How Orthotics Can Help You

The foot is a machine. It functions as our interface between the ground and the greatest deforming force on the human body which is gravity. Forces of 3 1/2 times the bodyweight passed to the foot with each step and the average person takes in excess of 10,000 steps per day most of which in our society is on concrete. This should give you some idea as to the enormity of the forces endured by the foot. As we age, even a normal foot flattens or we lose some degree in the arch of the foot. All of the common for problems such as the bunions, plantar fasciitis, metatarsal, hammer toes, calluses and corns are usually caused by the lack of enough arch in the foot when we are standing, walking or running. Because our feet are the foundation to our bodies and it is very important that we keep them in good shape. As we age, our arches tend to fall and when that happens, that can affect our ankles, knees, hips and even our backs. It's just a good idea to make sure our feet are in good shape at all times.

Orthotics are custom-made inserts that you can put in your shoe. They are designed to change the mechanical function of the foot. Orthotics work dynamically during weight-bearing activities like walking, running or standing. Ideally, it should provide full custom and corrected arch contact so that the foot works in a biomechanically correct way.
Making orthotics is quite an easy process. The patient sits down and an impression is made of their feet. The company I use is called Sole Supports. This company is actually owned by podiatrists. I just cast the feet and send the cast into the company and they make the orthotic.
As you can imagine, there are many orthotics companies out there. What makes Sole Supports unique is the orthotics themselves. The plastic piece that goes in your shoe is specially designed. The thickness of the plastic is dependent on the mobility of your foot and your body weight. So this orthotic is made out of plastic, but it also gives so there's some cushion to it. It's called a semi-rigid orthotic. So, it is not a super hard piece of plastic under your foot. Without question, the most common complaint I get about people purchasing orthotics elsewhere is that they are so hard and uncomfortable. The Sole Support also has a layer of foam on top of the plastic which make the orthotic very comfortable.

The plastic portion of the orthotic will last a lifetime. The top cover which is made out of foam usually needs to be resurfaced every 10 years. I also guarantee the fit. The last thing I want is for someone to purchase a pair of orthotics from me and have them sit in a closet somewhere. I will guarantee that they will be comfortable so you will be wearing them every day. From start to finish it usually takes about two weeks.

They’re great for runners too! Runners put high demands on their bodies, especially their feet and arches. A typical 150-pound athlete who runs 10 miles per week will hit the ground with about 10 million pounds of impact load each week. This puts a much greater demand on the feet and body than somebody with a relatively sedentary lifestyle.
Contact our office to learn more about purchasing your own pair of orthotics.

Top 12 Cancer Prevention Strategies

We CAN prevent cancer. My top 12 cancer prevention strategies include:

1.  Reduce or eliminate your processed food, fructose and grain carbohydrate intake. Eat tons of whole foods, Veggies, fruits, meats, beans.  Anything that doesn’t take a “process” to make.

2.  Normalize your vitamin D levels by getting plenty of sunlight exposure and consider careful supplementation when this is not possible. If you take oral vitamin D and have cancer, it would be prudent to monitor your vitamin D blood levels regularly. To learn what your vitamin D level is, go to your MD and have your blood drawn.

3.  Control your fasting insulin and leptin levels. (Improved insulin and leptin control is the natural outcome of reducing or eliminating fructose, grains, and processed foods from your diet.) Leptin is a hormone that has a central role in fat metabolism. Leptin was originally thought to be a signal to lose weight but it may, instead, be a signal to the brain that there is fat on the body.

4.  Normalize your ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats by taking a high-quality fish oil and reducing your intake of most processed vegetable oils.

5.  Get regular exercise. One of the primary reasons exercise works is that it drives your insulin levels down. Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks.

6.  Get regular, good sleep.

7.  Eat according to your nutritional type. The potent anti-cancer effects of this principle are sorely underappreciated. However, some cancer specialists are now using nutritional typing as an integral part of their cancer treatments. Check out “Eat Right for Your Type” on Dr. D’Adamo’s website:  http://www.dadamo.com   Find out your blood type (typo O, A, B, AB) from your MD.

8.  Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution.

