I used to love wearing heels all the time, and then I started getting terrible foot pain all the time. I visited my podiatrist, and she showed me how much damage I was doing to my feet. She showed me how much better my feet would be able to react if I wore shoes with proper arch support and convinced me to try some sensible shoes. It made such a difference. My boyfriend says I'm a whole new person - a new person who doesn't complain about her aching feet all day long. Now I proudly wear sensible shoes and enjoy my life!
Orthotics are shaped pieces of material that are designed to fit into the shoes, and are made from a range of different substances, including rubber, leather and plastic, and they can be used to provide cushioning to sensitive or injured parts of the feet, or to help keep feet in a certain position for treatment.
Because of their versatility, orthotics are suitable for a range of different problems, and they're quite widely used by podiatrists to help their patients. Here are just some of the situations where orthotics can be useful.
Hip pain
A significant amount of pain in the hips and lower back is down to the way the person in question walks. The slightest misalignment in the feet or knees with each step can contribute to pain and other issues, and the longer it continues, the worse it can become.
Orthotics can be used inside the shoes to correct a patient's walk, helping to alleviate the strain in the hips and reduce pain. It can also retrain the walk, potentially leading to a long-term fix for the underlying problems.
Heel spurs
A heel spur is an unusual bone growth underneath the heel. They're often the result of strains and can be caused by flat feet or high arches, running, ill-fitting shoes, and obesity, so they're fairly common. Many people who have spurs don't realise, as they're not always painful, but in others, they can cause significant discomfort.
There are two ways in which orthotics work in unison to deal with heel spurs. Firstly, they can be placed to cushion the heels, relieving the pain caused by impact. Secondly, they can reposition the foot, which helps deal with the problems that caused the spurs in the first place.
Running injuries
Many running injuries are caused by the use of improper techniques, particularly with the alignment of the feet while running. The impact of each step is also responsible for a lot of running pains. Orthotics can cushion the injured areas and keep the feet in a good position.
For serious athletes, custom-made orthotics are also an effective way to prevent injuries from occurring.
Diabetes
Perhaps the most surprising entry on this list, but not when you consider the range of foot problems a diabetic is at risk from.
The extra cushioning provided by an orthotic insert can keep the feet safe while walking, preventing bumps and rubbing. They can also help the wearer achieve a good, comfortable fit, keeping the feet snugly in shoes without them being too tight.
Share