If your feet are in pain or constantly aching, orthotics are one of the recommended treatments. But perhaps you are wondering, “are orthotics worthwhile?” There are many benefits to custom orthotics. An orthotic is a shoe insert that supports the abnormal movement of your feet. Custom orthotic inserts are designed specifically to fit your needs. An orthotic can not only give you comfort now, but also help you keep your feet healthy for the future. Orthotics do more than just offer relief from pain. They help you live a well-supported and balanced daily life as you go about your daily activities. You are not alone if you choose to wear orthotics. According to Ergo Research, up to 15% of the North American market could benefit from a custom-fit orthotic product. Learn more about how worthwhile custom orthotics can be and how you can benefit from your own set of orthotics!
Are Orthotics Worthwhile?
You might not pay much attention to your feet until they start hurting, but your feet are complex and important. After all, they support your entire body and allow you to dance, walk, move, work out, etc.! Our feet are made up of 26 bones, 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels. They have the important job of supporting and balancing our body weight. When your feet are uncomfortable, it affects your entire body. There are several causes of foot pain that orthotics can help with. Orthotics help balance and protect not just your feet, but your entire body.
What are Orthotics?
Custom orthotics are prescription medical devices that you wear inside your shoes to correct foot alignment issues that cause heel and arch pain, as well as biochemical imbalances while you stand, walk, or run. Wearing orthotics can also be beneficial for people who have conditions like plantar fasciitis, bursitis, arthritis, or diabetes.
What Do Orthotics Do?
Orthotics provide cushioning and support as they redistribute the pressure on your feet as you go about your daily activities. You might find orthodontics are especially worthwhile if you have arthritis or if you stand for long periods of time during the day.
Can Orthotics Help Me?
Dr. James P. Ioli, DPM recommends orthotics on the Harvard Health Blog, especially for those who suffer from muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, and bones that are not in an optimal position and are causing pain, discomfort, and fatigue. Orthotics can help relieve the pain associated with many conditions, including:
- High arches
- Flat feet
- Arthritis pain
- Heel pain
- Joint pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Bunions
- Hammertoes
- Corns
- Calluses
- Recovering from recent surgery
Orthotics are also helpful for athletes, like runners.
The Many Benefits of Custom Orthotics
There are several benefits to custom orthotics that make them a worthwhile investment:
Pain Relief
Custom orthotics give you support for your feet where you need it most. They can relieve the areas of pressure that cause both acute and chronic pain. You may not even realize how much your feet were aching until those pains go away with your new custom orthotics. Better support for your feet can reduce your overall body pain and drastically transform your day-to-day life! Though pain relief is certainly one of the main benefits of orthotics, the advantages of orthotics go beyond just that.
Discreet Support
You don’t have to worry about our custom orthotics cramping your style. Custom orthotics are not unsightly or even highly visible. Oftentimes, you can use your new orthotic inserts in your athletic and formal shoes. You can even have special orthotics designed for high heels and sandals. Or, if you are a runner, we can develop custom orthotics that fit inside your running shoes.
Work Out Comfortably
If you want to work out at the gym or go on a run without worrying about foot pain or chronic injuries, orthotics give you the support you need. It’s a lot easier to work out when you are comfortable! Orthotics help not just your feet get comfortable, but also your whole body.
Perfect Fit
All of our feet are very different. When we prescribe your custom orthotics, we take your feet and ankle size and shape into account, as well as which types of shoes you typically wear, and any other important information about your health, history, and preferences. Your orthotics will be designed to fit your foot exactly and aid you with foot pain and other conditions.
Injury Prevention
There are also preventive health benefits when you choose custom orthotics. This is perhaps the most important reason that orthotics are worthwhile. Orthotics provide extra support for your feet and ankles, which significantly lessens the risk of additional injuries to your feet and ankles. Your orthotics give you a stable surface to completely support the motions of your feet and leg. They protect you from strain and over-extension. Don’t risk suffering a worse condition or injury. Protect your feet and ankles now with custom orthotics!
Should I Try Insoles for Flat Feet?
If you have flat feet, the best solution is orthotics. Wearing insoles for flat feet inside your footwear helps replace the work that normally the arch in your foot would be doing. Orthotics also distribute the pressure in your feet more evenly to alleviate the aches and pains that people with flat feet are prone to experiencing. A high-quality, custom orthotic might be slightly more expensive than the cheap ones you pick up at the drugstore, but they will fit your foot better and last you longer. So in the long run, you are actually saving yourself money!
Orthotic Inserts from Foot & Ankle Specialists of Illinois
Orthotics are especially worthwhile when you get custom orthotics that were made for your very own feet. Now that you know just how beneficial orthotics can be, it’s time to step out of foot pain and into new custom orthotics at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Illinois! We are the custom orthotics experts and are trusted by our patients in Algonquin, Elgin, West Dundee, and Crystal Lake to help with their orthotics. Our doctor will take a three-dimensional scan of your foot to map the topography of your entire plantar aspect. Custom orthotics are an investment that will help pay your body back exponentially over time. Your feet are the foundation of your whole body, so treat them well!
