Do I Need Orthotics?

Isn't it great that it's finally warm outside! And just in time for the first day of summer! 

You'll probably notice that with the warm weather comes your desire to be outside, exercising or doing activities around the city or your house.  Whatever activites you're doing, it's important to take care of your feet.

Over our lifetime we spend a lot of time on our feet. In fact, most of us walk an average of 6.5 km a day!   That’s more than 4 trips around the world in a lifetime!  Unfortunately, about 75% of us will suffer with some sort of foot pain at one point in our life which makes it hard to continue doing activities that we enjoy.

There are a few common causes for foot pain:

1. Plantar fasciitis- pain in the arch of the foot
2. Heel spurs- pain in the heels
3. Achilles Tendonitis-pain at the back of the foot and ankle

Some things you can do at home to decrease the pain are: 

1. Ice the area of pain
2. Stretch out the foot and calf muscles
3. Rest your feet

If the pain continues or starts to get worse, you may want to consider putting custom fitted orthotics in your shoes. 

The first thing to clear up is that custom fit orthotics are NOT the same as orthopedic shoes!  Orthotics are inserts that go inside your shoes to provide you with support for your foot.  There are different types of orthotics that fit into most types of shoes and there are also ones specifically geared towards certain sports, like skiing, golfing and tennis.  And if you’re looking for a sandal for the summer, there are styles of sandals that can have your custom fit orthotic built right into them.

So how do orthotics help?  Well, orthotics support the arch of your foot, prevent your ankle from rolling in or out and take the extra pressure off your knees, hips and lower back as you walk.  Pretty cool!  Without an orthotic to support the arch, your muscles and ligaments are forced to work overtime to lift the arch which causes your feet to work harder than necessary. When you wear orthotics regularly, the overworked muscles can relax and the weaker muscles will strengthen, providing you with more effective and efficient foot function. This lets you get through your day more easily and without pain. 

If you're not sure if orthotics are what you need, a consultation and a specialized examination will determine whether orthotics are the right solution for you.  So take a step in the right direction and find out if orthotics are right for you!

Enjoy the warm weather and we'll talk to you soon!

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