Your feet are your body’s foundation and your connection with the Earth, essential for the ability to move. It’s easy to take the feet for granted until you develop foot pain or other discomfort that starts from the ground up.
Sometimes, minor changes to your gait or posture get amplified when pain starts or your movement is compromised. At Hudson Valley Foot Associates, we’re ready to help you with any foot or ankle condition to get your life back on track.
Often, we recommend custom-fitted orthotics as part of your treatment. More than simply extra cushioning in your shoes, custom orthotics are prescription medical devices designed to restore and support your natural foot orientation, putting you a step up on foot pain, balance, and posture problems.
Today, we look at five signs that you’d benefit from custom orthotics. Visit the nearest of our five locations to learn more about this simple but powerful treatment option.
While you can purchase orthotics and shoe inserts over the counter (OTC) from a variety of retailers, these are generic products designed to help with generic foot problems, like generalized heel pain or moderate arch support.
OTC orthotics have their place, and they might be all you need for minor foot problems, in conjunction with well-fitted and supportive shoes.
Custom orthotics are built around the conditions of your feet. There’s nothing generic about the fit, which is molded around your foot. The materials used in your custom orthotics generally last much longer than their OTC cousins.
As well as physical symptoms, there are indications that all is not well with your feet, gait, or posture. Your feet can also be the source of misalignments that cause symptoms elsewhere.
Chronic foot pain often benefits from custom orthotics, and it’s probably the most common reason why people seek orthotic fittings. Here are five more signs that demonstrate it’s time to talk to us about orthotics, before problems get worse.
The sweet spot for foot arches is somewhere in the middle. When your arches fall to the extremes of low or high, you may benefit from the improved alignment and support that custom orthotics provide. Bowleggedness and knock-knees can stem from arch issues.
Ideally, the bottoms of your shoes should wear down evenly. If you notice “bald spots” on the soles, you might have a foot alignment issue.
Diabetics have a greater incidence of foot sores, a combination of internal vein and nerve problems along with external conditions like friction or poor-fitting footwear. Bunions and calluses also stem from friction and shoe fit. Custom orthotics can help you resolve many foot issues.
The ankles and feet can be a source of instability when foot alignment is off. This can lead to falls, trips, and turned ankles. Orthotics help to restore balance and stability when you stand or walk.
A key symptom of plantar fasciitis, morning heel pain can be a sign that the band of tissue across the bottom of your foot, the plantar fascia, is damaged and inflamed. It can be hard to get enough rest to recover, so the additional support of orthotics becomes an important part of treatment.
Contact Hudson Valley Foot Associates to book an orthotics assessment online or by phone today.
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