Our feet go through a lot of stress and strain. On average, we walk about 2 miles each day. If you're an athlete then you may be walking/running an average of 5 miles or more…every…single…day. Every one of those steps has the force of gravity and the weight of your body creating a tremendous impact through your feet.
I'm excited to have partnered with PowerStep to offer chiropractors the opportunity to get a free sample pair of orthotics. You can get your free sample at HERE with the code EBC.
With that much impact, it's no wonder that many people end up with foot pain. Additionally, issues with your knees, ankles, hips, or low back can contribute to biomechanical challenges that create pain in your feet.
Foot insoles, or orthotics, are a fantastic way to combat this constant stress. Personally, I use and recommend Powerstep insoles. Developed by a podiatrist over 30 years ago, Powerstep insoles provide me with tremendous support and comfort.
A Case Study: My Father’s Experience with PowerStep
My father has had low back issues (L4/L5 disc pathology) for many years. Foraminal encroachment and spinal stenosis have left him with constant foot pain and neuropathy-like symptoms. It's difficult for him to go barefoot, and walking long distances can be challenging.
Throughout the years, he has worn a variety of different insoles. At most, they helped marginally; at worst, they seemed to aggravate his symptoms.
A few months ago, he began using PowerStep insoles upon my recommendation. The first thing he noticed was the quality of the material, which piqued his interest. Additionally, the support offered by PowerStep insoles was much more robust than any other insoles he had tried. It was clear that these insoles were different and far better than any of the other insoles he'd used over the past ten years. Immediately after putting them in his shoes, he noticed the additional support and felt a noticeable difference. Not only was the support better than he was used to, but it didn't compromise the comfort. Often insoles that have adequate support compromise on comfort. But the Powerstep insoles had an ideal balance of comfort and support.
Since using PowerStep insoles, he has reported a noticeable decrease in daily foot pain and increased ability to walk farther distances. Now, he won't go anywhere without his PowerStep insoles.
I am fortunate to be able to test many different healthcare products. Most of the products that I try are well-meaning but don't make a significant impact on my, or my family's, life. That is not the case with Powerstep insoles.
PowerStep has helped improve the quality of life for my father because of its superior technology and perfect balance of support and comfort. I'd recommend PowerStep insoles to any chiropractor looking to help their patients achieve better clinical results in their practice.
I'm excited to have partnered with PowerStep to offer chiropractors the opportunity to get a free sample pair of orthotics. You can get your free sample at HERE
The other thing I love about PowerStep is that they have done their research. Check out the clinical pearls below to better understand how PowerStep can help your patients find relief from foot pain, back pain, and ankle instability.
PowerStep Clinical Research
PowerStep® is clinically proven to improve foot function.
PowerStep® decreases foot pain and increases the sense of foot stability and mobility over the short term and for at least one year.1
As compared to walking with no orthosis, PowerStep® resulted in a 33.19% reduction in Plantar Fascia strain.16
Compared to two other over-the-counter devices on the market, only PowerStep® exhibited significant decreases, 18.2%, in peak rearfoot eversion.16
After four weeks of use, the majority of PowerStep® users experience a significant improvement in comfort.1
PowerStep® significantly increases comfort regardless of the nature of the presenting complaint.1
By changing frontal plane alignment, PowerStep® significantly changes rearfoot alignment, bringing the rearfoot closer to a vertical position.1
PowerStep® orthotics have been shown to alter frontal plane alignment significantly.1
73% of people still find PowerStep® beneficial after 15 months of use.1
PowerStep® orthotics are an effective, efficient, and economical alternative to custom orthotics in treating plantar heel pain.
Within four weeks of use, PowerStep® is just as effective in reducing foot pain and disability as custom-fabricated orthoses.2
PowerStep® provides a short-term benefit equivalent to custom orthoses at considerably reduced costs.2
PowerStep® is a cost-effective alternative to custom-fabricated orthoses.2
PowerStep® orthotics offer the same therapeutic outcome for heel pain as cast orthoses but are cheaper to supply and can be held as a stock item for immediate supply to the patient, thereby improving the patient experience.3
PowerStep® improves working conditions for employees.
Wearing PowerStep® improves the length of time standing, distance walked, and ability to perform specific tasks on the job.17
Overall pain levels in employees with Plantar Fasciitis reduced steadily with each year of wear.17
PowerStep inserts reduced chronic pain in workers with Plantar Fasciitis when added to work boots or shoes, regardless of type and amount of work performed.17
Foot orthotics can help improve posture control and may help prevent and treat low back pain.
There is moderate evidence to support using foot orthotics in treating chronic ankle instability to help improve postural control.12
Pronated foot function may contribute to low back symptoms in women. Interventions that modify foot function, such as orthoses, may therefore have a role in preventing and treating low back pain.13
Flat-footed individuals benefit from the use of orthotics.
