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The Role of Orthotics in Athletic
Performance
By
Joe Mullins, M. Ed., ATC
The importance of the feet in sports and the
role they play can perhaps be understood
through an analogy of a NASCAR racecar. All
of the cars in the race look the same. The
majority of the cars in the race have equal
or very comparable engines. The difference
in the winning car and the others is often
times the ability to negotiate the turns
better (known as the “handling” of the race
car). The relationship between the tires
and the chassis determines how efficient the
driver can manipulate the racecar. The same
holds true for the athlete. The
relationship between the feet and the
remainder of the other joints in the body
(collectively known as the kinetic chain)
determines how efficient the athlete can
manipulate his or her body during skilled
athletic movements.
The feet are the body’s foundation of
movement as they absorb forces that are
created at the ground when the heel makes
contact. The foot redirects the forces up
the kinetic chain to the core where a
transfer of energy is completed to allow for
a skilled athletic movement to occur.
To understand the demands placed on the foot
during activity consider that walking puts
up to 1.5 times one’s bodyweight on the
foot. Running puts up to 275% of one’s
bodyweight on the foot. On average, our
feet log 1,000 miles per year. As shock
absorbers, feet cushion up to one million
pounds of pressure during one hour of
strenuous exercise.
In athletic individuals, sports activities
result in a great deal of movement and
pressure on the foot. Slight imbalances in
the foot, that are undetectable under normal
circumstances, may predispose an athlete to
an injury due to fatigue and the extra
stress of sports activity. The resultant
injury isn’t always manifested at the foot.
The injury can be manifested along the
kinetic chain such as the knee, hip, back or
shoulder – pending on the athlete’s specific
sport. Since the majority of sports revolve
around multidirectional movements, quick
accelerations and decelerations place a
premium on foot function.
The purpose of orthotics is to address these
foot imbalances by reducing fatigue and
promoting efficient muscle function.
Orthotics work like shock absorbers by
promoting proper alignment of the feet.
Optimal foot balance and function can help
an athlete achieve his or her potential by
performing more efficiently and by avoiding
painful kinetic chain dysfunctions.
Since orthotics alter the way a person
walks, stands, and absorbs shock from the
ground, anyone considering orthotics should
consult a
professional with the proper training
for more information.
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