Breaking: Study Validates Foot Levelers Custom Orthotics Significantly Reduce Low Back Pain, Help Reduce Reliance on Opioids

What could eclipse the eclipse?

In our world–in the world of safe, effective pain management and the fight to save lives as the national opioid emergency rages on–it’s a new, major research study that proves what we’ve know for over 65 years:

Foot Levelers + Chiropractic care significantly reduce Chronic Low Back Pain

—by an average of 40.4 percent.

Published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the study hits the print stands September 1. Click here or scroll down to view the full news release.

Foot Levelers custom orthotics, like Chiropractic care, are safe, painless, non-invasive and cost-effective–in stark contrast to risky, expensive surgery.  It’s important to note that Chiropractic is, and has always been, a proudly drug-free approach to care.

Got Pain? Avoid the knife and potentially life-threatening drugs. Call 800.553.4860 to find a Foot Levelers doctor near you.

ROANOKE, VA—August 22, 2017—A conclusive new study, “Shoe Orthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial” conducted by National University of Health Sciences and published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation shows that Foot Levelers custom orthotics, particularly in combination with chiropractic care, significantly reduce Low Back Pain (LBP). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports 80 percent of adults experience LBP at some point in their lifetime and it’s the single leading cause of disability worldwide, with many taking prescription drugs for pain relief – which often leads to long-term drug abuse and addiction.

“The study unequivocally confirms what we have known for over 65 years: Foot Levelers custom orthotics are a powerful first-line treatment in the battle against LBP,” says Kent S. Greenawalt, CEO of Foot Levelers, the world’s leading provider of custom-made functional orthotics and other therapeutic products. “There is significant scientific evidence that explains the foot-spine connection, but the bottom line is that using Foot Levelers to balance and support the feet—the foundation of the body—helps balance and support the spine. This study is another striking development in the case for evidence-based, conservative care of LBP, which in the face of America’s ongoing opioid crisis, is more important news than ever.”

A Chiropractor resident treats a patient in Hayward, California

Key Findings

• Foot Levelers orthotics significantly reduce Low Back Pain 34.5 percent
• Foot Levelers orthotics plus chiropractic care reduce Low Back Pain 40.4 percent
• Foot Levelers alone or in conjunction with chiropractic care improves function:  18.5 percent and 32.3 percent, respectively

Methodology

• Outcomes assessed at six weeks. Outcomes also assessed after 12 weeks, and then after an additional three, six, and 12 months.
• Improvements in both pain and in function as measured on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and functional health status (Oswestry) scale.
• 225 subjects with LBP were randomly assigned to one of three groups:

1. Wait-list: no treatment for 6 weeks.
2. Foot Levelers Shoe Orthotic Group: treatment plan consisted of Foot Levelers custom orthotics only.
3. Plus Group: treatment plan of Foot Levelers custom orthotics plus chiropractic care.

Manuel Duarte, DC, MSAc, DABCO, and DACBSP, Chair of Clinical Practice at National University of Health Sciences, (Lombard, IL) and one of the study’s lead researchers, says, “LBP is one of the most common reasons cited for missed work and the NIH study confirms more than one quarter of adults reported LBP during the past three months.  Most alarming is the link between LBP and the deadly opioid epidemic, a challenge that is effectively addressed when Foot Levelers custom orthotics and drug-free chiropractic care are the first-line approach for LBP pain management.”

More on this important breaking story coming soon!

Media Contact:
Foot Levelers, Inc.
Elizabeth Parsons, 540-682-2336
Elizabeth.Parsons@FootLevelers.com

Eclipse Party 2017

We were lucky enough to enjoy the eclipse together as a team yesterday. Thanks to the fine folks in H.R. who purchased glasses for the entire company and organized the outing–Moon Pies, theme music, and all! Here are a few of our favorite pics.

 

 

 

 

Happy Anniversary, Yo!

Sales & Service Manager.

Foot Levelers Veteran, Company Historian.

Problem Solver, Motivation Expert, Ms. Congeniality, Mentor, and not least of all, Leader.

She of the awesome nickname.

