Positive Health Online

For decades, patients suffering from persistent back pain, migraines, scoliosis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), and fibromyalgia have cycled through therapies targeting symptoms without addressing the root cause. As a clinician and researcher, I began asking a fundamental question: What if the origin of these chronic conditions lies not in the spine or head, but in the feet?

In 2002, I described a previously unrecognized genetic foot structure, the PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity, which I hypothesize to be the primary etiology of a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders.  

This foot deformity is the result of an incomplete torsional unwinding of the talus and calcaneus occurring during week 7 post fertilization. 

Clinically, placing this foot into its’ weight bearing neutral position (subtalar joint congruity), the posterior aspect of the heel bone will be inverted, termed heel supinatus, as well as the entire medial column of the foot, termed medial column supinatus.[See Figure 1]

Figure 1. Foot in Weight Bearing Neutral Position

Neurophysiological Postural Model

Upright posture is largely maintained by the activation of Meissner Corpuscules, the sensory receptors embedded in the bottom of the feet. (See Figure 2).  These sensory receptors identify changes in ground surfaces (flat, slanted) as you walk and codifies those changes as CoP Patterns.

Figure 2. Activation of Meissner Corpuscules

This sensory CoP Patterns are transmitted and decoded in the brain stem and cerebellum. If the foot’s CoP Patterns match the brain stem’s engram CoP Pattern, an erect upright posture is subconsciously maintained. If the foot’s CoP Pattern does not match the brain stem’s engram CoP Pattern, the sensory information from the foot is passed on to the cerebellum where the appropriate postural adjustments are made (e.g., walking up hill, the cerebellum automatically leans the posture forward). (See Figure 3)

Figure 3. Center of Pressure CoP Patterns

Center of Pressure (CoP) Patterns are composed of thousands of activated Meissner Corpuscules.  These patterns change moment to moment as you walk.

PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity Distorts the Foot’s CoP Patterns

• Gravity forces the PreClinical Clubfoot to rotate inward and downward until the entire plantar surface of the foot rests on the ground (See Figure 1);
• This distorts the foot’s CoP Patterns (See Left Figure 3);
• These patterns are transmitted to the brain stem;
• The brain stem diverts all CoP Patterns not matching its’ engram CoP Pattern, to the cerebellum;
• Acting on these distorted patterns, the cerebellum distorts the posture: (See Figure 4);
  • Rotates the innominates anteriorly;
  • Unlevels the pelvis;
  • Rotates the shoulders forward;
  • Shifts the head forward;
  • Unlevels the cranial bones resulting in facial asymmetry.

Distorted posture is the harbinger of chronic muscle and joint pain.

Figure 4. The Cerebellum Distorts the Posture

Proprioceptive Approach in Treating the PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity

Traditional podiatric interventions focus on mechanical correction through orthotics that support the arch or redistribute weight. My approach diverges significantly: I developed proprioceptive insoles which reverse the foot’s distorted sensory feedback to the brain. This, in turn, resets the posture.

This therapeutic method does not force the foot into a new position, but rather gently reprograms the central nervous system to restore proper posture.  Patients often report significant reductions in muscle and joint pain within days of initiation of therapy.

Independent Validation

In 2021, my research was independently replicated.  Medial column supinatus (pathognomonic of the PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity) was confirmed through cadaver studies and AI-enhanced 3D ultrasound imaging, providing objective anatomical validation of the structure I first described two decades earlier. These findings mark a significant milestone and establish a foundation for broader clinical adoption and further research.

The Need for a Paradigm Shift

Chronic pain is often treated at the site of symptoms rather than at its source. When clinicians consider the foot's role in systemic dysfunction, it opens the door to more effective, sustainable care. While my model challenges conventional compartmentalized thinking, emerging replication studies and clinical outcomes continue to support its relevance.

I invite researchers, clinicians, and therapists to consider a bottom-up approach to chronic muscle and joint pain, one that starts with a careful embryological understanding of foot structure and its neurological and biomechanical consequences.

References

1. Kevin D., Hunter B., Andrew B., et.al. Reliability of coronal plane rotation measurements in the medial column of the foot: a cadaveric study. J Foot Ankle;15(3):252-8. 2021.
2. Schmidt E., Silva T., Baumfeld D., et.al. The rotational positioning of the bones in the medial column of the foot: A weightbearing CT analysis. Iowa Orthopaedic Journal; 41(3):103-109. 2021.
3. Rothbart B.A. Medial column foot systems: an innovative tool for improving posture. Journal Bodywork and Movement Therapies; 6(1):37-46. 2002.