329- Foot Orthotics and Your Chiropractic Practice

Welcome to the Evidence Based Chiropractor where each week we deliver the latest chiropractic research and marketing strategies, all in the time it takes to get to your office. Now, here's your host, Dr. Jeff Langmaid.

Hello and welcome to the Evidence Based Chiropractor. I AM your host, Dr. Jeff Langmaid. On today's episode, I had a chance to sit down and chat with Dr. Anthony from Power Step.

And here's a story.

For decades, my father has struggled with foot pain, with back pain, you name it. And a few months ago, he began using Power Step insoles and orthotics. And it made the biggest difference I have seen than anything in a long time with his ability to have support and, and his ability to find relief. So I wanted to sit down, chat with Dr. Anthony, understand more about Power Step, and they were gracious enough to offer listeners of the Evidence Based Chiropractor a free sample pair. Click the link in the show. Notes pro.powerstep.com sample pro powerstep.com sample for a limited time, they're offering a free sample pair. These are the insoles my father personally uses and has found relief. I've checked them out.

I love the quality.

Now you can learn more by listening in to my conversation with Dr. Anthony with Power Step.

Hey, what's going on, Docs? Dr. Jeff Langmid here with the Evidence Based Chiropractor. And I'm happy to sit down with Dr. Anthony from Power Step. We're going to talk all about orthotics, what you need to know, break down some myths and showcase what you should know, if and when you're using orthotics in your practice and why it is so important. Yes, all that and more. Anthony, how are you doing today?

Dr. Langman, I'm doing amazing. Nice to see you.

It is great to see you.

I want to kick it off.

We're going to dive right in. So many docs out there are, I think, familiar with orthotics, but they don't really know how, why to use them in practice. And let's start right at the top of the question that I've always had. What are the differences between different types of orthotics because there are so many on the market.

Absolutely. It's a great question, Jeff, and it's one of those things. There's so many, what do we do? How do we pick? What do we choose? It's information overload sometimes. Right. So, well, let's give you just kind of a framework for everybody listening, kind of at its base level. So what orthotics are, and those are essentially just shoe inserts that are used as a method to treat many different types of foot and ankle problems. Many chiropractors out there use them on a daily basis for different types of patients. And at its base level, that's really what an orthotic is. So in a nutshell, they make walking, running, and even standing, sort of any ambulatory activity just more comfortable and efficient for the patient. So orthotics have been shown to be really a very useful tool for patients and a good treatment option. So as far as the different types of orthotics, now, now that I kind of know what orthotics are, there's three main types of orthotics. And you have the first one is a rigid orthotic. The second one is a semi rigid orthotic. And then the third one is a soft orthotic. So you can think of this as, you know, as the Goldilocks story of just right in terms of what your patient may need. You have hard pillows at the store, you got very soft pillows. Same thing goes with orthotics. So the ridge orthotics, these are really designed as it sounds like they're stiff orthotics. So these are really designed to control more or less joint function because there's not a lot of leeway or, or give inside of the orthotic for the patient's foot. So these are really designed to control joint function and really provide that best arch support. So these are best if a patient has conditions such as flat feet or plantar fasciitis, that they really need to retrain those ligaments and tendons and muscles in the foot. And that's best for those types of patients. Even things like Achilles tendonitis or over pronation, again, kind of a flat foot type of situation. The second type is that semi rigid orthotics. So this is kind of the midline between rigid and soft. And a semi rigid is really there to provide that sort of dynamic balance, I would say, to the foot. So this is kind of for someone who participates, is more active. Maybe they participate in sports. They might run frequently or maybe just down to the grocery store and back, but it gives them just a little bit more flexibility in their foot. It's not so rigid and it's not so soft. And then you have the third kind, which is soft orthotics. Now, soft orthotics, these again, are for really patients with more types of medical conditions in their foot and ankles. And so these are really designed to help absorb shock, increase balance in the foot, also that proprioception in the foot and the foot receptors, and also just to take pressure off maybe some sore or uncomfortable foot spots, basically. So soft orthotics are best for conditions such as arthritis and even patients with diabetic complications or diabetes, as well as something like deformed feet. So those are kind of the three major types of orthotics. So they really go from again, that rigid all the way to soft.

That makes sense with the three types. I know there's a variety of materials out there for any docs, including myself, who are maybe unfamiliar at the benefits, what's best, Maybe it's variable to see do the materials that each orthotic is made out of matter in their efficacy?

