Custom Orthotics: A Simple Solution to Multiple Foot Problems

From the moment your feet hit the floor in the morning when you get out of bed to the time you lay back down at night, your feet carry the load in much of your daily activity. 

Each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 120 muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves, all of which support your weight, act as shock absorbers, and keep you balanced.

Given the hefty job of your feet, it’s not surprising that nearly 90% of people experience foot pain at some time in their lives. In many instances, custom orthotics provide a simple yet highly effective solution. 

Ankur Bahri, DPM, and Sandeep Sandhu, DPM, of Specialized Foot and Ankle Care with offices in Carteret, Perth Amboy, and Edison, New Jersey, have helped countless patients regain a bounce in their step with custom orthotics.

In this month’s blog, they unpack everything you need to know about custom foot orthotics and whether they may be right for you.

What are custom orthotics?

Your feet are as unique as the rest of you, and a pair of generic orthotics sold at the local drugstore is likely to offer insufficient, long-term help when your feet are in pain. In addition, wearing the wrong orthotics can exacerbate problems. 

Drs. Bahri and Sandhu and their team examine your feet and gait to determine the exact nature and extent of the problem you’re dealing with. From there, they

They assess the mechanics of your feet, take measurements, and make a mold to design a custom-fitted orthotic just for you. Orthotics can fit many types of shoes, so you don’t have to change your lifestyle or wardrobe.

Which foot problems can custom orthotics address?

Orthotics can remedy discomfort caused by a wide range of common foot problems, including:

Bunions

A bunion is a painful bump on the side of your big toe when the joint is forced out of alignment. Orthotics can offer preventive help if you have a foot shape that tends towards developing bunions, and they can provide relief for existing bunion pain when combined with the right shoe choices.

Plantar fasciitis

This frequent overuse injury develops when the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed. Custom orthotics can relieve plantar fasciitis pain and help correct the issue that caused the problem in the first place.

Flat feet

People with fallen arches or naturally flat feet lack a biomechanically supportive, curved arch down the length of each foot. Orthotics can provide this arch support and ease chronic pain that often occurs with flat feet.

Hammertoes

A hammertoe is an abnormally bent toe joint that results from imbalanced toe muscles. If you have a hammertoe deformity, custom orthotics can be an excellent solution to support your feet and either improve the joint deformity or prevent it from worsening.

Neuromas

A neuroma is an area of thickened tissue in the ball of your foot that causes shooting pain. Orthotics provide extra padding to help relieve neuroma-related foot pain.

If you suffer from foot pain, custom orthotics may offer quick relief. To find out, book a consultation today with the pros at Specialized Foot and Ankle Care. Call the office closest to you or request an appointment online.