What Issues Can Orthotics Correct?

If you have problems with your feet or ankles, you often don’t need invasive surgery to correct the issue. Many issues with your feet, ankles, and lower body are easily correctable by placing inserts into your shoes, called custom orthotics.

Experienced podiatrists Ryan Golub, DPM, and Zachary Flynn, DPM, AACFAS, from Arizona Foot Health in Phoenix, Arizona, can fix many problems with custom orthotics. Keep reading to find out the many issues orthotics can correct.

What are custom orthotics?

Custom orthotics are small inserts molded especially to your feet. They fit into your own pairs of shoes and offer additional support.

Depending on the type of support you need, orthotic inserts are either firm or soft and padded. Both types are created in a lab after our podiatrists create a custom mold for your feet. 

Once the orthotics are ready, you can expect them to be durable and long-lasting.

Problems custom orthotics correct

Impressively, orthotics can fix a wide range of lower body issues. These include:

Lower body pain

Foot and ankle problems can cause pain as high as your lower back. You might struggle with pain when you walk if you have a foot and ankle condition like:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Bunions
• Bursitis
• Ankle arthritis
• Metatarsalgia

Custom orthotics that address these conditions offer pain relief in your back, hips, knees, ankles, and feet.

Pressure on your feet

Your feet can be under too much pressure for several reasons. Some are lifestyle-related, including having a job or routine that keeps you on your feet all day or being obese.

Conditions like diabetes, foot sprains, fractures, and bunions can also put more pressure on the foot than it can handle. Whatever the cause, custom orthotics can relieve pressure and reduce pain and risk of injury.

Issues with your gait

Many foot and ankle conditions can cause you to walk incorrectly. Over time, structural abnormalities can lead to pain, swelling, and sores. 

Foot problems that can lead to an incorrect gait include:

• Flat feet
• Ankle arthritis
• High arches
• Injuries

Misalignment in your knees or hips, such as runner’s knee, can also cause you to have problems with your walking that orthotics can help correct.

Bumps on your feet

Some types of foot and ankle problems cause you to develop lumps and bumps on your feet, which can be uncomfortable or painful. You might experience corns, calluses, Morton’s neuroma, stone bruises, heel spurs, or bunions.

Lumps and other deformities can be extremely painful, and orthotics can provide padding and support that relieves discomfort. They can also correct any structural issues caused by the deformities or bumps.

Correct your foot issue quickly with orthotics

Getting custom orthotics fitted is simple, fast, and painless. Once you start and continue to wear them, you experience relief immediately.

Custom orthotics can be combined with other conservative treatments to correct your condition. Depending on your diagnosis, conservative measures can include rest, pain medication, icing your foot, and wearing supportive shoes with your orthotics inside.

Custom orthotics can be an important part of your treatment if you’re experiencing lower body pain, difficulty walking, or uncomfortably swollen feet. Contact us to learn more about custom orthotics and how they can help.