Absolutely. I mean, I think we've all felt this difference between sitting in leather car seats versus fabric car seats. Neither one is better than the other, but to each their own. And some people prefer leather over fabric, but there is certainly that. There is certainly that difference you can feel. And so the same thing goes for orthotics. Quality and materials do matter. So power step orthotics use a medical grade material. It's called a Poron P O R O N. And this provides really good shock support to the foot. So this is a, this is a new technology called Poron. It's using a lot of different types of devices and types of footwear and stuff like that, but it's really effective at reducing shock absorption. It's actually, it's a, it's a really a medical grade memory foam kind of, again, medical grade type of pillow, but just for your feet. Very, very good for your feet. And this also keeps what's called compression set resistance at a maximum. So compression set resistance, long word, really what it means is just memory. So that means again, it's kind of like memory foam for your feet so that you're not having to step in these orthotics. And every single time you create that new motion in the foot over time, the more you wear them, essentially the more that they start to mold to your feet. And that's why it's beneficial to have a few different kinds. Because if your foot may be a little bit more rigid or more soft in terms of what it needs, that gives it the flexibility in terms of kind of molding to what your foot needs. So this means that the orthotic delivers not just a really good experience via ground absorption and ambulation, but it really remembers your foot as you continue to wear them again. So it does give that flexibility, no matter what you're looking for, whether it's to relieve pain or to prevent pain or for more stability.

Thank you. I think that's so important, and I think the memory component and the materials matter so much. I'll speak from personal experience. My father uses a pair of power steps, and it's the best that he's ever used, as he tells me. And he's had continuous back issues, he's had foot issues. And this ties into the clinical aspects that I love docs out there to get a feel for when they're seeing patients in their practice and seeing all different, varying types of patients, different diagnosis, et cetera. What are some of the patient types that docs should be clued into, where orthotics might be of supreme value?

Yeah, you know, there's obviously, as you mentioned, chiropractors and all sorts of practitioners out there see lots of different types of patients. And when it comes down to foot problems, well, we know there's just as many foot problems as there are spinal problems. And often they're related. You know, you can't take one chain away from the whole league. So, you know, some of the biggest and most common types of foot problems that our chiropractors see are gonna be, you know, in particular, bunions, hammertoes, heel pain, you got arthritis, you have tendinitis, bursitis, I mean, you name it in terms of the itises, right, that can be developed on the feet and other areas of the body, but also things like we mentioned, even diabetic foot problem in orthotics can benefit from this condition and use by a chiropractor in their office using these orthotics. So really, orthotics can help with not only these diagnoses in a sense, but what are the underlying issues with this is a lot of times it's biomechanics, improper biomechanics that your patient walks in the door, you're identifying via maybe leg length discrepancies or pelvis imbalance, which is also maybe related to all of that. And so this really can provide your patients with a good product to use that is going to not only help them in the short term, but also long term, varying depending on what they need at that point in time. So again, really, with that supporting, that gait, that abnormal posture as well. And orthotics have been shown to even help with things like metatarsalgia, Morton's neuroma, anything really Soft tissue related in a sense, from your ligaments, tendons, muscles, and your joint function, which is, you know, controlled by all of those things, is really going to help that. And even on top of that, you know, one of the most common findings that a chiropractor is going to diagnose is that spinal misalignment or maybe a subluxation and or restriction, however you'd like to term it in your practice. And so as again, same thing with the orthotic. This can really fuel that need and finding out where those subluxations are and correcting them. And if long term they're not getting corrected, this is another resource for that patient to utilize. Again, all sorts of different kinds of pain and all those things that come with those misalignments. So really, these orthotics can help with a ton of different kinds of patients, whether they're the super active athlete athletes or someone with plantar fasciitis or someone who has arthritis and they're not doing a lot of walking anymore, for example, you know, so really different, really good and versatile product from that standpoint.

Yeah. One of the things that I found super interesting was the development of Powerstep from a podiatrist decades ago and kind of coming into the chiropractic space after doing so well in the podiatry space, which I would think would be the most finicky about an orthotic product, it's what got me excited about it. In your opinion, what makes Power Step different?

