When you feel pain, you may reach for ice or medication to relieve it. But sometimes all you need is a little support. Here are four things you didn’t know that custom orthotics could do for you.
Orthotics, commonly called arch supports, are best known for helping people with foot pain caused by issues like hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, and tendon pain. But that’s not all they’re good for.
The board-qualified foot and ankle surgeons at Family Foot & Ankle Center in Upland, California, have helped alleviate back and hip pain and other problems with custom orthotics. Here, they unpack four benefits of custom orthotics that you likely haven’t heard of.
First, let’s recap how custom orthotics work and differ from over-the-counter inserts.
Orthotics versus inserts
Custom-made orthotics are different from inserts available over the counter. Inserts are mass-produced, often made of gel, foam, or plastic, and meant as a one-size-fits-all solution. While they can provide some arch support, they’re not made specifically for your feet and can’t correct common foot problems.
Custom orthotics are designed to align and properly position your feet’ ligaments, tendons, and bones to reduce stress, relieve pain, and correct foot abnormalities like collapsed arches that affect how you stand, walk, and run. Custom orthotics are made from a mold of your feet and individualized for your specific foot and mechanical problems.
Benefits of Custom Orthotics
Custom orthotics do more than just relieve foot problems and pain. Here are four benefits you may not know about.
Boost athletic performance
Whether you’re into running, basketball, or tennis, your feet affect how you move and perform. Custom orthotics correct alignment issues that negatively affect your gait and form and provide the proper support so that you step correctly.
Using customized orthotics for your unique foot needs can improve your form, lower the risk of injury, and improve comfort. Orthotics can boost shock absorption, weight-bearing, and propulsion, all critical factors in sports performance.
Improve balance
Common foot problems often result in balance problems. Mechanical issues with your feet that affect your gait can throw you off balance and increase the risk of falls. This is particularly true for older adults with lower lean mass to keep them stable.
If you suffer from balance issues, custom orthotics designed to correct your particular problem can provide the extra support you need so that you can step and walk with greater stability.
Alleviates back and hip pain
You know that orthotics help relieve foot pain, but did you know that customized orthotics can also soothe hip and back pain? Customized orthotics for patients with hip or arthritis pain are designed for maximum shock absorption. This allows you to move around with greater ease.
The added shock absorption removes stress from your joints and skeletal system to alleviate pain. Whether you have tendonitis or arthritis, hip or back pain doesn’t have to slow you down. Fight hip and back pain with custom orthotics.
Provides bunion relief
A bunion is a painful bump that forms on the joint of your big toe. It develops due to pressure on the big toe that forces the big toe to push against the second toe. Narrow or tight shoes can complicate the issue, causing inflammation and setting off a vicious cycle.
Custom orthotics provide cushioning support and functional foot control if you have a bunion. This restores the proper motion of the joint and relieves pain so that you can step and walk comfortably.
To learn whether custom orthotics can help you, contact our office at (909) 288-4757 or use our convenient online booking tool to request an appointment. We served patients throughout the Inland Empire.