Foot orthotics are the customized shoe inserts that provide support to your feet and improve your foot posture and eventually your body posture as a whole. These are prescription medical devices that one wears inside their shoes to correct biomechanical foot issues, such as problems related to walking, standing and running. These can also help in foot pain caused by one’s medical conditions such as diabetes, plantar fasciitis, bursitis and arthritis. Foot orthotics can be prescribed to treat foot, leg or back problems. A variety of orthotics such as braces and splints are available. Some are worn in the shoes while others are worn around the ankle or near the knee.
How to get?
After a thorough examination, your Podiatrist will make a precise mold of your feet which is pre-requisite to get the exact fit. Once the mold is done, a professional will turn it into Custom orthotics, depending upon the requirement.
How to Wear?
Prescription orthotics, made from molds of your feet, should fit the contours of your shoes quite well and make you feel comfortable. If they don’t, refer to your Podiatrist.
Under what circumstances is Orthotics helpful?
1. If you stand for more than five-six hours a day, Custom orthotics can help relieve the stress you place on your feet from standing all day.
2. If you have very high or low arches, Custom orthotics can help provide the support that your regular shoes don’t.
3. If you have severe pain in your foot or heel or your shoes are worn out, Custom foot orthotics are great to help.
4. If you recently suffered an injury to your hip, knee, leg or ankle, it could enhance the pressure you put on your feet. Eventually, this affects your way of walking. Foot orthotics may be able to help correct your walk.
5. If you are facing Foot Drop or Flat Feet (this is the situation when you have difficulty in lifting the front part of your foot), Orthotics can be beneficial. One widely used device is the Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFO), which helps keep the foot at a 90-degree angle to the lower leg to support it.
6. Orthotic devices, shoe modifications, braces, or casts are quite beneficial for fallen arches as well. A condition in which the entire sole touches the floor while standing is known as flat feet. Orthotics might even help you avoid surgery to fix flat feet. If flat feet cause no pain or other difficulties, then treatment is probably not needed.