Yeah. Well, here I'll give you a quick story. So powerstep was designed by that podiatrist, as you mentioned. His name was Dr. Les April, and this was back in 1991. I know that sounds like it was like decades ago, which it was. And this is crazy to think about, but he was an avid runner and a podiatrist. And so after years of running and practicing, he really recognized that need for kind of an all day type of orthotic, something that's gonna suit practically everybody's needs. Just a ready to wear, pop it in and go orthotic right out of the box into your foot type of thing. And so in his research, actually, he noticed that about 80% of molds out had a very similar type of arch shape and placement. And so as a result of this, he created this orthotic, which is again, just a little bit elevated from your standard orthotics. So that at Power Step there is lines of orthotics, which I'll go over one that's Practitioner only or professional grade grade line. You have one that's kind of more for that midline athlete type of person who's really active, and you have that one that's just an everyday, whether that's you're walking on the beach, you're walking to work in a suit, or. Or more down the street for coffee, whatever that might be. So that's kind of the background for the branding of Power Step and who the doctor was doctor last April. So it's really fueled out of that passion for running, in a sense. And as we know, running, obviously you need a good shoe because you're not going to last too long if your feet are hurting all the time and getting bruises and bumps everywhere. And so the. The main difference of Power Step and what makes Power Step different is that it's not. It's designed for the everyday person so that anybody can afford this orthotic. It's not a custom orthotic. We know a lot of these patients that come to our office who've tried all the different customer orthotics, all these different brands, and they might still have pain and they can be very costly, especially if they have kids. And they're continually getting their kids new orthotics every year because they're growing and growing and going through those growth spurts. And so it was designed really for that everyday person that can just pop it in their shoes and get going and feel great and get that support and get that relief and prevent that pain that they need. So it's really, again, designed for a quick solution. That's really what makes Power Step different. It's an affordable option that people can choose from. What's even more actually interesting, though, Dr. Layman, is that studies have actually shown that a prefabricated orthotic such as Power Step can deliver the same results as a custom orthotic in the majority of patients. Now, this is not everybody, obviously, case by case, you can't, you know, one size doesn't always fit all, but a majority of the time certainly can. We all still have the same number of bones in our body, and they all pretty much work about the same. So that's why, for the most part, they work for just about everybody.

Yeah, and you mentioned the difference. I'd love to drill a little bit deeper. You mentioned the difference between custom and sort of prefabricated, and also the affordability for docs out there that this is already sounding quite interesting to them and maybe they're new to offering orthotics in their Practice. What's the generalities around the business model of orthotics in a chiropractic practice?

Yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, I can't give away the barn here to you, Jay. Today I'm just. Now we'll go over it all. Yeah. The difference of power step is really utilizing those orthotics in your practice is very simple. Again, with a custom orthotic, there is a lot of, there's different processes between screening, molding, receiving the orthotic back. If you're billing for that orthotic in your practice, there's a lot of other steps in that process. And those aren't bad processes or bad steps to take. But there's also other options and other solutions for your patients. Maybe somebody doesn't want to wait a number of weeks to get an orthotic. They don't have the time. They're going on vacation. They need that relief now as well. Powerstep has that option. There's 12 different sizes. There's numerous different types of insoles as well that you can give your patients. So from a custom to a, to a kind of a prefabricated or pop in type of shoe insole, they're very simple to use thing inside of your practice. Again, there's not really any need to mold or scan your patients with these. And again, so that basically eliminates all waiting time. There's just zero waiting time for your patients. And the best part is this literally only costs the provider about $20 per orthotic. So talk about like immediate, immediate flow for your financial practice and for your patients to get relief. So your patients, you can charge, you know, up to your MSP and your MSRP in your practice, but there is a good, not only for your patients, but also for your, for your business and your margins and everything. There's a very good benefit there from a custom to a just a prefab kind of device. So we usually also generally recommend a practice start with just a couple popular sizes. But if a practitioner has a large, your patient base, there's always those really nice floor tabletop spinning displays that your patients can get educated a little bit more. And again, it just makes it a little bit more affordable if you have a number of people in the family and everybody's dealing with maybe with some foot issues or back issues.

Yeah, easier and better for the patient is a good thing. And it sounds like it's healthy from a revenue perspective as well. I want to jump back clinical for a moment and when I'm thinking about patients that might have plantar fasciitis or individuals who just want, you know, something for added support walking around. How does power step delineate? Can this help both types of patients? Is it better for one than the other? How do you see it?

Yeah, this has definitely been proven to be help with many different conditions as well as just to be a lifestyle. So that's where the benefit of the three different kinds and models of orthotics come into play here, that there's so many different options to pick from. It's not just for that plantar fasciitis or that Achilles tendonitis or that flat foot patient or maybe hip imbalances or any of those misalignment maybe conditions you might actually diagnose in your practice. It's also good to wear. I have a pair and they really are absolutely fun and comfortable to wear. We've all put our. We've all bought different insoles at maybe your local grocery store or your local kind of convenience store. And sometimes either they're very jelly and too squishy or they just don't feel right or they're too firm. And Power step as a whole, as a lifestyle type of insole, super comfortable, just really easy to implement. So, yeah, definitely amazing as a daily wearable. But you can also definitely customize them for your patient and make sure that they are the best for your patient. That's where there's a few different options.

From that standpoint that that's great for those out there that are maybe cringing because of the custom orthotics they have have in their shoes right now for people that maybe want to add, how does this work? If I have a custom orthotic, can someone use this in a power step insole in addition to that? Is it a replacement? How does that work?

