What Are Orthotics (And What Are The Benefits)?

Foot and ankle problems are not only painful, but they can also significantly impact your mobility and affect your ability to carry out basic daily tasks. Foot and ankle pain can be caused by a range of conditions including back pain, arthritis, flat feet, heel spurs, bunions, plantar fasciitis, as well as injuries and musculoskeletal problems.

To help treat these issues, your chiropractor or podiatrist may recommend the use of orthotics.

But what are orthotics and what do they do? Well, let’s take a look.

What Are Orthotics?

Orthotics are devices that are designed to support, align, or correct the function of joints or bones and improve the function of your feet and lower limbs. They work by correcting any abnormal walking pattern, which in turn takes the pressure off of the foot and ankle.

They are commonly recommended for people who suffer from a range of conditions including:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Shin splints
• Runner’s knee
• Bunions
• Hammertoe
• Corns & calluses
• Foot ulcers
• Back pain
• Shin splints
• Arthritis
• Flat feet
• High arches

There are two main types of orthotics: rigid and flexible. Rigid orthotics are designed to provide support for the foot and prevent it from moving excessively. They are often used to treat conditions such as bunions, hammertoe, and plantar fasciitis.

Flexible orthotics, on the other hand, are designed to absorb shock and relieve pressure on the feet. These include dress orthotics, which are designed for people who regularly wear high heels or other dress shoes.

Orthotics can be made from a variety of materials including plastic, silicone, metal or carbon fibre and are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles.

Orthotics can be custom-made to fit the specific needs of each patient, or they can be mass-produced to fit a range of foot sizes and can be purchased over-the-counter from pharmacies, via prescription from a healthcare professional or can be custom-made. While over-the-counter orthotics can provide some comfort and stability, they are not custom made for specific feet and so their benefits are limited.

Custom-made orthotics, on the other hand, are made specifically for you by a chiropractor, podiatrist or other specialist. They are designed to help with specific foot problems.

Your health practitioner will assess your height, weight and activity level before determining whether you can benefit from custom-made orthotics. They will assess what material is best suited to your condition to ensure comfort while also providing support where needed most, especially in the case of any underlying biomechanical issues causing pain or discomfort. Once these details have been determined, your health practitioner will take a 3D impression mould of your feet to create an orthotic specifically designed to address any of the underlying biomechanical issues.

Benefits of Orthotics

There are many benefits to wearing orthotics, including relief from pain, improved mobility, better posture and balance, and enhanced comfort when standing, walking or running. They can also help to improve your walking biomechanics and prevent future injuries and minimise compounding wear and tear problems caused by abnormal walking patterns.

• Support for your feet

By providing support for your feet, orthotics can improve your stability and balance when standing and walking. They can correct misalignments in your problem areas and provide support all along the surface of your feet.

• Support and protection for your joints

Whether walking, running or jumping, the way your feet make contact with the ground is translated through the joints of your feet, legs and spine via forces that can be several times your body weight. If there is misalignment in your feet or lower limbs, these forces can lead to awkward and unnatural motions in your joints, which over time can lead to serious problems.

Orthotics can help your feet to properly support the load of your body and distribute the impact forces across the surface of your feet, leading to less stress on joints. This can result in less wear and tear on your joints, while also helping to prevent injuries by improving stability and balance.

• Reducing pain

Orthotics can be used to reduce pain in people with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Orthotics work by exerted forces that modulate the biomechanics at a joint or joints thereby reducing pain. Orthotics can also be used to improve alignment and function in people who have been affected by pelvic girdle pain, hip osteoarthritis, or knee osteoarthritis.

While orthotics can be very effective in reducing pain, it is important to note that they are not a cure for these conditions. Rather, they should be viewed as one element of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes things like exercise, weight management, and education about proper body mechanics.

• Injury prevention

Orthotics can help to prevent injuries by providing support and alignment for the joints and bones. They can also help to reduce pain by taking pressure off of certain areas of the body. orthotics can also improve sports performance by increasing power and efficiency in movement. In addition, orthotics can help to prevent overuse injuries such as tendonitis and stress fractures.

It’s important to note that poorly fitted orthotics can end up doing more harm than good over the long term. To ensure that you have the best orthotics for your condition, consult your chiropractor or healthcare professional today.