How Custom Orthotics Can Help You With Your Foot Pain
posted: May 27, 2020.
If you find simple actions like moving your feet or walking challenging because of a foot condition or injury that causes pain, your podiatrist may suggest an orthotic device to help fix the alignment of your foot and/or ankle and help them move properly. Essentially, an orthotic device or appliance is utilized for aligning, supporting, correcting, or preventing foot abnormalities or improving the functionality of your feet and related structures.
Put simply, it’s a device made to help your feet function and move better. Here at Southern Maryland Foot and Ankle, our podiatrists use several kinds of orthotics for treating various foot injuries and conditions in our California, MD, Clinton, MD, or Waldorf, MD, office.
What Custom Orthotics Can Do For You
Orthotics can be bought over-the-counter or customized. However, custom orthotic devices are considered to be of higher quality and more effective than OTC types. Custom orthotic devices can help in:
- Alleviating pain
- Correcting an abnormal gait or walking pattern
- Providing support
- Providing better foot positioning
- Safeguarding or preventing worsening of a foot injury or deformity
- Improving the foot’s overall mechanics
- Easing pressure on specific areas of the foot
How Custom Orthotic Devices are Fabricated
Upon thorough evaluation of your symptoms in our California, MD, Waldorf, MD, or Clinton, MD, practice, your podiatrist will decide on the best orthotic device that will benefit you. Your podiatrist will then take impressions of your foot using a laser scanner or plaster mold, make adjustments, and proceed to have the device fabricated.
How Custom Orthotics Work
In general, people who have flat and over-pronated feet are required to use orthotics, as these issues could result in problems including:
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
- Peroneal Tendonitis
- Low Back Pain
- Knee Pain
People who have flat and over-pronated feet turn their feet in too much when moving, causing unwarranted pressure on the lower extremities, resulting in difficulty and pain when moving around or walking. With orthotics, however, the feet’s arches will be lifted up gently and place the lower leg and feet in their proper position. They likewise aid in injury prevention and further complications.
To Find Out If You Can Benefit from Custom Orthotics, Give Us a Call
Set up a consultation with one of our podiatrists here at Southern Maryland Foot and Ankle. You can call our California, MD, office at (301) 690-6044, Waldorf, MD, office at (301) 843-9581, and Clinton, MD, office at (301) 868-3899.