Sports therapist, Benita de Witt, answers:
I recently attended a workshop where it came across that biomechanical problems are seen as a given, and cannot be corrected. It was stated that scientific research has found that around 80% of runners have biomechanical issues and will most probably not be able to run barefoot without injuries.
One of the examples mentioned was overpronation. If an ankle overpronates, the connective tissue on the inner leg is normally overstretched compared to the connective tissue on the outside of the lower leg. This results in muscle weakness on the inside, which allows the ankle and foot to roll over. Overpronation is seen by most as a condition that can’t be corrected; for years affected runners have been put in antipronation or stability shoes and eventually in orthotics, and most of them are chronically injured.
I totally agree that while the connective tissue remains in the imbalanced position the overpronation will not change, despite corrective exercises.
However, research has proven that by releasing over-stretched as well as shortened connective tissue, the biomechanics of all areas in the body can be corrected. The athlete then trains in the neutral position, and eventually barefoot running can be approached without injuries.
It makes no sense to support bad biomechanics if the problem could be corrected by releasing connective tissue. Fix the runner, not the shoe.
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So what’s this article actually telling us?
How do we release shortened connective tissue?
The release is through a process called lyno therapy. It’s developed by Benita and she trains biokineticists and physiotherapists in this technique. The treatment is extremely painful, and I mean really extremely painful. I’d love to see the actual research that was done, the number of case studies, the period over which the research was conducted and the number of case studies that could maintain the “released” state, the number of injuries that re-occurred or the lack thereof, etc.
I wonder whether Benita has personal experience of any severe running injury? I mean not through treating patients, but actually experiencing the injuries in her own body. I also whether Benita does barefoot running herself? If she can answer yes to both these questions, her being against orthotics and traditional running shoes, will carry more credibility with me.
I had a severe case of plantar fasciitis. After a year of several physio treatments, strengthening exercises, several rest and recovery periods and anything that one could possibly do, I was still barely able to walk without extreme pain. The pain was literally debilitating and I eventually went to see a podiatrist. The orthotics that he made for me, enables my foot to employ muscles that have not been used due to my injury. After 3 months of wearing orthotics, I could get up in the morning, not being scared to take those excruciatingly painful first couple of steps. I am working closely with my podiatrist and physio weening me off the orthotics. My podiotrist also believes that it is first prize not to have to wear orthothics, but in some cases orthotics are not only justified, but essential. While wearing the orthotics, I am continuing with strengthening exercises and tissue release, building up to the stage where I will be running without it again. From personal experience I believe that orthotics are useful in aiding in the recovery process, providing that crucial support while doing the necessary work to correct the biomechanics.
In my opinion it should not be a case of either or. Orthotics can be a useful aid in the recovery, strengthening and correction process.
Hi,
I was diagnosed as a suprinator about a month out from comrades. When i woke up, and took my first couple of steps in the am it was painful in both feet. I was diagnosed with a case of plantar.
I ran as much as i could in them, but did not run comrades in them. I got a massive blister at selati 21 about 3 weeks before comrades.
I figured they were to hard to run comrades in. I will persevere with them.
Last year i never had a problem with my feet a little bit of itb at a stage, but think that’s a given with first time comrades runners.
I thought it was weird to suddenly be diagnosed with plantar and as a suprinator on my second comrades run. I run in neutral shoes- asics excel 33′s .
Hi
On reading this article it seems obvious that Benita have absolutely no experience in the field of shoe prescription or foot orthotics as these age old treatment modalities are extremely succesfull in treating over-pronation etc.. What is more obvious is the fact that it seems Benita has developed a technique she calls Lyno therapy and obviously financialy benefit through her teachings on this method. So in actual fact will any other medical teaching except her way be any good?
To all runners out there; Foot Orthotics has been scientificaly proven through the years as a effectve treatment modality. Even the worlds greatest runners;e.g. Paula Radcliffe uses them succesfully (for many a year already).
Benita has chosen not to share with you the plenty of scientific evidence that proof foot orthoses are therapeutic, also there is plenty of scientific evidence that foot orthoses have the mechanical ability to change both the kinematics of gait and the kinetics of gait. These are independent studies, done in a scientific manner, with new studies being published nearly every month. Those who are current with the scientific literature would not be saying “that anti-pronation or stability shoes (years and years of running shoe company research, love to hear what Asics or Nike has to say about this?) and eventually in orthotics, and most of them (runners) are chronically injured.”
Please Benita let us have all the research,studies,proof of your statements made in your article,80% etc.. Regarding your Lyno therapy; why is this treatment so very painfull as runners describe? What does the long term studies/effect reveal?
Benita I strongly suggest that yourself as a medical proffesional must not publicise incorrect statements as this could have serious affect to yourself and obviously the running public you inform.
Regards Riaan
PS. Herewith is my proof on the positive painless effect of foot orthotics;
Scientific articles that show foot orthoses are therapeutic:
Blake RL, Denton JA: Functional foot orthoses for athletic injuries: A retrospective study. J. Am. Pod. Med. Assoc., 75:359-362, 1985.
