Custom prescription orthotics are an excellent way of dealing with painful foot issues. As you may know, prescription orthotics improve stability, foot function and posture. In addition, they’re a non-invasive way of easing several common foot conditions.
If you suffer from any of the following, prescription orthotics provide welcome relief.
Flat Feet or High Arches
Your arch is the area of the foot between the heel and the ball. A normal arch is slightly raised from the ground as you stand. If your sole is flat to the ground, you have flat feet (fallen arches), but if the sole is higher than normal you have high arches.
High or flat, the effect is the same. Your feet can’t provide adequate support as you walk or run.
There’s extra pressure on the tendons, muscles and joints, as your lower limbs struggle to balance and move. This leads to pain and further problems.
Orthotic inserts distribute the weight more evenly across the soles of your feet and support your arches as needed. This eases pain and pressure and allows you to walk more naturally and without the threat of injury.
Bunions
If a bony bump appears at the base of your big toe, right on the joint, you’ve got a bunion. This happens when your big toe is pushed towards the other toes on that foot, which makes the big toe joint stick out more.
A bunion may be the result of badly fitting shoes or a condition such as arthritis which causes bone deformities. It can be very painful and makes it difficult to get shoes that fit properly, and this creates even more problems.
By correcting foot alignment, prescription orthotics can stop the bunion from getting worse. They will also ease pressure and rubbing which goes a long way to reducing pain and inflammation.
Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the two main forms of this painful and debilitating condition. They both cause significant damage to joints throughout the body and this leads to swelling, inflammation and pain.
Your feet and ankles contain more joints than anywhere else in the body, so arthritis can be particularly severe in these areas. Orthotics are invaluable as they provide essential cushioning and support. They create a more even weight distribution which eases pressure and improves alignment.
This doesn’t just ease pain but greatly helps with mobility because that’s something you don’t want to lose.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a strong band of tissue which runs along the base of the foot. It connects the toes to the heel bone and helps support the arch. This sometimes becomes inflamed and extremely painful, but orthotics can alleviate the problem considerably.
They allow weight to be evenly distributed across the foot and provide additional arch support. This eases pressure on the plantar fascia and gives the heel and toes some extra support as well.
Heel Spurs
These bony bumps develop underneath the heel bone. They’re often a side effect of plantar fasciitis as they are caused by the constant strain of the soft tissues of the feet and the pressure on the plantar fascia.
Custom orthotics will provide extra support and cushioning for this painful area. This also helps prevent further irritation.
Comprehensive Foot Care at Feet By Pody
Prescription orthotics are just one of the ways we treat these conditions and many others. Not sure what’s right for you? Our expert podiatrists are here to help.
For specific issues or general maintenance come to one of our convenient London foot clinics.