Top 5 Reasons to Use Orthotics

17 Nov Top 5 Reasons to Use Orthotics

Do You Need Orthotics?

If you’re experiencing foot or ankle pain, you’ve probably been told that custom foot orthotics are a good treatment option. With today’s advanced fitting techniques, including 3-D imaging, and with many orthotics included in insurance coverage, there’s no better time to put your foot health forward.

Let’s take a look at the ways custom orthotics can make you walk better, feel better and move better.

Orthotics: Who Needs Them?

• People who have high arches, low arches or no arches.
• Anyone whose gait needs correction.
• People with diabetes or other diseases that tend to increase foot problems.
• Athletes and others who engage in high-impact activities and sports.-
• Children with gait or foot problems; orthotics for kids can correct them at an early age.
• Someone who’s rehabilitating their foot or ankle after a sprain.

Foot Health: Conditions Orthotics Can Treat

Flat Feet: Having flat feet can put a tremendous strain on ligaments like the Achilles tendon and lead to extremely painful conditions like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and other problems. You might have arches that have lowered because of age, illness or any job that keeps you on your feet for long hours. You might have completely flat feet with no arch at all. In either case, the right orthotics are crucial.

Toe Problems: A surprising number of conditions can affect that little limb called your big toe. These include turf toe, bunions, Hallux rigidus (big toe arthritis), toe numbness and other painful situations that can make your whole foot uncomfortable. Orthotics can redistribute pressure that’s causing this pain.

Hip Pain: Having an improper gait caused by muscle strains, degenerative diseases, post-surgical limping and other conditions can throw your lower-body out of alignment and lead to several painful conditions. Orthotics can help balance your motion and keep one side from absorbing all the stress.

Shin Splints: Those sharp, slight bolts of pain you get when running–or even walking–are not just annoying. They’re a sign that something is causing serious damage to the ligaments of your tibia, or shinbone. This can occur when you use improper running technique or if your feet tend to pronate (roll inward). Orthotics can help support the ligaments and lessen the strain on them.

Ankle sprain: Even after it heals, a sprained ankle will continue to be weak, and to cause painful flare-ups, if it’s not properly rehabilitated. Orthotics can help if you start wearing them early in your recovery. They will support the joints under your ankle and help stabilize it.

Orthotics for Kids

Orthotics can help correct many pediatric foot problems.  In most cases, conditions such as cavus foot, flat foot and toe walking can be treated with orthotics. Orthotics are part of the rehabilitation and correction plan for clubfoot as well. They play an important role in keeping children’s feet happy and healthy.

Orthotic Fitting

The best orthotics are those that are custom fitted to your foot. Over-the-counter inserts can give you relief from some minor ailments, but they need frequent replacing and don’t provide the customized support of one made just for you. Orthotic fitting usually involves the following:

• It begins with a review of your health and a complete foot examination.
• Your doctor may also study your gait.
• New 3-D Imaging technology creates a model of your foot.
• Your podiatrist shapes and fits the orthotic to your specific foot size and shape.

Insurance Coverage

No need to be worried about the cost of custom orthotics, keep in mind that many insurance companies cover the cost of them. You can also use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (FSA) to pay for them, and other common insurance programs.

Your Podiatrist Can Help

At Shuman Podiatry and Sports Medicine, we are dedicated to bringing you the latest innovations in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention for our patients. We know that foot problems can be debilitating, but we also know that they can almost always be cured. Call us today and find out how custom orthotics or other treatments can get you back on your feet.

About: Dr. Shuman provides podiatry services in Potomac Falls, Sterling, Ashburn, Lansdowne and Leesburg Va.  Shuman Podiatry offers custom orthotics, diabetic foot care, heel pain and spurs, wart removal and more.  Contact Dr. Shuman today for all your foot care needs.