Many of our doctors have either met or talked to Yolanda, aka “Yo,” over the years. Last week, she celebrated 25 years working for Foot Levelers–a quarter of a century! Yolanda is known for always going the extra mile and being an expert in all things Foot Levelers. She’s one of our longest serving employees, and also one of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet!

Happy 25th, Yo! Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication over the years!

We invite you to get to know one of our favorite ladies in the interview below.

FL: How did your career at Foot Levelers start?

Y: I can’t believe it’s been 25 years already–time flies when you’re having fun and look forward to coming to work every day!

I was hired to work in the Laboratory, opening, keying, and sorting orders. I moved to Customer Service, then I started traveling to represent Foot Levelers at Chiropractic seminars in my second year. Later I moved into the seminar department full-time.  I was promoted to Seminar Manager and held that role for over 15 years.

FL: Now you’re over Sales & Service. Can you explain your role?

Y: I consider our Sales & Service Representatives my customers, so first and foremost I make sure they have all the tools they need to take care of our customers.  If you read my job description though, it would probably say that I am responsible for continual (education) training, coaching reps on individual improvement, tracking attendance and calls to continually achieve high performance.  All of that IS true and helps them become better at their jobs, which in turn helps them take better care of our customers!

Yo’s Team! L-R (front row): Abby, Mary, Ginny, Samantha, Tammy, Stephanie, Paige, Trixie, Melissa, Roger, Cassandra, Lindsey, and Josh (aka Barto). Second row: Cecil, Yolanda, Connie, Kylee, Matt, Will, Wayne, Jacob, and Christine.

FL: What’s your most memorable moment at Foot Levelers?

Y: I would have to say meeting Dr. Monte and spending time with him explaining to me why we do what we do, and how our products help patients.  His passion for helping others was infectious and having one conversation with him in person could fuel you for a very long time.  He was one of those people that, if I could choose anyone [deceased] outside of my family to have one last conversation with, he’d be on my list!

FL: What is your favorite thing about working here?

Y: There are so many things that I love about working here.  I love that we play such a big role in patient care for our doctors.  It’s so exciting to hear a success story from a doctor who’s had one of those patients that has literally tried everything else first and finally found relief with our product.  When I traveled for seminars, I enjoyed getting to meet the customers in person.  I also love that we have “family meetings” instead of company meetings; our CEO/President knows everyone by name–he’s not up on a pedestal out of reach!

FL: How about your family outside of work?

Y: Ginna and I will be celebrating our 35^th anniversary in April; we got married as soon as we could, so that’s only been 2 1/2 yrs.  We were honored that both Kent and Dawn came to our wedding reception!  I had worked here for 6 years and Ginna was unhappy where she worked.  Seeing how happy I was, she didn’t think twice about changing jobs and she celebrated her 19^th year here a couple months ago.

Schrute, our cat, completes our family–he is 8 years old and is much like having a toddler in the household.  He is truly spoiled rotten and mischievous as heck!  I can’t imagine our lives without him; he provides us with endless entertainment!

Both Yolanda and Ginna are proud Foot Levelers employees. (Schrute was let go due to insubordination).

FL: What are your hobbies? Anything else you would like me to mention?

Y: I love to travel, especially to Alaska–we’ve taken 2 cruises and once vacationed to see the start of the famous annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race.  We have also been to Las Vegas and although we are not much for gambling we have enjoyed many of the shows out there including Donny & Marie and Barry Manilow!  We have friends and family in California, and San Francisco is another of our favorite long distance trips.  We also enjoy long weekends to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge and Williamsburg/Virgina Beach!  In addition to traveling, I enjoy silly games like Candy Crush, watching movies, and TV.

Happy 25th, “Yo”–here’s hoping for many more!

Christmas in July!

We delivered complimentary custom orthotics to our friends in the Roanoke City Fire & EMS department last week. One-hundred and sixty-five of our hometown heroes will be product testing a new Foot Levelers orthotic top cover, designed for the toughest jobs and lifestyles!

We’re looking forward to their feedback. We’ll also be examining how the orthotics are wearing at 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days. Stay tuned for updates!