9.  Limit your exposure and provide protection for yourself from EMF (Electronic Magnetic fields) produced by cell phone towers, base stations, cell phones and WiFi stations. On May 31, 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared that cell phones are "possibly carcinogenic to humans."  To protect yourself, try not to wear it next to your body.  When I am in the car I put it on a cup holder.  At the office I set it on the desk.  Talk as little as you can on the cell phone.  Use a land line if possible. 

10.  Avoid frying or charbroiling your food. Boil, poach or steam your foods instead.

11.  Have a tool to permanently reprogram the neurological short-circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. It is likely that this factor may be more important than all the other physical ones listed here, so make sure this is addressed. Energy psychology seems to be one of the best approaches and my particular favorite tool, as you may know, is the Emotional Freedom Technique.

12.  Eat at least one-third of your food raw. Eat as much fruits and veggies as you wish.  If you love apples feel free to eat 4-5 on them a day!

The 12 Principles of Success

1. You have to know where you’re going.

Have a dream. Know what your dream is. Paint a picture of it. Let it dominate your life every day – morning and night. Your dream should wake you up in the morning and keep you up at night!  Life has a purpose for being here. When you go on vacation or a trip, what’s the first thing you decide? Where are you going?

2. You have to know how to get there. 

Plan, plan, plan. Use my vacation analogy:  You have to follow your plan (or your map) in order to get there the easiest and most efficient way.  Prior to running a marathon, how many miles do you have to run each day or week?  To start a new career, do you have to take some classes?  If so, which ones?

3. You have to LOVE it.

You have to really believe in this one. Never wish you had a different one or a better one - whatever “it” is. Be committed to it. Love covers some cruddy stuff. There will always be junk. LOVE always wins.  If you love it, it will never fail.  Look at Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg...successful people love big!

4. This is important — in order to change your future, you must change your direction. 

You have to be willing to change for it. It’s much easier to stay where you are, but your change will change others. Carefully examine your friends, advisors, peers, co-workers, etc.  Draw from the winners. You’ve heard the expression “soar with the eagles.” Don’t peck along the ground with the chickens. 

5. This is sometimes hard for people to talk about: You have to sacrifice for it! WORK IT. 

The number one disease in the workplace today is what? LAZINESS. You have to work at it. You have to be willing to pay the price. Success comes at a price. Success is not a technique or found in a piece of equipment. It can’t be found in a code either. Success isn’t a lottery. It’s called work for a reason. This may include taking time away from your family or skipping out of your buddy’s golf tournament once in awhile.  

6. To be successful, you must think success. 

98% of the population think crap and call it the facts. Examine how you think. What you thinketh, you becometh. It will cause you to act differently. Believe you are going to heaven – you will be happier. Your thoughts are the prophets of the future.  You can’t think you are going to fail and eventually succeed.  If you step up to bat and think you are going to strike out, you probably are going to strike out.  

7. This is a critical step to success: Live inspired – become inspiring.

This is a choice –not a trait or inheritance. Inspire your family!  In the movie, “Secretariet,” the mom wants to live the dream. Her husband wants her to stay home. However, he acknowledges and commends her on showing the kids how to live the dream. The true reward is the purpose – not the money, which isn’t the cure.

8. Be coachable. 

Most people aren’t coachable and don’t listen. The truth is that no one in history has ever achieved extraordinary success without a coach. The secret to being amazing is the ability to “copy genius.”  When we were in school, we were taught not to copy. However, in the real world, it’s okay to go out there and copy successful people.

9. Romans 8:28:  “All Things Work Together for the Good.”   

In other words, do all the steps necessary for success all the time. 

10. Develop the constancy of purpose.

This requires time and repetition. Be consistent. All professions have some sort of repetition. Focus fades. Make a five year plan for success. You will love the results when you stay focused on that plan.

11. Financial Responsibility. 

Financial security = success. If you cannot save money, the seed of success is not in you. Poor is a condition- no one is poor. We may be broke, but not poor. Broke is a situation – it can be repaired. How are you at repairing it? Are you living within your means? You can’t be spending more than you are making.

12. Please God. 

Everything begins with God. There is no such thing as great without a great God supporting it. You must have a strong foundation. Ask yourself: What is your purpose on this planet? What if you live without spiritual purpose? Accomplishing nothing in life requires no prayer. What game of success do you want to play? If you want to win at the game of success, Please God!