Why Choose Custom-made Orthotics?
Custom orthotics are tailored to your feet and built to treat problematic areas in your feet. They can treat a wide range of things, including heel pain, an abnormal gait, toe deformities and flat or wide arches. But that's not all they're good for; they can even alleviate pain in your legs and back too.
When choosing orthotics, the phrase "buy cheap and buy twice" comes to mind. Custom orthotics are definitely the way to go. Generic, store-bought orthotics aren't tailored to you and will often not help treat the problem you are facing, unlike custom-made orthotics.
Read on to learn more about orthotics and how they could help you.
What are custom-made orthotics?
Custom-made orthotics are different from the standard store bought variety because they are fitted exactly to your feet and aim to treat the specific problem you are facing. We use state-of-the-art technology to accurately measure your feet, but not just the length; we measure the curve of the arch, the width of your feet and even how they interact with the ground when you walk or run. In doing so, we can ensure that the orthotics provide you with the exact support you need to treat your pain.
As mentioned previously, when we say treat your pain, that includes in your foot, ankle, knee, hip, and even lower back pain. Orthotics are great for treating a wide variety of foot problems such as:
Arthritis
Bursitis
Calluses
Corns
Diabetic foot ulcers
Flat feet or high arches
Plantar fasciitis or heel spurs
Tendinitis
Under or overpronation
Sports injuries
What are the primary benefits of custom orthotics?
When wearing orthotics, at first, you may not seem entirely comfortable; adjusting to your new foot posture may take a couple of days, but you will quickly begin to see the benefits of orthotics.
If you are wearing orthotics to treat a specific problem, you will soon notice that the pain is starting to fade; you may even notice pain in other areas of your body beginning to subside. Some of the other benefits you might notice are:
Better balance
Increased durability for walking or standing for long periods of time
Reduced pain from corns or calluses that previously where rubbing
Improved posture
Your feet are the very base of your body and carry you everywhere; once they start optimally supporting you, you will see a host of benefits.
How can orthotics be used to treat back pain?
One of the most common complaints among adults in the UK is lower back pain. It's uncomfortable and best and not something you should have to just put up with. If you have a misalignment in your feet, it can throw your whole body out of sync. To first treat and correct back pain, you should start at the bottom.
If you have arches that are too high or any other foot abnormality, for example, it shifts the alignment between your feet and your shins; this has a knock-on effect and will quickly begin to cause pain in your knees. This could then cause misalignment, and you guessed it, more pain where your thigh bone meets your pelvis and then into your lower back. A relatively easy-to-fix issue that starts in your feet can very quickly become worse, damaging your hip posture and as a result of that your spine.
If you're experiencing lower back pain and haven't been able to find a solution, come to us for a full biomechanical assessment and potential orthotic fitting. It just might work!
*This blog contains general information about medical conditions and is not advice. You must not rely upon the information in this blog as medical advice. Medical advice should always be sought from an appropriately qualified podiatrist such as ourselves.