People often wonder, what will happen if I get orthotics? Will they be discreet? Will they be difficult to deal with? Will they fit inside my shoe?
Perhaps the bigger issue to focus on is- what will happen if I don’t get orthotics? To sum it up, you may experience worsening health conditions that contribute to high medical costs, chronic pain, and other unwanted effects. It’s best to address problems sooner rather than later to ensure a high quality of life.
What Conditions Do Custom Orthotics Treat?
Let’s start by reviewing the conditions custom orthotics treat and determining what happens if you don’t address these issues.
Flat Feet
Flat feet cause your arches to fall, typically due to pressure. People may develop flat feet due to obesity and prolonged standing.
The condition can also be a birth defect. Some children are born with arches that never develop.
Flat feet are usually painless. If this is the case, no treatment is needed. However, if you experience pain, it will worsen over time. You may even develop arthritis.
Custom orthotics help flat feet by supporting the arch, redistributing pressure, improving alignment, and stabilizing the foot.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot connecting the heel bone to the toes becomes inflamed. It produces a stabbing pain that is worse in the morning and after standing for long periods.
If you ignore the condition, it will worsen. It can also impact how you walk leading to pain in other parts of the body.
Plantar fasciitis will typically go away within a few months with the proper treatment. Custom orthotics are helpful because they distribute pressure throughout your foot, so you don’t overuse an injured area. They are often integrated into treatment techniques.
High Arches
Also called cavus foot, high arches can cause pain and may even permanently damage feet. In some cases, high arches are genetic, but they are also caused by spinal tumors, spinal cord, injuries, strokes, and other medical conditions. If left untreated, it can lead to metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, claw toes, metatarsal fractures, and ankle instability.
High arches are not curable, but you can prevent the condition from getting worse with the proper approach. Orthotics are a popular treatment method providing much-needed support. They absorb impact to reduce muscle, ligament, and joint strain and improve foot biomechanics.
Lower Back Pain
- Sciatica: Issues with the sciatic nerve can cause pain in the back and feet.
- Biomechanical issues such as poor posture or scoliosis can lead to pain in these areas.
- Flat feet can cause your knees and thighs to rotate inward putting undue pressure on your back.
- Overpronation occurs when your feet turn inwards causing lower back pain.
- Unsupportive footwear: You may experience lower back pain if you wear unsupportive footwear.
Custom orthotics ease lower back pain. They correct imbalances that may contribute to pain. They can correct pronation and inward curving. They also help your hips return to a normal position to improve your posture.
Improper Posture
When your mother tells you to stand up straight, you should listen. Extended periods of bad posture can lead to pain in the neck and shoulders, decreased flexibility, balance issues, digestive issues, and breathing problems.
In extreme cases, poor posture can lead to spinal deformities like scoliosis and kyphosis. Some studies suggest improper posture is linked to depression.
People may try to improve their posture by using ergonomic workstations or sitting and standing up straighter, but the condition is not always easy to treat. It can be caused by certain genetic conditions like Scheuermann’s disease or age-related changes.
Orthotics provide a solution. They support and align feet, improve balance and stability, and correct gait issues.
Bunions
Bunions are typically caused by an abnormal gait, wearing high-heeled shoes, or genetics. They cause joint instability in which the big toe drifts inward angling towards the other toes. As this happens, the metatarsophalangeal joint protrudes outward changing the shape of the foot.
People with bunions must address the issue. If left untreated, it could lead to pain, deformities, neuroma and other ankle conditions, blisters, bursitis, calluses, and paresthesia.
Surgery is the only way to get rid of bunions, but the condition can be managed in less severe cases. Orthotics can slow or halt the progression allowing you to engage in normal activities without restriction.
Knee Pain
Knees are delicate instruments. They are constantly under stress. Knee pain can occur due to overuse, arthritis, gout, infections, injuries, tendinitis, bursitis… and the list goes on.
Orthotics help knee pain by providing support, stability, and shock absorption. They correct misalignments in the foot or ankle which can contribute to knee pain. They also reduce wear and tear on the knee joint to prevent future problems.
How Much Do Custom Orthotics Cost?
Custom orthotic costs vary according to the quality of the orthotics and the techniques used to create them. Some cost a few hundred dollars, others cost a few thousand. While these price points are not affordable to everyone, they are much cheaper than the price of ignoring your foot issues.
If you don’t address foot issues, you may need to pay for surgeries, mobility assistance devices, and pain medications. They also cause discomfort that can reduce quality of life.
Wilton Feet will Match You with Custom Orthotics
Issues like bunions, improper posture, and plantar fasciitis are nothing to sneeze at. Your orthotic must be customized to your foot to ensure relief. Wilton Feet will address your condition ensuring our orthotics serve their intended purpose.
We conduct a careful evaluation considering your health history, height, weight, and how you stand and walk. Our technicians will determine the materials that help your foot achieve the perfect balance of rigidity and flexibility. We use cutting-edge technology to design the ideal orthotic.
Contact us to assist with your foot issues. We will help you find a suitable solution.
