I n 2012 Foot Levelcrs. Inc. is celebrating its 60th year of sen ice to the chiropractic profession. Throughout its history, the company has had a positive influence on nearly even facet of chiropractic: patient wcllncss and instruction: public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care: philanthropic donations to numerous chiropractic colleges and research foundations: and extensive financial support to local, state, and national chiropractic associations. Now. starting its seventh decade of commitment, support, and results. Foot Lcvclcrs continues to be a testimonial to the faith, vision, hard work, and generosity of its founder. Monte H. Grccnawalt. DC. DABCO. As a 1948 graduate of Lincoln College of Chiropractic, young Dr. Grccnawalt was able to help main patients in his Iowa clinic: but soon he realized that spinal adjustments just weren't "holding" the way he thought they should. He would correct a patient's subluxation. and in a few days" time the adjustment needed to be made again. "Win won't my adjustments hold?" Dr. Grccnawalt wondered, which led to his search for an answer. From Feet to Foot Levelers In the late 1940s and "50s. Dr. Grcenaw alt's research into gravitational stress, musculoskelctal shock, joint degeneration and other fields led him to the feet, the foundation upon which the human bone and muscular structures stood. He learned how poor foot posture could easily cause a series of distortions throughout the body, often with long-term and painful consequences. Before most adjustments could hold, the feet needed to be balanced. The solution. Dr. Grecnawalt decided, was to create individually designed Stabilizing Orthotics. And so. with the backing of a few friends, he founded Foot Lcvelcrs. Inc. and began to design what became known initially as "Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers." Other doctors, hearing about these products and their success in helping to maintain adjustments, were eager to learn (or to have their staff learn) the method on how to prescribe Foot Lcvelcrs" individually designed orthotics. The business began to grow as more patients were helped by orthotic support. Expanded Support for the Body In 1968 an accident became a success opportunity, when Dr. Greenawalt suffered a serious neck injun as the result of an automobile accident. Unable to work for two years, he could do little more than lie on his bed. Such an event lias been the turning point in many lives, though not often for the better. In Dr. Grcenawalfs case, he spent this time productively by developing ideas and trying to be of service. One idea, for a simple device Dr. Grecnawalt named Pillo-Pedic®. came to him as a direct result of his health problems. "I was experiencing some discomfort from my injuries and was unable to get comfortable." Dr. Grecnawalt wrote. "From this discomfort came a therapeutic traction device in the form of a uniquely designed bed pillow." Pillo-Pcdic turned into a "win-win-win" - it helped Dr. Grccnawalt. it provided doctors of chiropractic with a new adjunct to their cervical adjustments, and it provided patients with neck support and comfort while they slept. Foot Lcvclcrs. Inc. has constantly grown and prospered ever since its founding in 1952. By the mid-1980s there were mam- different styles of Stabilizing Orthotics (including some for women's fashion shoes), half a dozen cervical support pillow styles, lumbar support products, rcliab equipment, and educational materials (slide presentations, clinical reference books, manuals, and videotapes). In 1988. Foot Lcvclcrs moved from Iowa to more advanced facilities in Roa-nokc. VA. Since that time, the company has added improved shock-absorbing and stance-supporting materials to several styles of its Stabilizing Orthotics: and magnetic therapy and moisture- removal technology have been introduced as options. The patented three-phase Gait Cycle System r is just one of Foot Lcvclcrs" unique innovations in postural support. Many of these support/protective developments arc now also standard components of the company's two lines of custom footwear - SandalthoticS'R and ShocthoticsR. Measuring Instruments to Casting Kits to Digital Technology Foot Lcvclcrs" orthotics are "made for the feet, but designed for the body."" Dr. Grccnawalt developed ways to capture patients" feet and find the stress they were experiencing in their bodv. In the beginning of development. Dr. Greenaw alt designed an instrument that would take 16 different measurements of the foot, and from these measurements orthotics could be made. More of the measuring instmments were manufactured and placed in chiropractic clinics. However. Dr. Greenaw alt found that chiropractors were having trouble using the measuring instrument accurately and concluded a simpler way had to be found. He had to find a measuring tool that doctors could use across the country without error. After trying several possibilities