Podiatrists servicing the Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale and Phoenix, AZ areas

What are orthotics?

Your feet rely on balance to give you balance, so any time there’s a problem that interrupts this delicate system, you may be left prone to injury or chronic pain. Orthotics are designed to restore balance to the structure of your feet and to provide support to relieve your discomfort and problems down the road.

Orthotics come in full-foot lengths or as inserts that address only one area of your foot, such as your heels or your arches.

Why would I need orthotics?

There are a number of reasons why you may need orthotics, which are designed in one of two ways:

Functional orthotics

If you have a structural irregularity, such as flatfoot or high arches, orthotics correct the condition, allowing you to walk more naturally and avoid discomfort and prevent injury. They also allow you more mobility by offsetting painful conditions, such as:

• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Arthritis

Aside from issues that directly affect your feet, structural problems can also create issues in outlying areas, such as your knees, hips, and back. For example, if you don’t have enough support in your arches, your ankles may roll inward, greatly affecting the alignment of your knee and hip joints. As a result, these joints don’t function properly as they accommodate your abnormal stance and gait, which can lead to pain.

Accommodative orthotics

If you have painful conditions, like calluses on the bottom of your feet or stone bruises, orthotics provide extra cushioning to relieve the discomfort.

Why should I get custom orthotics?

There’s no shortage of over-the-counter foot inserts that claim to provide the support and cushioning you need, but the fact is that you should have orthotics that are specifically designed for your feet in order to provide the best results.

At Arizona Foot Health, Dr. Golub thoroughly evaluates your feet to determine what would work best, and then he makes molds, which he sends off to a lab for custom manufacture of your orthotics. With custom orthotics, you know that the inserts are made to address your unique issues. On top of this, custom orthotics are made from highly durable materials, which means you don’t have to replace them every couple of months as you often have to do with over-the-counter products.

To get orthotics that match your feet and your goals, call Arizona Foot Health or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.