Imagine it now: standing up in the morning without feeling a sharp pain. Taking a walk without stopping to rest your feet. Participating in all your favorite activities without giving foot pain a second thought.
Does that sound too good to be true? It isn’t. Custom orthotics could be the solution to your chronic foot pain, and our team at The Foot & Ankle Specialists is ready to help.
Lisa Burson, DPM, and Joe Aoun, DPM, specialize in custom orthotics for adults of all ages. So if you’re tired of living with foot pain, read on to learn more about the benefits of custom shoe inserts for common foot problems.
Here are five of the biggest reasons why you should consider orthotics:
Foot biomechanics is the science behind how your foot bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles all work together to support you when you stand and walk. Many common foot problems, like arthritis, bunions, and plantar fasciitis, cause pain because they interfere with proper foot biomechanics.
A few of the most common treatments for foot pain — like rest and anti-inflammatory medications — temporarily relieve symptoms, but they don’t address the cause. Orthotics are different. They’re medical-grade shoe inserts that offer extra support and cushioning in all the right places to fix biomechanical problems at the source.
Orthotics work by gently realigning all the parts of your feet into their optimal positions. When all those bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles are properly supported, you experience less foot pain.
Orthotics relieve pressure from sensitive parts of your feet and offer extra support where you need it. Along with reducing pain, wearing orthotics can help prevent foot problems from getting worse, because your body stops overcompensating because of pain.
The pain-relieving capabilities of orthotics don’t stop with your feet. Problems with the way you stand or walk can cause pain in other parts of your body, from your legs to your back.
Since custom orthotics optimize your foot biomechanics and redistribute your body weight, wearing them can improve chronic pain in your ankles, legs, knees, hips, and lower back, too.
One of the best benefits of orthotics is that they’re completely noninvasive and drug-free. Your podiatrist takes a mold of your feet, then a lab creates your custom orthotics.
Orthotics can reduce foot pain without oral medication, steroid injections, or invasive surgery. In fact, orthotics can even help you delay or avoid the need for surgery completely.
For many people, the word orthotics brings to mind the bulky, unfashionable sneakers their parents or grandparents wore. Fortunately, orthotic technology has come a long way since then.
In most cases, your custom orthotics fit right into your regular shoes. That means you can get all the benefits of orthotics and improve your foot health without sacrificing your personal style.
Custom orthotics offer a powerful solution for chronic foot pain — and they’re just that: custom. Dr. Lisa Burson and Dr. Joe Aoun offer comprehensive orthotic consultations at The Foot & Ankle Specialists to help you find the best type for your needs.
We examine your feet, discuss your symptoms, and ask questions about your lifestyle. Then, we take molds of your feet for your orthotics.
There are three main types of custom orthotics: rigid, semi-rigid, and soft. Rigid orthotics are best for people with pain problems, like flat feet or plantar fasciitis. Soft orthotics are best for people with pressure or swelling problems, like bunions or foot ulcers. Semi-rigid orthotics offer a combination of benefits for people with more complex needs.
Ready to get started? Book an appointment online, or call one of our offices in Bay City, Caro, or Lapeer, Michigan, today.