the answer was found. A foam substance could be used to make a negative cast of the foot. All the patient needed to do was step into a box containing the foam, and all the doctor had to do was send the box containing those negative casts back to Foot Lcvclcrs. where measurements would be taken for corrective supports—thus inventing the casting kit. The weight-bearing cast evolved as the most workable system for diagnosing and correcting foot dysfunction. Several questioned the weight-bearing method, and Dr. Grcenawalt reinforced the necessity of this method for proper interpretation of feet: "Main abnormalities do not reveal themselves until they arc "stressed" in a normal weight-bearing posture. This position of function can reveal abnormalities, which would be impossible to diagnose with other casting methods. In chiropractic, the functional approach is the method of choice, as is taking weight bearing X-rays. Feet would not be a problem if we didn't stand on them. Weight bearing reveals the deficiency." Digital Technology Another change that made the world and Foot Lcvclcrs change their workdays is technology. Chiropractic lias deep roots with B.J. Palmer, a chiropractic pioneer, and the introduction of the first X-ray machine in the 1900s: doctors could view a patient's skeletal system—which was a huge deal. Chiropractors could now offer patients visual stimulation by giving patients a look inside of their bodies. As Dr. Kevin Wong discussed, "patients respond to stimuli and things that arc different. The average patient docs not look at X-rays every day. Seeing one, especially of themselves, is a unique, different experience for them that usually sticks in their mind for a while. The years have seen the introduction of new technologies (MRI. CT. bone scans, etc.) providing even more information to patients about their body." ' When computers started to improve and become faster through the 1980s and '90s. Dr. Grccnawalt desired to provide a quicker way for doctors to send casting kits to the Foot Lcvclcrs lab in Roanokc. He spent over $1 million researching lasers, computers, cameras, etc. to find ways to accurately capture images of the feet. After several trials and errors. Dr. Grccnawalt discovered that an optical scanner was the solution for an electronic casting kit. Foot Levclcrs engineered many versions of the scanner before they found a prototype that was lightweight, portable, produced a colorized map of the feet, and was easy for doctors to use. This prototype became known as the "Associate Platinum®." The Associate Platinum® is able to visually display pressure being placed on the feet. You can then get an indication of foot stability, balance, and the effects on the rest of the axial kinematic chain of the body. Foot Lcvelcrs continued to improve the technology with the addition of color to represent the degree of foot pressure. Innovative Software Over the years, we have witnessed technological advances that the world could not have imagined. For companies to continue to make great strides, they have to become technologically savvy and innovative. Foot Lcvclcrs lias continued to remain innovative and followed the technology trend by making major improvements in the software for the Associate Platinum r. and released the V7+in October 2011. V7+ allows for a specific, quantifiable indicator of pronation that the patient being scanned is experiencing. This pro-nation-specific index score is embedded within the Pronation/ Stability Index™ and assesses the patient's severity of arch collapse. Also. V7+ software features a Body Assessment screen to describe and illustrate the differences in pressure that the patient is placing on both feet when they arc standing. This is significant because differences in pressure communicate where different strcssors and forces are working on extremities and spinal joints. What lies ahead for Foot Lcvclcrs? Only time can tell, but it can only get better from here. Sources: 1. 1 Wong. K. (January 2012). Palicnt-plcasing technology. Retrieved from http:/Av ww.chirocco.com/chiroprac-tic/ncws/12459/1684/paticnt -pleasing-tcclmology/?skeyword=dr.%20\vong Dwayne Bennett has worked at Foot Levelers for the past 25 years in all facets of the business. In February of 2012, he was promoted from Executive Vice President to President of the company. He has learned so many life lessons from Dr. Monte Greenawalt and Kent Greenawalt. and he looks forward to many more successful years at Foot Levelers. To learn more about Foot Levelers visit www.FootLevelers.com. EZ9 Measuring instrument used to fit patients for Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers Original Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers Original announcement of the Greenawalt Chiropractic Clinic Weightbearing image of feet taken during the casting kit process Electronic casting kit--Associate Platinum digital foot scanner with latest V7+ software
