SpineCare Engineering - Foot & Spine Alignment

A few days ago, my family and I had a dinner where we discussed the gaming industry, which is currently one of the most profitable sectors. During our conversation, we noted several concerning phenomena:
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1. Smartphones and Young Kids: Many young children are given smartphones to play games on.
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2. Gaming Addiction: These children often become so engrossed in games that they develop a strong addiction.
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3. Extreme Reactions: When parents attempt to take away the phone or limit gaming time, the children's reactions can be extreme. In severe cases, as reported in China, some children, when deprived of gaming, have even harmed themselves or their parents.
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4. Problematic Game Content: Many of the games children play can contain violent elements and are designed to be highly engaging, often with manipulative mechanics that encourage in-game purchases. For example, Roblox, a game popular among kids, has been criticized for incorporating gambling elements and frequently prompting players to spend money to advance.
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5. Scarcity of Quality Games: There seems to be a lack of high-quality games that are both engaging and educational.
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Extended screen time on smartphones can have significant negative effects on young minds. Prolonged gaming may hinder their social development and physical activity, which are crucial for their growth.
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Kids need physical activity to develop their muscles and proprioception—an awareness of body position and movement. Without adequate physical activity, many children suffer from poor proprioceptive calibration and other developmental issues.
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This situation can be as severe as drug addiction, with potentially permanent damage to the brain, especially for children who lack self-control.
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I am particularly concerned because I recently encountered a few kids who are severely addicted to gaming. This experience has made me ponder the potential long-term impacts on our society as these children grow up.
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What will the world look like in 10 to 20 years when these individuals, deeply immersed in gaming from a young age, become adults?
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For individuals with hypermobility syndrome, who tend to have softer joints and are particularly affected in areas such as the ankles and feet, strong muscles play a crucial role in stabilizing and protecting these joints.
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Flat feet can exacerbate the problem, making it essential to engage in activities that help build strength and stability.
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When selecting sports, it's advisable to choose those with minimal physical contact, such as running, badminton, weight training, or table tennis.
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These activities generally pose a lower risk of injury compared to contact sports like basketball, football, or futsal, which can be particularly challenging for those with hypermobility syndrome.
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Understanding your body's unique needs and limitations can help you make informed choices about sports and activities, reducing the risk of injury and allowing you to stay active and healthy.
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One of my best students, a 19-year-old man taller than me, had severe flat feet. Remarkably, after just 10 gait training sessions, he restored his foot arch.
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He was fortunate because his ankle joints remained flexible at his age—an advantage not everyone has—and he was not overweight, which also contributed positively.
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However, without his effort, determination, and discipline, these natural advantages alone would not have sufficiently corrected his flat feet.
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He never rescheduled or was late for his training appointments, and he required minimal supervision from his parents.
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He diligently followed every instruction I gave him, and he truly deserves the results he achieved.
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I am incredibly proud of him 😎
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In the left photo, you can see that the middle of the foot (the instep) is filled and protruding, whereas in the right image, an arch is visible in the foot.
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The boy's severe flat foot condition has progressed to the point where the navicular bones are subluxed even in a non-weight-bearing position. This is a serious condition.
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Unfortunately, the boy also faces the challenge of his ankle joints starting to solidify (semi-rigid ankles) early.
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However, there is a silver lining: the boy is only 8 years old, obedient, able to focus, and a quick learner.
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The mother's vigilance led her to take swift action, bringing her son from Kelantan to Kuala Lumpur for treatment, despite the arduous 6-hour bus journey 💪
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When people talk about flat feet, the first thing that often comes to mind is a footprint check and the use of insoles.
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Many parents share their children's footprint results with me, but I don't rely solely on these footprints due to the insufficient information they provide.
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Why are footprints not accurate? The main reason lies in foot structure. Each individual's feet have different structures.
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For example, if someone has healthy feet but their feet are fleshy, their footprint is likely to show flat feet. Conversely, someone who is flat-footed but has bony feet will end up with a high-arched footprint.
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This is why I don't rely solely on footprints. Instead, I prefer to check ankle alignment, observe the entire foot, assess the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the foot, and evaluate the individual's gait.
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By combining the results of these assessments, I can accurately determine the cause of the flat feet and the appropriate treatment needed to restore the arch ✌️
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Hopscotch, where you draw boxes on the ground and hop from one to another, was popular among generations born between the 1950s and 1980s.
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However, nowadays, most kids don't play this game anymore.
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Recently, I noticed several students who happen to have one weaker leg, affecting their running posture.
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To help strengthen their weaker leg, I started teaching them how to hop on one foot.
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One day, while running in the park, I suddenly realized that the hopscotch from my childhood is quite similar to what I'm teaching my students about hopping on one foot.
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Do children who frequently played this jumping game when they were young develop stronger legs? Can anyone share the experience? 😃
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To help a flat-footed individual with tight calf muscles walk normally, deep tissue release and stretching are essential before learning heel-to-toe walking.

