50 / 80
www.theconnectionsnj.com
Health and Wellness
PAGE 50
Non-surgical Spine & Ortho Care Physical Therapy Chiropractic Nutrition / Weight Loss Acupuncture Massage Therapy Biofeedback Therapy Hormone Optimization Skin Rejuvenation Improving Your Health & Wellness for a Healthier More Youthful Life! Call TODAY for a FREE consult! 908-252-0242 • NMRNJ.com 3322 US Highway 22 West • Branchburg Commons Building 1 • Branchburg, NJ 08876 KNEE, HIP & BACK PAIN CAUSED BY YOUR FEET? By: Dr. Vincent Sferra Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation Feet - the foundation to a pain-free body. Surprisingly, your feet may be the cause of your knee, hip and back pain. Many pain syndromes and problems of the musculoskeletal system, including the spine, have their origin at the feet. Although your feet may cause the problem, they may not be feeling any of the pain they are causing. Your feet carry your body weight, help you stand tall and strong, and carry you through your daily activities. Prob- lems with your feet may cause you to change the way you walk, stand or move – which can lead to health issues and pain all the way up to your knees, hips and spine. Flat feet cause the foot and ankle to roll inward when walking or running. Shin splints, along with knee, hip and low back pain, are common problems associated with hyper-pronated feet because the muscles on the inside of the legs must work harder. When your tibia (shinbone) rotates inward, it places extra pressure on the muscles around the knee and creates muscle imbalance. A high arched foot causes the foot to roll outward, making the outside muscles of the legs work hard- er. Ligament sprains, stress fractures and tendonitis are common problems with hyper-supinated feet. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Run- ner’s Knee) develops when there is an imbalance in the strength of muscles that move the kneecap, causing grind- ing, friction, and pain. People with improper foot mechanics are at more risk. Foot orthotics and therapeutic rehabilitative exercises can get the knee muscles back on track. Shin Splints are usually related to improper biomechanics of the foot and knee. Analyzing a person’s gait can detect mechanical foot problems, such as altered arch heights and weight bearing imbalances, which can determine the underlying cause of pain. Foot orthotics and physical ther- apy focuses on returning the biome- chanics of the foot and knee to prop- er function. People who have Plantar Fasciitis expe- rience heel pain. They often find relief with foot orthotics and therapeutic exercises to help stabilize the foot and decrease the stress on the plantar fas- cia, or band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. When your foot function creates a rotation of your leg bones, muscle imbalances, and excessive stress on your knees and hips, it can also make its way up to causing you low back pain. Changes to the alignment of your ankle, knee, hip and back also cause additional wear and tear on the body. Symptom relief is often the primary goal of traditional medicine, but treat- ing the cause of the problem should take precedence. Foot orthotics can help correct the function of your feet, improve your posture and the align- ment of your body. The importance of good nutrition to help maintain a healthy weight is necessary to elimi- nate additional strain on the body. A functional movement assessment to pinpoint and rehabilitate weakness in primary movement patterns is benefi- cial to people who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal problems. Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation’s goals are to identify and treat the cause of the symptom as well as strengthen and stabilize the body so the patient can enjoy their health for years to come. Call 908-252-0242 Mention this article for a free new patient consultation! Dr. Sferra is the Founder and Clinic Director of Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation. He is a Board Certified Chiropractic Physician, a Certified Clini- cal Nutritionist and is CSCS certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Dr. Sferra is the recipient of the “2005 Spirit of Somerset” award for his outstanding contribu- tion to Health and Wellness in the community. For more information visit www.NMRNJ.com or call 908-252-0242 Smiles Unlimited Dental Center MOST INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED Emil T. Kesler, DDS Valentina M. Kesler, DDS We speak Ukranian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Hungarian – and of course, English! Our patient’s needs always come first! 908.722.5511 60 South Main Street • Manville (Across from Bank of America) www.smilesunlimited-dental.com LATE EVENINGS AND SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE FREE Consultation (Value of $60) for Future Dental Treatments LIMITED OFFER Senior Citizens without Dental Insurance 20 % OFF ALL SERVICES EXPIRES 1/31/16.