On average, a Canadian walks 3000-4000 steps or at least 2.5 to 3.5 km a day. Imagine walking these steps with your unbearable foot pain? Terrible, isn’t it?
Foot pain can not only be excruciating but can cause foot injury and foot deformity as well. That is why most people opt for shoe inserts called foot orthotics.
Foot orthotics are medical devices prescribed by a qualified foot specialist such as a podiatrist, orthotist or pedorthist. They are intended to address the biomechanical issues that you face while you stand, walk, or run. They can relieve foot pain caused by a number of medical conditions like plantar fasciitis, bursitis, arthritis, diabetes, etc. Orthotics for the foot can also remedy foot abnormalities like flat feet, hammer toes or bunions.
An in-depth understanding of foot orthotics will help us use them better daily.
More about custom orthotics
Orthotics are not mere over-the-counter shoe inserts that you use for comfort purposes. They are not generic shoe inserts that are mass-produced and available to anyone at their nearest shoe store.
Custom foot orthotics are specially designed and tailor-made to suit your foot structure. They are prescribed by a foot specialist after an orthotics evaluation. The specialist evaluates your body weight, activity level, the shape of your foot, your foot structure, and current foot pains or conditions. Using all this information the specialist designs the custom orthotic inserts. These custom orthotics must be worn in the proper alignment and correct position to get the desired effect and relief from foot issues.
Unlike prefabricated insoles, these foot devices are highly individualized and one person’s foot orthotic cannot suit another.
Benefits of Custom Foot Orthotics
Custom orthotics can improve the health and life of individuals in the following ways.
Pain Relief
The primary benefit of custom orthotics is relief from pain from foot issues. Custom orthotics are designed to cushion your feet and support your leg movements. They provide relief from both acute and chronic pain due to the following complex foot conditions:
- Flat feet
- High arches
- Knee pain
- Heel pain
- Back pain
- Ankle pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Pain due to arthritis
- Pain due to corns, calluses, bunions, and hammertoes
Injury Prevention
Most of us can hurt our feet while walking, jogging, running, or hiking. To prevent a chance of injury during such activities, it is best to use customized inserts.
The extra cushioning and support that custom-made foot orthotics provide can offer a stable surface for your foot and support your leg movements.
Custom-made foot and ankle orthotics are invaluable and a must for athletes and sportspersons who have higher chances of injury.
Improved performance in athletic activity
Active athletes need the right footwear and leg gear to improve their activity levels. For such people who perform rigorous physical activity on a daily basis, they need custom foot orthotics prescribed by a foot specialist.
The custom-made foot orthotics are designed keeping in mind the body balance, movement patterns, range of motion, etc. of the athlete. Using such prescription orthotics can reduce the stress levels of athletes and improve their athletic performance to a great extent.
Resolves biomechanical foot issues
Biomechanical foot issues are the problems that arise due to improper alignment of the foot. These include weakening of the muscles of the knee or the hip, tightness in the joints of the lower limb, etc. which affects the way you walk or run.
For instance, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is a complex foot condition that affects the soft tissues of the knee. Biomechanical foot orthotics are specially fitted with a 4-inch polypropylene foam layer to relieve the pain due to this common knee disorder.
Corrects foot deformities
Each of us has a unique foot structure and some people have foot deformities that cause abnormal function. One such abnormal foot condition is Forefoot Varus Posting. In this condition, the bones of the front feet are inverted or angled higher when compared to the heel. This causes the inside of the foot to sit higher than the rest of the foot. To correct this condition, the foot specialist prescribes custom-fitted orthotics that are tailored to provide a medial forefoot wedge and make the level of the foot even throughout.
Custom-made orthotics are a boon to persons with foot abnormalities as they help to accommodate such foot deformities without resorting to surgery.
Improved health and quality of life
A person with pain cannot work or sleep peacefully. This pain will often disrupt their sleep and cause extra stress. Buying inexpensive inserts from retail stores can only help so much as they are not designed to suit your specific body posture or structure.
Custom-made inserts are specially made to suit your body weight distribution and body positioning. They are fabricated from 2 to 4-inch polypropylene foam lining or phenolic foam. This cushioned layer helps to correct foot abnormalities by offering extra support at unique points.
Custom Orthotic Shoe Inserts are vital for every individual with foot pain as they improve your sense of balance and quality of life. They treat all kinds of pain as well as leg and body alignment issues without surgical intervention. Visit our pedorthic foot clinic in Calgary and meet with a Canadian certified Pedorthist in Calgary for your custom-made foot orthotics and live life a better way.