliosis check. And since most of us made it through the teenage years without a problem, there’s no need to ever worry about it again, right? Wrong, according to the spine specialists at Simsbury Chiropractic and Wellness Center who are using National Scoliosis Month in June to alert people that anyone, at any age, can develop a curve in their spine. The main culprit? Your feet!

“The average American takes 5,117 steps per day. Each step causes degenerative changes in the muscles, joints and connective tissues of the feet,” explained Dr. Cheryl Vincent, Owner of Simsbury Chiropractic and Wellness Center (SCWC). “This can lead to asymmetry throughout the feet and body. Eventually it leads to uneven wear and tear on the whole body, which in turn can lead to an uneven spine or Scoliosis. Therefore, adult on-set scoliosis is very common.”

Dr. Vincent describes scoliosis as a 3D side-to-side curve of the spine that twists and can exaggerate normal front to back curves. It affects 1 in 40 people. A progressive curve left untreated can cause heart, lung and neurological complications.

“Treating foot problems, re-balancing leg length inequality, insuring proper joint mobility and muscle balance in the feet can help scoliosis,” said Dr. Vincent. “The benefit of seeking treatment from a chiropractic physician is that we treat the entire body, ensuring overall balance, stability and function.”

Dr. Vincent notes they work collaboratively with Doctors and Physical Therapists to ensure the best possible outcome for their patients. Very often a multi-faceted approach is needed and chiropractic treatment is an integral part of the health care plan.

Treatment may include joint manipulation of the foot, ankle, knee, hip, and back, as well as therapies such as soft tissue massage, ultrasound, cold laser and therapeutic exercises. Orthotic supports are often part of an individual’s treatment.

To diagnose asymmetry throughout the feet and body that may be causing an abnormal spinal curve, SCWC uses the revolutionary 3D Body View Scanner that provides a digital view.

“We have actually been using Foot Leveler functional orthotics for 20 years to correct issues with foot position,” said Dr. Vincent. “However, the old machine only scanned one foot at a time and needed to be run by a doctor or staff member. A patient can easily use the new machine themselves. Another bonus is that it looks at the weight bearing picture of both feet at the same time.”

Simsbury Chiropractic & Wellness Center provides the scan at no charge. Prices for the orthotics range from $250 to $600. Some insurance plans cover the cost.

After diagnosis, functional orthotics are custom made and specifically designed to support all three arches of the foot and to stabilize the entire kinetic chain of foot/ankle/knee/hip/back. Orthotics can also address foot problems like Plantar Fascitis, Neuromas, Bunions and more.

A pair of orthotics can last from 1 to 5 years, depending on personal use, size of the person and structural issues. Sometimes orthotics need adjusting. SCWC will do that on an individual basis.

Dr. Vincent recommends that feet should be checked on a regular basis- either annually, or every other year, for early detection of any problems.

“Chiropractic Physicians are trained to make every joint, muscle, tendon and bone work in unison to keep the body stable and moving,” concludes Dr. Vincent.

The Simsbury Chiropractic & Wellness Center was formed in 1993 by Dr. Cheryl Vincent and merged with Dr. Suzanne Chester in 2009 to provide chiropractic care for the entire family. They specialize in creating personalized holistic wellness plans for pain relief and improved health and wellness.Using a variety of natural health techniques, they treat back and neck pain, headaches, TMJ and offer soft tissue therapy, extremity adjusting, cold laser therapy, acupuncture and more. They are located at 540 Hopmeadow St. For more information visit www.simsburychiro.com or call (860) 651-3355.