Q & A with Dr. Dennis Cozzocrea
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Dr. Dennis Cozzocrea, Precision Spinal Care, Yakima, WA has provided chiropractic care to Yakima residents for 12 years, and has a special interest in children. Two of his four children wear Posture Control Insoles™. Dr. Cozzocrea is an active leader in the Washington State Chiropractic Association. |
I didn’t have a process for helping my patients with hyperpronation problems. Occasionally I would refer them out to get orthotics. Some were happy with them some weren’t. I’ve tried a lot of different ones and even went to a seminar to try to learn how to make them but could never find one that I wasn’t happy to get out of my shoes by the end of the day.
We just started! It wasn’t a big deal to implement the use of PCIs into the practice. It’s so quick. Lynn fits the patient on the spot or else schedules them to come back when we’re not seeing patients, as a matter of fact she does it right at the front desk.
I start by asking patients if they have ever worn orthotics in their shoes. Some have experience some don’t. Some were told they needed them but they were too expensive so they didn’t get them. Some have inserts they bought from a store, but they’re not sure what they need, so I give them a brochure.
I tell them that I have tried a lot of different orthotics and have never liked them as much as these. My chiropractor had actually recommended these for me. I was skeptical at first when I tried them but when I wore them for a day or two I was thoroughly impressed with what they did for me.
They’ll change your posture; they’ll change your gait. Most orthotics don’t work like these do when you’re moving, they just support you when you’re standing in place. I demonstrate to them how it changes posture. Usually the most powerful thing is when they go through the fitting process and they can actually see and feel how their knees move straighter with the wedges. I explain to them that when they’re walking in just a regular pair of shoes their knees are rotating inward and that translates all the way up the body. With these insoles, your knees and hips will move more straight ahead.
Lynn has felt the benefit from wearing PCIs and is very happy with them. She will encourage the patients to try them because of her experience wearing them. She also encourages them to buy additional sets; we offer a better price if it’s a second or third pair. No complaints about extra work.
In wearing other orthotics I was always aware there was something in my shoe. I wasn’t always consciously aware but if I stood and thought about it I could tell there was something in there. And now I’m never aware - I’m aware when I don’t have them. I feel it in my ankles; they’re kind of painful when I walk without them.
They worked really well on my oldest son who is 9. When he was playing soccer it was painful to watch him run. His knees would turn in and his feet would swing out. And now, with the PCIs in his shoes, he runs almost normal. He noticed a dramatic difference so he wants them in his shoes all the time.
I’ve recommended PCIs to some patients that I’ve had a lot of difficulty with in the past, and that have been patients for a while. They have seen better improvement in holding their adjustments and are doing better overall since they’ve started using the PCIs.
I fit my mother in law. She had never shared with me about her foot problems, but when she heard about the PCIs she told me that she had seen her podiatrist and had purchased a pair of orthotics. They didn’t work so well, and they charged her every time she went in to have them adjusted. I fit her in PCIs, and that was that. She loves them.
The only objection I have heard from my patients is having to switch them from one shoe to the other. It’s probably the only thing and then that’s just a reason for them to buy another pair so they don’t have to switch them.
Some patients are reluctant to spend the money, they aren’t sure if their insurance will cover it. Generally price isn’t much of an issue because PCIs are so much less than orthotics.
As far as adverse reactions, some patients have said they were a little sore for a couple days. Their 1st metatarsal was sore or they felt a little bit of pain on the top portion of their foot for a couple of days that went away. I felt that also when I first started to wear them.
I tell my patients that that’s normal. As their foot adapts they may feel a little soreness and not to use them too long each day. Or just put up with the pain if they are going to use them all day at first (not following the break-in instructions.)
I describe the type of pain they might feel as a little bit of soreness like they’ve been exercising their feet or legs a lot.
So far I’ve fit patients that presented with complaints about hip, knee, leg and foot pain - people who are on their feet a lot. I have noticed a change in my shoulder since I started wearing them, so the range of complaints will probably expand.
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