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Further Research

Invitation into further research

The focus in our society is on the relief of symptoms, generally the relief of pain. Pain is the body’s way of alerting us to the fact that there is a problem. Most mainstream treatments are about soothing the symptoms with medications, or short term bandaid treatments like strapping, electrical stimulation, massage, stretching/strengthening programs. Further to that alternative treatments which often involve supplements, said to aid healing in joints. Nothing will make a difference of course unless the long term approach is taken and excessive wear or injury is firstly prevented.

The Robert Charles Clinic is about correcting posture and preventing long term activity related problems. Over the last eighteen years, the clinic has been successfully treating many thousands of patients, from the athletic to the disabled. We solve a diverse range of problems, providing a long term solution for posture problems, back instability, running/walking injuries/problems and osteo(wear) arthritis. I have developed and patented a new concept in individually prescribed orthoses and started a new discipline.

Traditional orthosis are usually made of rigid material like plastic - they have a bad name - generally regarded as uncomfortable, often even unwearable while achieving very little.

In contrast, The Robert Charles Clinic full length flexible prescribed devices do not just treat foot problems but are prescribed with an understanding of the mechanics of the entire body. The joints of the leg are examined and aligned into their planes of movement and a non-weight bearing impression is taken. The orthosis are then prepared to maintain that perfect alignment. Traditional orthoses are mainly arch supports to treat the foot but there is no technique to realign the leg, e.g. treat knee problems, even though it is often inferred.

The Robert Charles Clinic differentiates between forefoot and heel angles, realigning the whole foot to realign the entire leg and pelvis to correct inherited posture and body mechanics. The problem is not only in treating what is commonly called flat feet but in correcting excessive angles of foot contact/foot roll. Pronation is often referred to by mainstream professionals as flat feet. It is not, but actually a separate problem of excessive rolling in which cannot happen unless contact has firstly been made at an excessive angle. A similar problem is also found with high arch ‘Pes cavus’ feet where the inherited structure causes the foot to contact at excessive angles and roll causing leg rotation. Unusual combinations of heel and fore foot angles are often seen. While I have done a great deal of research and development, to date, there has been no clinical study to evaluate the orthotic system.

I would like to encourage and support clinical studies in the areas of:

Osteo(wear)arthritis is excessive wear in misaligned joints which accumulates over time.
It is preventable/reversible. I have routinely been realigning the entire leg and preventing further pain and wear to joints in the elderly. Impending joint replacements are routinely avoided.

Spine instability. Back pain is so frequent in our society that it seems to be an epidemic and an inevitable part of life. Those who are predisposed are easily identified and the pelvic instability caused by misalignment in the lower skeleton (foot roll/leg rotation/knee hyperextension/pelvic rotation) can be corrected. Those with this type of misalignment/instability who suffer injury to the spine cannot be rehabilitated unless this unstable posture is first corrected.

Treatment of so-called overuse injuries in running and walking. These problems include Plantar fasciitis, shin splints, compartment syndrome, runners knee, achilles injury/tightness, ITB problems and tightness/injury to various muscles. They are all caused by incorrect function from skeletal misalignments so commonly occurring that they are considered normal and the significance overlooked.

Rehabilitation following trauma to the weight bearing musculo skeletal area including fractures, joint surgery, spinal fusions etc.

Splints and braces are formed with skill in using the range of materials now available but no knowledge is demonstrated of an understanding of joint alignment or function. No realignment is achieved for the wearer. Ankles, knees and hips are put at great risk and movement is difficult when the leg is firmly strapped in place without healthy alignment having been achieved. Often the entire leg is rotated and under a great deal of torsion. Protheses are also made without a true understanding of walking gait and without the knee and hip joints being correctly aligned in their plane of movement. The wearers do not walk correctly and are at risk of wear in the leg joints and pelvis/spine.

We would be pleased to hear from students and researchers interested in conducting a challenging and meaningful clinical study in those areas.

Please contact the clinic on Freecall 1800 245 552 or (07) 3289 6700 .

Robert Charles