Have you ever seen those padded inlays that people slip into their shoes? These are commonly known as orthotics, or at least one of the devices orthotics provide. How you walk, how your feet are positioned, and the structure of your feet can have a massive impact on your body as a whole. Orthotics are designed to assist you by creating a comfortable, moulded brace for your feet to rest on. Here are some reasons why getting custom orthotics is a good idea.
What are foot orthotics?
Your feet are among the most complex structures on your body, which is understandable since they have to carry all your weight. Each foot has 26 bones and hundreds of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Our feet support and balance our bodies, so when something happens to them, our ability to do what otherwise would have been normal is compromised.
This is where foot orthotics come in. Foot orthotics, also known as orthoses, are devices designed by podiatrists to be worn in shoes. They support and align your feet into the correct position, helping alleviate any pain from walking and correcting any potential issues caused by it.
Photo by cottonbro studio
Who would need orthotics?
There are a number of people who would benefit from using orthoses, let alone needing them. Here is a list of people who should use orthoses:
People with foot deformities or pain
There are a variety of reasons why people would need orthoses. Some include people who struggle with flat feet, high arches, bunions or hammertoe, arthritis, and plantar fasciitis.
Those who have lower limb injuries or chronic injuries
Individuals with chronic pain in their lower back, legs, knees, hips, or ankles may need to use orthoses for balance and stability or support.
Atheletes
To reduce their risk of injury, athletes might use orthoses to align the way they run. This could also improve their performance in some cases.
People with posture problems
In some cases, the structure of your feet can influence your posture while you walk. Using orthoses can help correct this posture, reducing the potential for poor posture to cause other issues.
Children who have developmental issues
Children who have physical development problems, like in-toeing or out-toeing, or flat feet, can use orthoses to correct these issues as they grow.
The benefits of foot orthotics
With that overview of orthoses out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of these ingenious devices:
Support for your feet
First and foremost, orthotic devices support your feet. When they are designed, the podiatrist would mould them perfectly for your feet, factoring in the unique issue you have and supporting the areas that need it. They help correct misalignments and can correct any foot abnormalities like flat feet or high arches.
Reduces pain
As you can imagine or relate to, specific foot issues can cause pain. For example, flat feet or plantar fasciitis can be painful if not treated. You may even experience pain in other areas of your body. This happens because of the increased strain placed on the parts of your body that need to compensate. Your knees, ankles, or lower back can all get sore. By addressing the issues with your feet, you could solve the pain problems in these other body parts.
Protects your joints
If you’re up on your feet and being active, the force on your joints at your feet, spine, and legs is around eight times your body weight. So, you can understand that with time, these parts of the body start to take strain and they wear out, leading to arthritis, joint pain, and soreness. With foot orthotics, any misaligned areas are corrected, distributing the force from an impact more evenly through your joints. This limits the amount of force your joints experience, protecting them and keeping them functional.
In addition to that, some orthotics are also designed to add cushioning to your feet as you walk. This allows the device to absorb a fraction of the pressure from your steps, reducing the impact to your joints.
Get your custom foot orthotics here
After reading this article, maybe you’re thinking that you need orthotics? If that’s the case, then getting a second opinion wouldn’t hurt. Contact The Feet People and book an appointment to see whether you need custom foot orthotics. If you do, you can trust that they’re the right people to design and mold it for you.
Photo by Luis Ruiz
Let’s recap. Custom foot orthotics are design to fit your feet perfectly, supporting them in the areas they need, reducing pain, protecting your joints, and helping prevent injury while you exercise. If you’re struggling with foot issues specifically related to your muscles, the way you walk, or the structure of your feet, then you may want to take a look at how foot orthotics can help you.
Have you ever seen those padded inlays that people slip into their shoes? These are commonly known as orthotics, or at least one of the devices orthotics provide. How you walk, how your feet are positioned, and the structure of your feet can have a massive impact on your body as a whole. Orthotics are designed to assist you by creating a comfortable, moulded brace for your feet to rest on. Here are some reasons why getting custom orthotics is a good idea.
What are foot orthotics?
Your feet are among the most complex structures on your body, which is understandable since they have to carry all your weight. Each foot has 26 bones and hundreds of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Our feet support and balance our bodies, so when something happens to them, our ability to do what otherwise would have been normal is compromised.
This is where foot orthotics come in. Foot orthotics, also known as orthoses, are devices designed by podiatrists to be worn in shoes. They support and align your feet into the correct position, helping alleviate any pain from walking and correcting any potential issues caused by it.
Who would need orthotics?
There are a number of people who would benefit from using orthoses, let alone needing them. Here is a list of people who should use orthoses:
People with foot deformities or pain
There are a variety of reasons why people would need orthoses. Some include people who struggle with flat feet, high arches, bunions or hammertoe, arthritis, and plantar fasciitis.
Those who have lower limb injuries or chronic injuries
Individuals with chronic pain in their lower back, legs, knees, hips, or ankles may need to use orthoses for balance and stability or support.
Atheletes
To reduce their risk of injury, athletes might use orthoses to align the way they run. This could also improve their performance in some cases.
People with posture problems
In some cases, the structure of your feet can influence your posture while you walk. Using orthoses can help correct this posture, reducing the potential for poor posture to cause other issues.
Children who have developmental issues
Children who have physical development problems, like in-toeing or out-toeing, or flat feet, can use orthoses to correct these issues as they grow.
The benefits of foot orthotics
With that overview of orthoses out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of these ingenious devices:
Support for your feet
First and foremost, orthotic devices support your feet. When they are designed, the podiatrist would mould them perfectly for your feet, factoring in the unique issue you have and supporting the areas that need it. They help correct misalignments and can correct any foot abnormalities like flat feet or high arches.
Reduces pain
As you can imagine or relate to, specific foot issues can cause pain. For example, flat feet or plantar fasciitis can be painful if not treated. You may even experience pain in other areas of your body. This happens because of the increased strain placed on the parts of your body that need to compensate. Your knees, ankles, or lower back can all get sore. By addressing the issues with your feet, you could solve the pain problems in these other body parts.
Protects your joints
If you’re up on your feet and being active, the force on your joints at your feet, spine, and legs is around eight times your body weight. So, you can understand that with time, these parts of the body start to take strain and they wear out, leading to arthritis, joint pain, and soreness. With foot orthotics, any misaligned areas are corrected, distributing the force from an impact more evenly through your joints. This limits the amount of force your joints experience, protecting them and keeping them functional.
In addition to that, some orthotics are also designed to add cushioning to your feet as you walk. This allows the device to absorb a fraction of the pressure from your steps, reducing the impact to your joints.
Get your custom foot orthotics here
After reading this article, maybe you’re thinking that you need orthotics? If that’s the case, then getting a second opinion wouldn’t hurt. Contact The Feet People and book an appointment to see whether you need custom foot orthotics. If you do, you can trust that they’re the right people to design and mold it for you.
Let’s recap. Custom foot orthotics are design to fit your feet perfectly, supporting them in the areas they need, reducing pain, protecting your joints, and helping prevent injury while you exercise. If you’re struggling with foot issues specifically related to your muscles, the way you walk, or the structure of your feet, then you may want to take a look at how foot orthotics can help you.
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