Yeah, absolutely. You know, if you have a custom orthotic, you spend a lot of time molding that, making sure that that foot to your foot. But hey, sometimes it doesn't always fit just right. Maybe you're out running. You're like, actually, it doesn't feel great when I'm running, or it doesn't feel good when I'm walking. Or actually I wore too long and now my feet hurt when I stand for too long. And so you can definitely use this as an addition to your already custom orthotic device. It doesn't have to be a replacement by any means. It's just another affordable option that you can pop in and out as your liking, or you can use it all the Time. And that's what's beautiful about different types of orthotics. So, yeah, definitely flexibility there.

And let's talk about kids. I get it. That sounds great. I know. I follow a lot of chiropractors online, as you can imagine. And I see a lot of kids going into chiropractic practices. But also youth sports is like, you know, dramatically changed in terms of blowing up in popularity for those that are younger children, youth. Does Power Step suit that market? How do you view insoles in the youth and kids market?

Yeah, absolutely. As you mentioned, Dr. Layman, the sports industry is blowing up. It's a good thing. We want our kids to be active. We want them to be out there and having fun and staying healthy and active. But yes, you have. Just as with kids, we know that kids have a little bit of different bodies as they're growing. It's kind of unique. But even they have their own types of issues that they can develop and deal with. From injuries to just daily activity and wear and tear in a sense as they get older. Yeah, they're usually able to recover a little bit quicker than us as adults, but that's okay. You know, they still have some things that can benefit them from an orthotic standpoint. Definitely there's line that is specifically for kids with Power Step. That's really, really good. Again, different models, which is beautiful. You have sandals, you have those daily wearables. You have different kinds of shoes that are really beneficial for kids, depending on whatever they might be doing specifically for sports as well, a lot of different options. And again, it just makes it very affordable. You're not having to get 10 different custom pairs every single year is very costly to the family, to the parents as well. So this is a very nice alternative.

Sweet. You mentioned earlier a few of the different types of orthotics and right now we just discussed kids a little bit. But I have a two part question for you and this is just to make sure. I want to make sure that I am super clear. Can you tell me a little bit about the different options of the orthotics that Power Step offers? And then number two, am I breaking out scissors and trimming these or how does it work from a practical implementation perspective?

Definitely. So we have three different styles particularly, but you can purchase your orthotic based on condition. So you can. There's on our website, it can be very specific to what your needs are. So if you have a condition, we have orthotics that are very designed and specific to different types of Conditions you can find whether this is better for a more rigid foot, a flat foot, you name it. Plantar fasciitis. So we have by condition, we have by shoe style. Again, whether you're walking on, you know, New York City streets and you need a sturdier shoe or a classier shoe that you're going to a meeting or you're on the beach just lounging, and you want to make sure that you're feeling, that you're walking on air just as you're on vacation, or you're just on that afternoon run getting some sun. So you can also shop by shoe style as well. And then we have daily wearables as well that you can just pop into any type of shoe that you'd like as well. So there's a lot of different options from that standpoint. And then we have three major lines. So the first line is that Pro tech, and this is for medical professionals only. This is the highest quality, superior materials that we're using for these products. And you have to be a provider in order to give this for your patients. This is again, very top of the line, very custom. This is again, for your patients that are dealing with specific types of conditions that you really need that superior support for. The second line is called the Pulse line. And this is really designed for, I would say, that athlete that's really, they're doing rigorous activity. They're walking around daily. They're, they're very active. This is again, very high quality product. It's just not a practitioner only or professional only line. And then you finally have that Pinnacle line. And this is designed for everyday use. This is designed from, you know, your, your child all the way up to your grandmother. Everybody can wear it. Everybody's going to feel great walking around in them. And we know from even buying shoes at the store, shoes are fantastic, but not all of them come with fantastic insoles. And so this is where you can slip it in and out of any shoe that you would like. So lots of different options from, again, condition and shoe style, all the way down to different product lines that Pro Power Step offers.

I love it, incidentally. My father uses the professional grade, so. And he's, and he's, and he's loving the support for docs that are interested in learning more. Where can they head to?

Where can they connect with Power Step.

And how can they learn more about offering these really great insoles within their practice?

Yes, and I totally forgot, Dr. Layman, I forgot to mention there's no trimming involved. You asked me that no trimming involved you, it just comes ready to fit. Pop it out of the box, pop it in the shoe, you're good to go. And so for docs that are interested in getting started, it's quite as easy as just filling out a new customer form and placing your order. It takes about just two to three minutes. There's no minimum to purchase, which is really nice. So you're not like you have to purchase 10 pairs a week or 10 pairs at a time. That our Pro Tech full length product though this is going to accommodate a majority of patients. This is kind of that premier line that's most often recommended that we recommend starting off with for your patients is that Pro Tech full length product. We also have just great customer service. So if you have any questions about your placing, your order or the products in general, maybe what might be best for a particular patient more than happy. We have a lot of customer service and support to help you get that for your patient, but super easy to get started with all of it.

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