Most of us ignore our feet until they hurt or we need to trim the nails because they have poked holes in all of our socks. Our feet are the foundation of our entire body. Just like the foundation of our house, we need to be sure that they are well supported, well maintained, and well prepared for their job.

Each foot is comprised of 27 bones and almost countless muscles and ligaments. Many of the ailments of the feet are a direct result of our neglect and/or abuse of them. We need to be certain that we give them the proper support and cushion for the many tons of weight that they carry day in and day out with our walking, running, riding, hiking, skiing and on and on activities that we ask our feet to let us do. Certainly proper shoes for the task are a good start. If you are going running you need to wear shoes designed for running. Just like almost everything else, shoes have a given lifespan. If you are still running in shoes that are from the 1970's or ones that need duct tape to keep them on your feet, it's time to get new ones. If you are wearing dress work shoes make sure that they are the right size and width so that your feet are not crushed by the end of the day.

Even with proper footwear we sometimes have things that cause us foot trouble. In my office I treat patient's feet on nearly a daily basis. Just like any of the other joints of the body, the joints of the feet can get stuck and not move properly. Adjusting the feet and ankle bones can help with restoring normal foot function. I also prescribe a number of useful and effective exercises that a person can perform on their own time to help with maintaining normal foot mechanics.

For those people who need specialized care a Podiatrist can be essential in restoring normal foot function. A Podiatrist is a doctor that is trained in the examination, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of conditions and function of the feet. In my office Dr. Donna Klecka is the Podiatrist who works on many of my patient's feet. She is available on an on-call basis and has helped get many of them back to having the feet as the sound foundation of the body. Between Chiropractic adjustments, Podiatric care and proper patient care of the feet there is little reason for a person to have on-going foot problems.

Dr. Peter Lorentzen Alaska Chiropractic and Therapy