Q & A with Dr. Scott Hammons
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Dr. Scott Hammons, Essential Chiropractic, Bellevue, WA is athletic and is a runner. During his three years in practice, he has developed a following of athletes who see him to stay healthy and optimize their performance. He and many of his patients have been in Posture Control Insoles™ since January. Kim, his office assistant, fits the insoles and instructs their patients right in the reception area so everyone learns about Posture Control Insoles™. |
Before I started using PCIs, I was already pretty active in terms of evaluating posture and referring patients to podiatrists or just using quality cut to fit insoles, so for me it was not very hard to implement the Posture Control Insoles™ program; it was just getting used to doing it all in-house.
I do the posture analysis, measuring of the first metatarsal deficit and the documentation. My assistant, who is also staffing the front desk, sizes the insoles to fit in the patients’ shoes. When she hands them their patient diary, she explains to the patients that they have to write down any changes whether positive or negative because we are changing the dynamics and the mechanics of their feet, and that impacts the whole body.
My assistant is very positive about fitting insoles. She wears them herself, so she knows what they feel like, so she is excited about providing them for our patients.
I explain the need for PCIs in terms of the patient’s symptoms. If the patient has low back pain, I show them how the posture of the back will change by supporting the feet properly. In order for us to see the full potential as far as our patients getting out of the symptoms they’re having, getting them out of pain or chronic situations, addressing the feet is vital. Most people have a good understanding that if you align the feet properly, you’re going to have a lot of correction that just takes place by itself.
Got them in my shoes right now. I was not surprised because of what I do, bending forward all day, that I had occasional low back pain. I haven’t had many issues for the last two months, and that’s the time I’ve been using PCIs. I have been using them in my running shoes and I’ve been very happy with them.
“How can these do anything for me?” Most people are thinking of traditional rigid orthotics, that don’t look that comfortable and take up a lot of space. Once you educate them, get them to read the brochure so they understand where the correction is occurring, they get a pretty good idea how it works.
I had a 15-year-old patient who was very active and involved with sports, but who had recurring low back pain. Initially, I had him using another insole; between that and my treatments we saw some results, but nothing lasting. I put him in a pair of PCIs and after about two months, I have not seen him as often and the old problems he used to have with leg length discrepancy, low back and hip pain are gone. Because he’s so pleased about the results, his dad has been fitted in a pair and his mom is coming in for a pair. Now he only sees me every 4-8 weeks for a check-up.
The only objection I have had is, “Do I have to take them in and out of my shoes, and how many pair do I need?” Many people are lazy and don’t want to switch them around. I have provided them for more women than men in my office, and many of the women are concerned if they can wear them in pumps. “Can I wear them in sandals?” So far I’ve only had a couple of issues with that and everybody has been very satisfied with putting them in their pumps and sandals because of the way they fit so nicely.
There has been no adverse reaction. In a couple of the cases they just did not notice any changes, or they were too subtle. It has all been positive changes or that they just didn’t notice any change at all.
Just for patient case management. Not only for the cases that are hard to control as far as chronic problems, but also for the subtle ones and for people that are in acute pain. Most chiropractors have a good understanding that supporting the feet properly will impact the structures above.
A majority of my patients have low back issues whether the patient is aware of it or not. The results for the 30 patients we have fitted so far has been very good, and our feedback has been excellent, so when we have the program fully implemented, I believe about 60-80% of our patients should be wearing Posture Control Insoles.
From an objective standpoint, I have seen a lot of positive changes. I would rate the effectiveness around an 8. Sorry that wasn’t a 10, but that’s a lot better than what I was using before.
After reading the manual and after developing an understanding of the mechanics of the product.
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