Custom Orthotics Might Relieve Your Back, Knee, Or Foot Pain

You might think custom orthotics are for people with diabetes or other medical conditions that require special foot care. While this is true, orthotics are also helpful to many others. If you have foot, back, ankle, or knee pain, you might benefit from wearing custom foot orthotics. Here's an overview of when orthotics might help you and how you get custom orthotics made.

When Custom Foot Orthotics Might Help

Pain in your back down to your feet often occurs because of gait problems. You might have an unusual walk if one leg is shorter than the other or if you tend to roll your foot as you walk. Gait problems are common, and you might not even know you have one. A clue is when your shoes tend to wear down on one side but not the other.

Orthotics fit inside your shoes. Custom orthotics are shaped to match your feet precisely, and they address the particular foot problem you have. The orthotics might support your arch, pad your heel, or keep your foot from rolling. By correcting the way you walk, you might eliminate back, knee, and foot pain. Plus, you can end annoyance with never being able to find shoes that fit and feel right.

Custom Foot Orthotics Require Molds Of Your Feet

There are a couple of ways to have molds made of your feet, and you can have that done by a podiatrist. One method is to make actual physical molds that form around the shape of each foot. Another method is to use a computer program to make virtual molds by taking measurements of your feet. Once the molds are made, they are sent to a lab that makes custom orthotics.

The Orthotics Are Made Just For You

Orthotics can be padded and soft or hard and stiff depending on their purpose. They might fit in the length of your shoe or just be under your toes or heels. Custom orthotics are made specifically for your feet, and they are of high-quality materials so they last a long time. They cost more than ones you buy over the counter that are one-size-fits-all, but custom orthotics perform better, fit better, and last longer.

Foot problems don't always require custom orthotics, so if you're dealing with chronic pain, see a podiatrist who can assess your gait and look for the cause of your pain. If orthotics are necessary, you can have them made to fit the shoes you usually wear, so you can play sports, run, work, and enjoy leisure activities again with less pain and a lower risk of injury.

For more information, speak with a local clinic like Advanced Foot Clinic.