How Custom Orthotics Can Change Your Life

Your feet work hard every day. They hold you up and carry you through life. Fortunately, when aches and pains develop, you don’t have to live with discomfort. 

The experts at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons understand that your mobility is essential. When there’s a problem with your feet, you might also have problems with your ankles, knees, hips, or back, making it difficult to work or participate in your favorite hobbies. Custom orthotics are a great solution for numerous issues. 

What you need to know about custom orthotics

You can buy inserts over-the-counter at many retail stores. So why should you spend the extra money and time to get orthotics from us? 

The reason is that we make orthotics to address your specific issues. Over-the-counter inserts are based on a generic foot, and nothing about you is generic!

Your feet, like the rest of you, are unique. You need a solution for your specific foot pain.

To design an insert for you, we begin with an examination of your foot. Next, we analyze your gait, which is how you walk. We measure your feet and look for areas where you need extra support. We use digital imaging and other advanced technology to record your specifications. 

Once we have this information, we send it off to our lab where orthotics designed to fit your feet perfectly are made.

We can make orthotics for all types of shoes, so don’t imagine you’re going to be stuck wearing clunky or unattractive shoes. We suggest wearing shoes that fit properly with plenty of room for your toes. Fortunately, orthotics can work in many styles. 

Reasons you might need orthotics

Custom orthotics can help with many common foot problems, including: 

Bunions

A bunion usually affects the joint of your big toe. A painful bump at the base of your big toe is often a sign that your joint is out of alignment. Bunions often run in families.

Orthotics ease the pain of a bunion and make wearing shoes more comfortable. 

Flat feet

Sometimes referred to as fallen arches, flat foot is a condition that usually begins in childhood that involves a lack of support in the arches of your feet.

Custom orthotics can ease the pains associated with flat feet by providing the support you’re missing. 

Hammertoes

Hammertoe is a condition where you don't have the correct muscle balance in your toes, and they become abnormally bent. Hammertoes can be due to a past injury, arthritis, or genetics.

Orthotics support your toes and ease the discomfort of hammertoes. 

Plantar fasciitis

One of the most common reasons people come to our office is pain in their heels. It is often due to plantar fasciitis, a condition related to microtears in the thick band of tissue that runs from the base of your toes to your heel. 

The plantar fascia is a shock absorber cushioning every step. Over time, it can become worn out and cause pain. Custom orthotics relieve the irritation and provide support so your plantar fascia can heal. 

Neuromas

A neuroma is a type of nerve damage involving thickened nerve tissue. If you have a neuroma, you may have shooting pain, a burning sensation, or achiness in the ball of your foot. Custom orthotics ease the pain associated with neuromas. 

Less pain is better

Sometimes, foot pain develops so slowly that it just becomes part of your daily life. But it doesn’t have to be, and custom orthotics may be the best way for you to find relief. You’ll be surprised by how much better you feel when your feet don’t hurt! 

Schedule your appointment at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons today to find out if custom orthotics could be the right solution for your aching feet.