Happy New Year from Dr Rich Blake!!
Podiatrists, and many physical therapists, make orthotic devices and other biomechanical decisions based on balancing the patient's forefoot abnormalities. When the primary function of the orthotic device is to support structural problems in the foot, the orthotic devices is called a balanced orthotic device or Root balanced orthotic device. Dr Mert Root, the founder of modern day orthotic devices, first published and lectured extensively on this subject in the 1960s and 1970s. It is still to many health care providers the only way to treat patients. The next few weeks I will be discussing the biomechanical guidelines surrounding this type of approach.
It was the 1980s that the next explosion in biomechanics occurred with the development of Corrective orthotic devices with Biaxial sectioning, Inverted technique (my invention), Kirby Skive, and other modifications. Here the foot was modified to correct the forces of pronation more than could be accomplished by Root balancing or modified Root balancing. Here will be many posts on these sections.
Ah Chihuly!!
Now see the mold below. The lateral arch is filled in. This is more like an OTC orthotic device now and loses its effectiveness for many injuries.
Below is the orthotic device designed around Root Balancing. See the great lateral and medial archs. With this type of orthotic device, there are times when you can not tell which is the inside arch and which is the outside arch. Root balancing is classic podiatry and since it can be more harder to get used to, it is commonly lowered labs whom want to make a comfort orthotic device. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of the orthotic device may be greatly sacrificed. This the the common look of an orthotic device for a forefoot abnormality called forefoot valgus or plantarflexed first ray.
i saw chihully!!!! love the green colors. reminds me of maiden name- whooley- chiwhooley!!
ReplyDeleteso conclustion above with root orthotics is that it is ok in long run to lift lateral arch as high as medial arch in above type orthotic when usually lateral side foot lower normally?
yoga toes: dont these do the opossite of what our lumbrical muscles do-close toes? assuming then we need a balance of ability to open and close toes? So- do yoga toes go against the work of our lumbricals? respond if u want.
thanks 4 ur help,guidance and ear, and....blog.
Hi there Dr. Blake,
ReplyDeleteI am a final year podiatry student from Australia. I was exposed to the bi-axial balancing technique on a placement but I didn't really understand it as we are only taught the Root method.
Are you able to send me some information on the bi-axial technique.
Regards,
Bill
I have a great connect for you. Please email me at drblakeshealingsole@gmail.com and I will forward your email. Hopefully, it will work out. Rich
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