You might not be aware, but aches and pains felt in your back could actually be the result of a misalignment or imbalance in your feet. A functional problem in your feet, lower leg, knee, hip or back could be eased with the right type of orthotic. You don’t need to ignore the pain and hope it gets better; read on to learn more.
Orthotic inserts can be a fantastic tool to help treat and remove the pain you are experiencing, but they have to be correct. We recommend custom-designed and fitted orthotics. While these are slightly more expensive, they are the best option when it comes to treating pain.
At the Footfocus podiatry clinic, we pride ourselves on being able to help you accurately diagnose the cause of your problem and then create the orthotics to specifically treat this issue. Some of the most common conditions that custom orthotics can treat are:
- Bunions
- Arthritis
- Flat feet
- High arches
- Diabetic ulcers
- Bursitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Tendonitis
Orthotics can also help to treat pain created by many sports-related injuries. For those who are competitive, by taking away some of the pain and imbalances in your feet, orthotics can actually improve your athletic performance. If you feel like you could benefit from orthotics, contact us! We will be happy to help you find the best ones for you. Alternatively, continue reading; we have put together some tips you can use when choosing your own orthotics.
So what should you do when buying orthotics?
Understand the shape of your foot and your condition
In order to choose the correct set of orthotics for you, you should first fully understand your feet and their size, shape and function. You should also understand the problems you are trying to correct or support. While some over-the-counter orthotics may appear to take away your pain, in most cases, they simply add cushioning and mask the problem. The primary goal for orthotics should be to correct abnormalities or treat painful conditions, not merely add comfort.
The best form of orthotics you can get are fully tailored and customised, 3D- printed orthotics. These orthotics will be supplied by a podiatrist. If this is the case, your podiatrist should first perform a 3D gait analysis to diagnose the issues you are facing and then design the orthotics to help you treat those problems.
Take plantar fasciitis, for example; this is a painful condition that affects the thick band that connects your heel to your toes. To ease the pain from this in most cases, you will need good arch support and cushioning to try to ease the pain and tension. Off-the-shelf orthotics sometimes simply can not provide this.
If you are suffering from overpronation (your foot rolling inwards), you will require an orthotic that is rigid and provides ample support for your whole foot. This will help to ease the pain felt across your foot and lower limbs and also in your lower back, hips and knees.
Heel spurs will require lots of cushioning and padding, helping to prevent that bony protrusion from causing pain and prevent inflammation. For diabetes and other circulatory diseases, your orthotics should help encourage circulation and provide shock absorption to prevent injury to your feet.
Consider when you will be wearing the orthotics
Whether you have a generally active lifestyle through work or like to keep fit and exercise a lot, you should consider your activities before choosing your orthotics. As mentioned before, orthotics can be designed to help ease tension and pain felt by different conditions; ensure you know when you’ll be wearing your orthotics and that they’re designed for the job at hand.
Choose the right footwear
Orthotics are made to provide extra support to your feet and treat injuries, but that doesn’t mean your shoes are off the hook. To ensure your orthotics work to the best effect, choose some shoes that they pair well with. Your shoes should provide ample support for your ankle and the arch of your foot; the orthotics are there to boost the support that they already bring.
Seek the help of a professional
As mentioned previously, the best orthotics that can be bought are custom designed and tailored to you with the help of a highly trained and HCPC-registered podiatrist like ourselves. If you are having problems or experiencing pain you feel orthotics may be able to aid with, contact us today. We will be happy to advise and help you as best we can.