How Orthotics Can Help Ease Your Foot Pain

IntroductionAnyone who suffers from chronic foot pain

knows that it is one of the most debilitating kinds of pain you can have. Considering your feet are supporting all of your body weight with every step you take, it’s hard to find relief and still lead an active lifestyle.

Luckily, orthotics can help correct certain foot issues and relieve pain so you can lead a more active life.

What Are Custom Orthotics?According to the Palo Alto Medical

Foundation, custom orthotics are foot supports that are designed to balance out the biomechanical inefficiencies of your feet and legs. They are made from the impression of your own foot, and worn inside your shoes to correct any number of foot issues.

Why Custom Orthotics?Over-the-counter orthotic devices are always

available, but everyone has unique feet, so expecting the same type of arch support to work for everyone doesn’t make sense.

According to Canadian-based Activa Clinics, the best results come from a thorough foot examination, gait analysis and then a cast of your feet to create the custom orthotics.

After this process is followed, you’ll have a custom pair of orthotics that are perfect for your feet and only your feet.

How Do Orthotics Work?Basically, orthotics provide:

RealignmentStrengthBalanceStability

This is accomplished by exerting gentle pressure to your feet, to coax them into their natural position.

A more natural foot position means that your weight distribution is even and many of the problems you’ve been plagued with begin to dissipate.

Who Benefits from Orthotics?The Palo Alto Medical Foundation states

that people with arch and heel pain, shin splints and knee pain are some of the patients that benefit from orthotics the most. If you are someone who has an occupation that causes you to stand or walk a lot, any of these symptoms are possible.

Who Benefits from Orthotics?If you play a lot of sports,

you may also be a candidate for custom orthotics. Essentially, anyone who is experiencing foot pain on a regular basis will likely benefit from wearing orthotics. Aside from lifestyle, there are many foot issues that make orthotics a viable solution.

Common Foot IssuesHere are some of the common foot issues that

people in today’s society suffer from:Plantar Fasciitis – This happens when the band of

tissue located at the bottom of the foot is overstretched or overloaded in some way. Pain is usually felt underneath the heel.

Hammertoes – This condition occurs when the toes are forced to grip because the foot can’t maintain balance. Sometimes one or more toes can curl or buckle at the joints. Pain is typically felt at the joints, especially when wearing shoes or boots. Hammertoes are sometimes called claw toes or mallet toes.

Common Foot IssuesKnee Alignment – This may happen for a

number of reasons that include flat feet causing stress on the knee, or a serious knee injury playing sports or in an accident of some sort. The result is often knee, lower back or hip pain.

Foot Misalignment – When this happens, the entire body weight can rest on the feet, which causes spinal misalignment and discomfort. It’s not uncommon to find your shoes wearing out unevenly when you have this condition.

Common Foot IssuesBunions – These are formed from calcium

build up that result in unnatural bone formation. The appearance is of the big toe or small toe being bent in toward the other toes.

Sciatic Nerve – pain in the sciatic nerve is often caused by over-pronation and results in pain that radiates through the buttocks and sometimes all the way down the thighs.

Activa Clinics - Brampton 490 Bramalea Road #301 Brampton, ON L6T 0G1 (905) 791-7911 - offering a range of healthcare services including physiotherapy services and custom orthotics in Brampton and the surrounding areas. For more information, click here.