| Some 30 years ago, Dr Jean Ayres identified a | | | | hyperpronation of their feet, or |
| process which correlates neural function and a | | | | underdevelopment of the ankle bone or heel bone |
| child's degree of success in school. This process is | | | | which restricts the foot's range of motion. While |
| known as neurological integration. | | | | knocked knees tend to go away, pronation of the |
| Problems with neurological integration are evident | | | | feet do not. |
| in a child that is very sensitive to bright lights, loud | | | | "Pronation is the most common foot problem we |
| sounds, or quick movements. They may have a | | | | see at our Chiropractic. All three foot arches, |
| very high pain tolerance or throw themselves | | | | medial longitudinal, lateral longitudinal, and |
| against people or walls. There is an apparent | | | | transverse, are far too weak to keep the foot in |
| increase or decrease in activity levels. Coordination | | | | proper alignment which causes the tarsal bones to |
| problems, speech and language delays, and issues | | | | drop," says Cody. "Considering the importance of |
| with attentiveness and self-regulation all indicate a | | | | the feet in sending neurological information to the |
| problem with neurological integration. Most of | | | | brain, this is extremely concerning." |
| these children are quickly diagnosed with | | | | Postural control |
| something along the lines of ADHD or ADD by | | | | The act of standing or moving relays signals from |
| the medical profession. | | | | the body to the brain and then back again. The |
| When an infant is playing or interacting, their brain | | | | body automatically and reflexively takes on a |
| gathers information and attempts to organise it. If | | | | particular posture based on a combination of |
| the information becomes scrambled or | | | | responses from the feet and other limb positions. |
| disorganized, this is evident in the infant's behavior. | | | | All of this is controlled by the brain's messages to |
| ADHD and ADD are purely a diagnosis of | | | | these areas. |
| symptomology and not the cause in some cases. | | | | Over the surface of the feet, there are millions of |
| "The number of young children entering school | | | | pressoreceptors (receptors that sense pressure). |
| exhibiting sensory processing disorders is | | | | These receptors send information about your |
| increasing every year and currently is estimated | | | | body in space to the brain which then coordinates |
| to affect 12 to 17 per cent of all children in the | | | | the body to accommodate to the particular |
| United States," according to the Sensory | | | | position. |
| Integration Education and Research Foundation. | | | | Any disruption in this process can not only affect |
| "It is extremely important for parents and | | | | balance but many other senses as well. Instability |
| education professionals to be proactive in the | | | | can be triggered by malfunctioning responses to |
| neurological development and wellbeing of children," | | | | visual cues, vestibular, and proprioceptive reflexes, |
| says Chiropractor Cody Hanish. "The learning | | | | according to studies performed by Nashner, |
| capabilities of infants and children exhibiting | | | | Norre, and Lord et al. |
| neurological integration disorders can greatly | | | | "Research shows how foot positioning directly |
| increase through chiropractic care." | | | | interferes with the neurological development of |
| Foot position | | | | children," says Cody. "It's easy to see the |
| According to Foot Levelers, a recent survey of | | | | importance of foot position, posture, and the |
| 52 five-year-old children showed that 92.3 per | | | | effects it has on health and wellbeing in the long |
| cent had knocked knees, and 77.9 per cent had | | | | term. |