Minor aches and pains in your feet can feel like a constant nuisance. These are sometimes called plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the fascia that supports your arch. While it can be painful and annoying, there are simple steps you can take to reduce foot pain and improve your gait.
Orthotics are a type of customized footwear that you can wear to treat heel spurs, Morton’s neuroma, or other foot conditions. This blog explains everything you need to know about custom orthotics, including advantages, risks, and possible side effects.
What are custom orthotics?
These are orthotics that are made for your specific needs. They may be custom-built to your exact foot size, or they may be made to fit inside your regular shoes. These orthotics can be made from many types of material, depending on your condition.
For example, heel pain can be treated with custom insoles that add cushioning. If you have Morton’s neuroma in your foot, the custom orthotic may have a raised area to increase the friction between the nerve and the bone.
Foot pain caused by Morton’s neuroma can be especially painful, and wearing custom orthotics can reduce this pain. Orthotics can not only help with pain, but they can also improve your gait. For example, if you have low arches in your feet, wearing orthotics in your shoes can help with this.
Why use custom orthotics?
There are many reasons to use orthotics. While most people think of using orthotics for pain, they can also help with other foot conditions, including heel pain, Morton’s neuroma, and flat feet. If you have flat feet, wearing orthotics can help you feel more stable as you walk, which can prevent injuries like heel spurs.
Custom orthotics can also be used to correct any gait abnormalities caused by other foot conditions. For example, if you have flat feet, wearing orthotics can help you feel more stable as you walk. If you have a heel spur or other foot pain, wearing orthotics can help you have a normal gait.
Custom Orthotics for Heel Spurs
A shoe spur is a painful hematoma (blood clot) under the base of the spur. With treatment and time, it will resolve on its own. However, if it is not treated, it can become a permanent problem. Heel spurs can also cause discomfort by pressing against the nerve that supplies your foot with pain.
The discomfort can become even worse over time, and wearing orthotics may reduce this. You can also use custom orthotics to treat heel spur pain. With these, your orthotic has a raised portion that pushes on that nerve. This can help to reduce pain, and wearing orthotics for longer can allow your heel spur to resolve on its own.
Custom Orthotics for Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is a nerve entrapment disorder that causes pain in your foot, ankle, or lower leg. It can become painful over time, and wearing orthotics can reduce this. Your orthotic may have a design that reduces pressure on the nerve.
They can help you to walk normally, and wearing orthotics for longer can allow the nerve to heal. You can also use custom orthotics to treat Morton’s neuroma. With these, your orthotic has a raised portion that pushes on that nerve. This can help to reduce pain, and wearing orthotics for longer can allow the nerve to heal.
Custom Orthotics for Ankle Injuries
An ankle sprain is a common injury that can cause significant pain and swelling. Wearing custom orthotics can help you to walk normally again more quickly. Your orthotic may have a design that reduces pressure on the ankle joint, or it may have a heel cup that supports your ankle.
You can also use custom orthotics to treat an ankle sprain. With these, your orthotic has a raised portion that pushes on that ankle. This can help to reduce pain, and wearing orthotics for longer can help to repair the ankle.
Custom Orthotics for Other Foot Conditions
Sometimes, custom orthotics can be used for foot pain caused by other conditions. For example, if you have arthritis that affects your foot, custom orthotics can reduce pain caused by this condition.
Your orthotic may have a design that increases the friction between your foot and the ground. This can help to reduce pain caused by arthritis. If you have a foot condition that affects your walking gait, wearing custom orthotics can help you to walk more naturally again. This can prevent injuries as you walk, like ankle sprains, and it can also help you to walk at a slower pace.
Risks of Wearing Custom Orthotics
Custom orthotics come with a certain level of risk, and this is true for any type of orthotic. If you wear them for too long, your feet may become weakened and more likely to develop injuries.
It is important to choose a pair of orthotics that are comfortable and fit well inside your shoes. If you do not wear them, your feet will return to their normal position and you will not experience any negative side effects.
Benefits of Wearing Custom Orthotics
Aside from the problems above, custom orthotics can also be used to correct gait abnormalities caused by these conditions. Custom orthotics can also be used to treat arthritis pain, and this is especially true for people who have flat feet and arches that are too low.
Custom orthotics can also be used to treat ankle sprains and other injuries, and this is especially true for people who have flat feet and arches that are too low. Wearing orthotics can help reduce the pain caused by this foot condition.
Conclusion
Custom orthotics are an effective way to treat foot pain, and they can also be used to improve your gait. These devices can reduce pain, increase stability, and allow your feet to heal when used correctly. They can be used with shoes of any kind, and they are easy to wear. By following the recommended use, you can enjoy the benefits of wearing custom orthotics.
Read More: