In the treatment of the foot, and the lower extremity, we strive to make a foot less painful and more stable. Both the decrease in pain, and increase in stability, should guarantee increase function and a better quality of life. There are so many ways to improve stability of the medial column that runs from the tip of the big toe, across the big toe joint, up to the instep, back into the talo-navicular area, and back down into the medial calcaneus. A stable medial column normally means less foot, ankle, leg, knee, hip and back pain. As you work to get your custom orthotic devices more and more refined to stabilize the individual's local and global biomechanics, remember that achieving a stable medial column is not just the orthotic device. We achieve stability across the medial column with improved stability across any segment of this anatomy. The following summarizes all of the most common methods of achieving more and more medial column stability. These are:
- Taping of the big toe joint
- Toe Separators for better big toe joint alignment
- Morton's Extensions
- Cluffy Wedges
- Correct Toes
- Arch Binders
- Circumferential Midfoot Taping
- Low Dye Taping
- Quick Tape
- Inversion J Strap
- Intrinsic Muscle strengthening
- FHL strengthening
- Anterior Tibial strengthening
- Posterior Tibial strengthening
- Gastroc-Soleus Strengthening
- Stabilty shoes
- Shoes with good midfoot support
- Power Lacing or Stability Knot
- Achilles/Hamstring Stretching if Equinus Forces
- Runner's Varus Wedges (added by Dr Arnie Ross)
- Good stable Custom Orthosis (added by Dr Arnie Ross)
Please in the replies below let me know if you want more information on any of these 19 additions to achieving medial column stability.
