LOWER QUARTER SCREENING FOR SKELETAL MALALIGNMENT - SUGGESTIONS FOR ORTHOTICS AND SHOEWEAR

Skeletal malalignments of the lower quarter, deformities within a bone or al a joint, may be the primary cause of musculoskeletal patient pr oblems. Skeletal malalignments also may sustain the presence of a musc uloskeletal patient problem that has some other causal mechanism. A sc reening exam for skeletal alignment of the lower quarter may assist cl inicians in identifying skeletal malalignments that are associated wit h a musculoskeletal complaint. The purposes of this paper are to: 1) d escribe components for a skeletal alignment screening exam, 2) analyze how lower quarter malalignments may influence lower quarter function and contribute to the development of musculoskeletal pathology and 3) suggest general characteristics of foot orthoses and shoes that may as sist in the management of musculoskeletal patient problems of the lowe r quarter.