Custom-made foot orthotics or shoe inserts are molded directly to your feet and arches to help alleviate pain and discomfort. Owing to their individual design, these corrective devices effectively control foot function by addressing imbalances, and adjust areas of weight-bearing on the foot by adding corrective wedges and covers.
Essentially, custom orthotics can help the tendons, muscles, and bones of your feet and lower legs to function optimally. When used as a prescription to aid in the management of a medical condition, custom-made orthotics can reduce pain in your feet, knees, hips, and lower back.
Other benefits of prescription custom-made orthotics include:
- Better foot function
Custom orthotics are particularly helpful to athletes because they provide additional cushioning and support for your feet, which reduces muscle stress and fatigue while increasing agility, balance, and performance. High impact sports that involve a lot of running and jumping, such as basketball, soccer, and running, are a major cause of stress on the muscles and joints. Prescription orthotics can be used as shock absorbers to reduce the stress.
- Superior foot support
Scientists claim that each foot has 26 bones and more than 100 muscles. This makes your feet pretty complex, and considering that they carry the weight of your entire body, you should actively try to make their work easier. Prescription orthotics are made to complement the exact structure of your feet, giving you a solid foundation and exceptional support.
- Enhanced comfort
In addition to providing better foot function and support, custom orthotics also deliver more comfort than over-the-counter soles. Everyone’s feet are different, and prescription orthotics are made with your individual needs in mind. For instance, your podiatrist or physiotherapist will take into account things like the type of sport you participate in, whether you suffer from tendonitis or arthritis, and other factors, which makes all the difference.
- Corrected pronation or supination
Pronation occurs when your arches collapse, causing your ankles to lean inwards towards your body’s midline. When the ankles lean outwards, it is referred to as supination. Either of these cases result in increased stress to the feet, as well as the knees, hips, and lower back. For athletes, the condition can throw your body off balance, making it worse while increasing the risk for knee injury. Fortunately, custom orthotics can provide the much needed arch support and reduce stress on your feet and other parts of your body.
Final note
When you get a prescription for custom-made orthotics, you should visit a qualified foot-care specialist who will perform multiple tests to get the best design for you. During this assessment process, your provider will also discuss how your orthotics should feel, when to wear them, how to break them in, how to care for them, and any other options that may aid in managing the injury if you’re not satisfied.
0 Comment