Donnatelli R, Hurlbert C, et al: Biomechanical foot orthotics: A retrospective study. J Ortho Sp Phys Ther, 10:205-212, 1988.
Gross ML, Davlin LB, Evanski PM: Effectiveness of orthotic shoe inserts in the long distance runner. Am. J. Sports Med., 19:409-412, 1991.
Saxena A, Haddad J: The effect of foot orthoses on patellofemoral pain syndrome. JAPMA, 93:264-271, 2003.
Moraros J, Hodge W: Orthotic survey: Preliminary results. JAPMA, 83:139-148, 1993.
Gross MT et al: The impact of custom semi-rigid foot orthotics on pain and disability for individuals with plantar fasciitis. J Ortho Sp Phys Ther, 32:149-157, 2002.
Walter JH, Ng G, Stoitz JJ: A patient satisfaction survey on prescription custom-molded foot orthoses. JAPMA, 94:363-367, 2004.
Eggold JF: Orthotics in the prevention of runner’s overuse injuries. Phys. Sports Med., 9:181-185, 1981.
D’Ambrosia RD: Orthotic devices in running injuries. Clin. Sports Med., 4:611-618, 1985.
Dugan RC, D’Ambrosia RD: The effect of orthotics on the treatment of selected running injuries. Foot Ankle, 6:313, 1986.
Kilmartin TE, Wallace WA: The scientific basis for the use of biomechanical foot orthoses in the treatment of lower limb sports injuries-a review of the literature. Br. J. Sports Med., 28:180-184, 1994.
Kusomoto A, Suzuki T, Yoshida H, Kwon J: Intervention study to improve quality of life and health problems of community-living elderly women in Japan by shoe fitting and custom-made insoles. Gerontology, 22:110-118, 2007.
Scientific research showing that foot orthoses alter the kinematics of the foot and lower extremity:
Bates BT, Osternig LR, Mason B, James LS: Foot orthotic devices to modify selected aspects of lower extremity mechanics. Am J Sp Med, 7:328-31, 1979.
Fong DTP, Lam MH, Lao MLM, et al: Effect of medial arch-heel support in inserts on reducing ankle eversion: a biomechanical study. J Ortho Surg Res, 3:7-13, 2008.
Johanson MA, Donatelli R, Wooden MJ, Andrew PD, Cummings GS: Effects of three different posting methods on controlling abnormal subtalar pronation. Phys Ther, 74:149-158, 1994.
MacLean C, Davis IM, Hamill J: Influence of a custom foot intervention on lower extremity dynamics in healthy runners. Clin Biomech, 21:621-630, 2006.
MacLean CL, Davis IS, Hamill J: Short and long-term influences of a custom foot orthotic intervention on lower extremity dynamics. Clin J Sport Med, 18:338-343, 2008.
Nester CJ, Hutchins S, Bowker P: Effect of foot orthoses on rearfoot complex kinematics during walking gait. Foot Ankle Intl, 22:133-139, 2001.
Nester CJ, Van Der Linden ML, Bowker P: Effect of foot orthoses on the kinematics and kinetics of normal walking gait. Gait Posture, 17:180-187, 2003.
Smith LS, Clarke TE, Hamill CL, Santopietro F: The effects of soft and semi-rigid orthoses upon rearfoot movement in running. JAPMA, 76:227-232, 1986.
Nawoczenski DA, Cook TM, Saltzman CL: The effect of foot orthotics on three-dimensional kinematics of the leg and rearfoot during running. J Ortho Sp Phys Ther, 21:317-327, 1995.
Williams DS, McClay-Davis I, Baitch SP: Effect of inverted orthoses on lower extremity mechanics in runners. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 35:2060-2068, 2003.
Woodburn J, Helliwell PS, Barker S: Changes in 3D joint kinematics support the continuous use of orthoses in the management of painful rearfoot deformity in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheum, 30:2356-2364, 2003.
Stackhouse CL, Davis IM, Hamill J: Orthotic intervention in forefoot and rearfoot strike running patterns. Clin Biomech, 19:64-70, 2004.
Scientific research showing that foot orthoses alter the kinetics of the foot and lower extremity:
Williams DS, McClay-Davis I, Baitch SP: Effect of inverted orthoses on lower extremity mechanics in runners. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 35:2060-2068, 2003.
MacLean C, Davis IM, Hamill J: Influence of a custom foot intervention on lower extremity dynamics in healthy runners. Clin Biomech, 21:621-630, 2006.
MacLean CL, Davis IS, Hamill J: Short and long-term influences of a custom foot orthotic intervention on lower extremity dynamics. Clin J Sport Med, 18:338-343, 2008.
Mundermann A, Nigg BM, Humble RN, Stefanyshyn DJ. Foot orthoses affect lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during running. Clin Biomech, 18:254-262, 2003.
Nigg BM, Stergiou P, Cole G, et al: Effect of shoe inserts on kinematics, center of pressure, and leg joint moments during running. Med. Sci. Sport Exerc., 35:314-319, 2003