Educational Articles: Proactive Care

How to Use BlackBoard MobilizationBars

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Your ability to successfully navigate your way through life, in a physical sense, largely depends on the functional capabilities of your feet, and whether or not your feet can connect with the ground in a way that produces efficient, pain-free motion and movement. In order to realize the inherent potential of your feet to serve this important role, it’s crucial that you train them effectively, in a manner that optimizes... Read more

How to Use BlackBoard PerformanceBars

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Your ability to competently compete or participate in your preferred sports or athletic activities largely depends on your ability to adapt and react to the terrain upon which you traverse and the conditions you encounter. In order to reduce the likelihood of injuries and perform at your highest level, it’s absolutely vital that your feet are as fit as possible, so that they can help you successfully navigate any situation... Read more

How to Use BlackBoard ToeBands

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

Take a moment to examine your fingers. They are strong, flexible, and have good motor coordination—similar in many ways to the toes. Of course, fingers and toes are not the same thing, but imagine what it would be like if you put your hands in boxing gloves all day long and couldn’t use your fingers to grip, type, write, or play music or sports. It would be strange, right? Well,... Read more

How to Use the BlackBoard Basic

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Your feet play a vital role in your musculoskeletal system. They absorb your footfalls, efficiently transform potential energy into movement, and help dictate the position of your knees, hips, and spine. Many long-term joint and soft tissue problems originate at the foundation of the body—in the feet—and that’s why healthy foot form and function are so incredibly important. This applies both to athletes and to anyone who simply enjoys being... Read more

How to Use the Human Locomotion ToePro

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

The ToePro foot and ankle exercise platform, created by the legendary Dr. Tom Michaud—chiropractor and author of the influential textbook Human Locomotion: The Conservative Management of Gait-Related Disorders—is designed to enhance musculoskeletal function by exercising the muscles of the foot and lower leg in their lengthened positions. Research shows that, in addition to improving agility, running speed, and horizontal jump distance, foot strengthening exercises can also prevent falls in the... Read more

How to Use the Human Locomotion Two-to-One Ankle Rockboard

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

The Human Locomotion Two-to-One Ankle Rockboard, created by the renowned Dr. Tom Michaud, is designed to strengthen the muscles of your lower legs, fortify your ankles against injury, improve your balance, and help you achieve or maintain full ankle range of motion. One of the most common ways to improve ankle function is to use ankle rockboards. However, most rockboards pivot around a central pivot point that causes the board... Read more

How to Use the Naboso Kinesis Board

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Wobble boards have long been used in physical therapy clinics and other healthcare settings as a tool for improving patients’ balance and ankle stability. These boards are often used in a home-based setting, too, by those seeking improved balance and foot and musculoskeletal function. What separates the Naboso Kinesis Board from other wobble boards is the fact that it intentionally focuses on micro-wobble perturbations to stimulate the nerves of the... Read more

Top 10 Foot Health Tools & Tips

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

The need for natural and conservative alternatives to conventional foot and toe treatments has never been greater. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, approximately 43.1 million Americans have foot problems, and the cost of foot surgery to correct problems associated with improper footwear—bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses, among others—is about $2 billion per year. The cost rises to $3.5 billion when you factor in lost work time for... Read more

Top Tips to Improve Foot Health

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Attention and time given to natural foot health concepts and activities can yield profound foot health benefits, both for foot injury prevention and improved quality of life. Caring for your feet and allowing them to function the way nature intended can keep you pain-free and performing the activities you love most. In most cases, the answer to long-term foot health is simple and involves removing the impediments to optimal foot... Read more