My cutest, smartest, and youngest student ❤️
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Three weeks ago, I changed the frame of my spectacles. I managed to find the same design but in a different colour.
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The following week, the cutest student came for his training. I was sitting on the floor at his eye level when he pointed at my spectacles and said, "Red colour."
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I replied, "Oh, you mean the previous one?"
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He nodded and said, "Yes."
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I smiled and said, "Yes, I changed it to grey."
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He's only four years old, but he's so observant 💯
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Let me introduce you to a young man from Belgium whom I met during this year's Chinese New Year celebrations at MAHSA Avenue, where he marveled at the lion dances and firecrackers.
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Upon arriving in Malaysia, he embarked on a mission to revolutionize prosthetics production using 3D printing technology.
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His aim was to reduce costs significantly so that amputees could afford artificial limbs and receive them faster across Asia.
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After a brief stay in Malaysia, he traveled to Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India in search of potential business partners.
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Unfortunately, he did not find a suitable match. The social structures, existing laws, governmental initiatives, and the undeveloped prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) market posed significant challenges, especially for economically disadvantaged amputees.
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In these countries, affluent individuals could easily travel to neighboring countries like Singapore or Malaysia for high-quality prosthetics, leaving many others without viable options.
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As a certified orthotist and prosthetist, I have seen firsthand the shortcomings of Malaysia's P&O industry compared to European standards, resulting in considerable hardship for many amputees.
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However, after hearing his insights, I am grateful for initiatives like SOCSO and Kaki Palsu Kedidi that provide affordable prosthetics, enabling amputees to regain mobility and restart their lives.
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While acknowledging that Malaysia's P&O system is far from perfect, it is notably more advanced than those of neighboring countries.
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I hope Malaysia will continue to advance in this field, ensuring that all amputees can access the care they need to lead fulfilling lives.
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PS: Ignore my height 🥲, his height is 194cm 😂

Wearing appropriate shoes and knowing how to wear them are equally important for rebuilding the foot arch.

Checking the degree of ankle dorsiflexion is important for maintaining healthy mobility and ensuring smooth, confident movement.
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The ability to dorsiflex your ankle allows you to walk with a natural heel-to-toe mechanism, preventing the discomfort of dragging your feet, as often seen in individuals with flat feet.
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Just a month ago, this young boy had his ankle dorsiflexion measured: 105 degrees on his left ankle and 90 degrees on his right.
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Fast forward to today, after consistent effort and encouragement, his measurements have shown remarkable improvement.
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Now, his left ankle reaches 80 degrees and his right ankle 75 degrees—a significant leap forward! 🥳
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This progress is a testament to the dedication and support of his mother, who always encourages and believes in his potential 👩‍👦
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The boy is equally commendable—a disciplined and responsible young man who takes his health seriously 💯
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Improving ankle dorsiflexion isn't just about numbers; it's about reclaiming the freedom to move comfortably and confidently.
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Keep up the excellent work, young man! Your determination and responsibility are truly inspiring 🔥
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Rarely do I discuss artificial limbs here. The flat feet gait training program I've been teaching integrates biomedical engineering (Prosthetics & Orthotics) with Exercise Therapy.
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Even though I don't work directly with artificial limbs often these days, that knowledge remains a core part of me. I feel privileged to share my expertise in biomedical engineering with Kedidi Kaki Palsu.
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It's been a journey where my passion for helping others through these fields has shaped my path. Each day, I'm grateful for the opportunity to blend these disciplines into something that truly makes a difference.
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Today, this little man didn't utter a single complaint during our training session, and I'm truly impressed by his performance.
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In the past, he struggled with the discomfort and pain you see in the picture. But today, he tackled the exercises independently, without his parents in the room, and he did exceptionally well. That's why I call him a little man.
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During his initial sessions, his parents stayed close, sharing superhero tales to inspire and comfort him through the muscle pain caused by the relaxation of his calf muscles.
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He was also unfamiliar with the ankle and toe movements I was teaching him.
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Given his earlier struggles, I admit I was concerned about whether he could handle my gait re-training program. However, based on today's remarkable progress, I'm confident he can 💪🔥
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Many parents have shared their heart-wrenching journey of discovering their child's flat feet from a young age and their relentless pursuit of finding a cure before discovering us.
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They consulted doctors and specialists, discovering no straightforward remedy for flat feet.
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They spent years using insoles, undergoing months or even years of physiotherapy, exploring chiropractic and even traditional medicine.
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For many parents, stumbling upon our ads offered a new perspective, a different approach from what they had known.
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Faced with no better alternative, they decided to give Kau's Flat Feet Gait Re-Training Program a chance, hoping it could help their child.
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To these parents, we often become the final destination in their child's journey of treating flat feet.
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Yet, some fortunate parents found us early and committed to Kau's Flat Feet Gait Re-Training Program.
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Their children experienced a miraculous restoration of their foot arch in just 28 days, bringing profound relief and renewed hope.
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Regardless of their path, I strive to be a beacon of hope for those parents who refuse to surrender in pursuing a sustainable solution to restore their child's footarch.
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Human foot structure is complicated. Before seeing this photo, had you ever thought of the human foot structure looking like this?
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With all these little bones connected by ligaments, do you still think that an insole can restore the foot arch, or learning to control your foot itself can do better?
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I'm tired today, so no caption...