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It's one of those mysteries that has baffled runners and runningdoctors for decades: Why do orthotics work? Orthotics are commonly prescribed for painful conditions likeplantar fasciitis, and, anecdotally, people swear by them, howeverscientists aren't exactly sure how they work. A recent study byUniversity of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology researcher ReedFerber, PhD, published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research , suggests that to this point, scientists have been measuring thewrong thing. "This was the first orthotics study to use a multi-segment footmodel," explains Ferber, who is also the Director of the RunningInjury Clinic. "We modeled the plantar fascia and measured strain,with and without orthotics. All previous orthotic research hasreally only involved rear foot motion, putting markers on the heel,and studying the rear-foot. What we found was that an over thecounter orthotic reduced plantar fascia strain by 34%. This is thefirst paper to suggest a potential mechanism by which orthoticswork." The plantar fascia is the thick connective tissue that supports thearch, running from the heel to the ball of the foot. When itbecomes inflamed, it is the source of the painful condition plantarfasciitis that affects an estimated one million Canadians annually.Ferber's study modeled the plantar fascia and compared the strainbetween two points, with and without an over the counter orthotic,(donated and manufactured by SOLE Footbeds.) The study found that17 out of 20 subjects had an average reduction in strain of 34%. "This is obviously a significant reduction and I think it's goingto help improve treatment," Ferber says. "Right now, a doctor wouldlook at a person's feet and say, 'Oh that's a normal foot, andyou're probably not going to do well with a pair of orthotics.' Nowwe have evidence that they actually would benefit because we knowthose orthotics are not just designed to control heel motion, theyalso reduce strain on the plantar fascia," Ferber explains. "Thestudy should also educate the public a little more about thebenefits of orthotics and suggests that a $50 pair of orthoticscould potentially be as effective as a $400 - $500 pair." Ferber says that future studies will examine the effects of insoleson people suffering from plantar fasciitis and for people withabnormal arch structure - for example people with extremely flat feet . "This research helps us to optimize our rehabilitation of injuredrunners," Ferber says. "By understanding the relationship betweenfoot structure, strength, mechanics and flexibility, we can analyzethis scientific data and determine the best treatment for you,which is why we do this research in the first place." Additional References Citations. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Thin-wall Bearing , China Thrust Roller Bearing , and more. For more , please visit Spherical Roller Bearing today!
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