Dr. Jeffrey Davies, a board certified family physician, also has a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering.  Prior to entering medical school Dr. Davies spent 12 years conducting research on hip and knee biomechanics at the Massachusetts General Hospital.  Dr. Davies’ continued interest in biomechanics has led him to study how problems with the foot may lead to knee, hip and back pain.  Dr. Davies explains, “At the Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory at Mass General we would see patients after the joint had been completely destroyed by osteoarthritis.  I always nagged by the question; what caused this joint damage and how could it have been prevented?  I am now trying to find some of the answers.” 

Abnormal foot motion can cause excessive rotation of the lower leg and thus stress concentrations in the hip and knee cartilage.  I believe that if the slight imbalances of the foot are correctly diagnosed and then corrected with foot orthotics not only will the foot, knee and hip pain be relieved but the devastating effects of osteoarthritis may be prevented.”

The diabetic foot is another area of interest for Dr. Davies.  Loss of sensation and poor blood supply put the diabetic’s feet at tremendous risk for developing non-healing ulcers.  Diabetics with foot ulcers often require hospitalization and all too often the infected, non-healing ulcer leads to amputation.  For these patients, the goal is to identify areas of the diabetic foot that are at risk for developing an ulcer and then construct an orthotic to protect that area.  The C.A.F.F. system allows Dr. Davies to put the diabetic patient in shoes with insoles that protect their feet.  In addition these shoes and insoles are often covered by Medicare and can be provided at no cost to the patient.