Chiropractic adjustments and orthotics reduced symptoms for standing workers

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Chiropractic and Manual Therapies
• Rehabilitative Sciences

Background:

• Foot orthotics and chiropractic care are common interventions for lower extremity and back pain.
• Occupational standing for extended periods (≥6 hours daily) is associated with increased risk of musculoskeletal issues.
• Evidence on the combined efficacy of orthotics and chiropractic care for work-related pain is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of foot orthotics, alone and in combination with chiropractic care, in alleviating foot, lower extremity, and low back pain.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on daily activities, sports, recreation, and overall quality of life.

Main Methods:

• A controlled study involving 32 subjects (24 males) randomly assigned to three groups: chiropractic care plus orthotics (n=10), orthotics only (n=14), and a control group (n=8).
• Custom foot orthotics were fabricated based on individual foot data.
• Chiropractic treatment utilized the Activator Technique, with in-home exercises prescribed for relevant groups.

Main Results:

• The orthotics group showed non-significant trends towards improvement in symptoms (P=0.053), daily living (P=0.058), and quality of life (P=0.085).
• The combination group (chiropractic care plus orthotics) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in quality of life (P<0.05), symptoms (P<0.05), and activities of daily living (P<0.05).
• No significant pain reduction was observed in the orthotics-only group (P=0.492).

Conclusions:

• The combination of chiropractic care and foot orthotics is effective in improving symptoms, daily activities, and quality of life for workers with prolonged standing occupations.
• While foot orthotics alone may offer some benefits, the synergistic effect with chiropractic care appears more pronounced.
• This combined approach presents a viable strategy for managing musculoskeletal discomfort in occupational settings requiring extensive standing.