A recent study demonstrated incredible benefits when combining simple and safe treatments for chronic low back pain. A large randomized controlled trial (n=225) showed that shoe orthotics significantly improve symptoms of low back pain, and when chiropractic care is added it improves the symptoms even further. 

What are orthotics?

In short, shoe orthotics are custom-made devices that are placed inside of shoes and are designed to support the natural arch of your foot and allow for proper movement. Orthotics work by balancing out the body and returning it to the way it was meant to move, often leading to improvements in foot, ankle, knee, hip, and back pain. Chiropractors commonly prescribe orthotics to patients with mechanical pain causing/caused by movement dysfunctions. 

The Study

The study, coming out of The Archives of Physical Medicine, separated 225 subjects with low back pain for longer than 3 weeks into 3 groups. The groups consisted of orthotics only, orthotics + chiropractic, and a group receiving neither intervention. The patients who received orthotics underwent a standard orthotic examination, including foot shape, height/weight, and other biomechanical tests to determine the best orthotic to use for each individual case. The chiropractic group received typical chiropractic care which included spinal manipulation (adjustments), flexion-distraction therapy, and manual massage/soft tissue work. The last group was told that they were put on the wait list and did not receive the treatment of the other two groups. 

Results

The treatment went on for 1 year and subjects were re-evaluated at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The following results from the study were noted: 

• After 6 weeks low back pain improved the most in the orthotic + chiropractic group, followed by the orthotic only group

• After 6 weeks disability scores were improved the most in the orthotic + chiropractic group, followed by the orthotic only group

• 70% of subjects in the orthotic + chiropractic group had a decrease in pain and 56% had a decrease in disability

• 58% of subjects in the orthotic only group had a decrease in pain and 38% had a decrease in disability

Overall, this large-scale clinical trial shows that low back pain and disability are improved after 6 weeks of shoe orthotics, and the addition of chiropractic care to shoe orthotics improves function and decreases pain even more.

1. Cameron, J.A., Dexheimer, J.M., Duarte, M., Freels, S. Shoe Orthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2017; 98: 1752-1762.