Using a foot insole improves foot alignment and decreases energy consumption of flat-footed individuals during walking.10
There is a significant improvement in symmetry of steps and walking speed with a functional foot orthosis compared to a medical shoe in flat foot children.11
The prescription of a functional foot orthosis with regular shoes might be a good alternative for children with moderate flat feet as orthopedic shoes are heavy and expensive, and most children are reluctant to use them.11
Foot orthotics are effective in treating ankle instability.
There is significant evidence that foot orthotics address mechanical and functional instability of the ankle.14
Foot orthotics have the potential to enhance sensory feedback for improvement of balance and postural control.14
Foot orthotics could address the mechanical components of ankle stability by reducing strain around the ankle's soft tissue structures and enhancing muscular strength for stability.14
Some studies show impressive improvements in balance when combining a prefabricated device with medial posting.14
Researchers attribute positive results with foot orthotics improving postural control to the fact that they optimize the positioning of the foot.14
Efforts to reduce foot pronation are more successful in improving ankle instability than strategies that prevent supination or inversion.14
Foot orthoses may enhance balance and proprioception by stimulating the sensors on the plantar surface of the foot.14
Science Sources:
1 Springett, Otter and Barry. "A Clinical Longitudinal Evaluation of Pre-Fabricated, Semi-Rigid Foot Orthoses Prescribed to Improve Foot Function." The Foot. 17 (2007) 184–189.
2 Ring and Otter: "Clinical Efficacy and Cost Effectiveness of Bespoke Compared with Over-the-Counter Foot Orthoses for Plantar Heel Pain." Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. 2010 3 (Suppl 1): O22.
Musculoskeletal Care. 3 Ring and Otter. "Clinical Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness of Bespoke and Prefabricated Foot Orthoses For Plantar Heel Pain: A Prospective Cohort Study." Jun 25, 2013.
4 Walther M, Kratschmer B, Verschl J, Volkering C, Altenberger S, Kriegelstein S, and Hilgers M. “Effect of Different Orthotic Concepts as First Line Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis.” Foot and Ankle Surgery. 2013 Jun; 19(2):103-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.fas.2012.12.008.
5 Hume P, Hopkins W, Rome K, Maulder P, Coyle G, and Nigg B. "Effectiveness of Foot Orthoses for Treatment and Prevention of Lower Limb Injuries." Sports Medicine. 2008; 38(9):759-79.
6 McCurdy B. "Study: Custom Orthotics Not Necessarily Better Than Prefab." Podiatry Today. Feb 2005. Vol 18-Iss 2.
7 Richter RR, Austin TM, and Reinking MF. "Foot Orthoses in Lower Limb Overuse Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis—Critical Appraisal and Commentary." Journal of Athletic Training. 2011 Jan-Feb; 46(1): 103–106.
8 Pfeffer, Glenn, et al. "Comparison of Custom and Prefabricated Orthoses In the Initial Treatment of Proximal Plantar Fasciitis." Foot and Ankle International. 20.4 (1999): 214-221.
9 Bateni H. "Improvement in Postural Sway Following Use of Prefabricated Orthotic Insoles." Journal of Applied Biomechanics. Apr 2013; 29(2): 174-9.
10 Karimi MT, Fereshtehnejad N, and Pool F. "The Impact of Foot Insole on the Energy Consumption of Flat-Footed Individuals During Walking." Foot and Ankle Specialist. 2013 Feb; 6(1):21-6.
11 Aboutorabi A, Saeedi H, Kamali M, Farahmand B, Eshraghi A, and Dolagh RS. "Immediate Effect of Orthopedic Shoe and Functional Foot Orthosis on Center of Pressure Displacement and Gait Parameters in Juvenile Flexible Flat Foot." Prosthetics and Orthotics International. Aug 28, 2013.
12 Gabriner ML, Braun BA, Houston MN and Hoch MCJ. "The Effectiveness of Foot Orthotics on Improving Postural Control in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Critically Appraised Topic." Sport Rehabilitation. Aug 12, 2013.
13 Menz HB, Dufour AB, Riskowski JL, Hillstrom HJ and Hannan MT. "Foot Posture, Foot Function, and Low Back Pain: The Framingham Foot Study." Rheumatology (Oxford). Sep 17, 2013.
14 Douglas R. "Chronic Ankle Instability: Can Orthotics Help?" Podiatry Today. Oct 2006. Vol 19-Iss 10.
15 Podiatry Management Online. "Which brand of prefabricated orthotics do you dispense in your office?" Survey. http://podiatrym.com/photo.cfm?photoid=8884. Nov 25, 2013.
16 Ferber R and Hettinga BA. "A Comparison of Different Over-the-Counter Foot Orthotic Devices on Multi-Segment Foot Biomechanics." Prosthetics and Orthotics International. May 26, 2015.
17 Durak E (2016) The Use of the Power Step Shoe Insert to Manage Plantar Fasciitis Pain in Industrial Workers: A Seven-Year Pilot Report. J Ergonomics 6: 150. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000150
