Properly Aligned Feet
Your feet are responsible for many functions—moving you from one place to another, supporting your body weight, absorbing shock from impact, and providing balance. If your feet or ankles are in pain, it is possible that they could be misaligning your body’s posture. This could result in excessive stress on your other joints, such as your knees and hips.
What are Orthotics?
Orthotics are customized shoe inserts that are designed to help support your feet and ankles. They serve many purposes and have several benefits not just for your feet but for your body as a whole. A podiatrist may recommend orthotics to treat various conditions such as:
- Arthritis.
- Back pain.
- Diabetes.
- Flat feet.
- High arches.
- Plantar fasciitis.
These inserts are also helpful for those who have improper foot alignment. Some may put additional pressure on the outsides of their feet, also known as supination. Others commonly roll their feet inward or pronate their feet. Having orthotics in place helps align your feet in a neutral position, allowing the rest of your body to follow suit.
Here are some ways having orthotics can improve your body’s mobility and function:
Improved Balance
Your balance can be limited due to pain or numbness in your feet. Flat feet can also impact your body’s ability to balance because the arch in your foot supports the weight of your body. By wearing orthotics, you can reduce your pain and improve your balance. Orthotics also provide firm arch support and heel stabilization to keep your feet on the ground.
Having impaired balance can increase your risk for injury, specifically slips, trips, and falls. Not only will your orthotics help you regain your footing, but they will also reduce your chances of serious injuries.
Reduced Joint Pain
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, low back pain causes more global disability than any other condition. While there are many causes for back pain, having improperly positioned feet is one of them!
When you have any issue with your feet, it is natural to overcompensate for that injury, causing you to alter the rest of your body’s movements. Often, people change the way they walk due to a foot problem, resulting in back, hip, and knee pain.
Wearing orthotics places your feet back into a neutral position, alleviating stress from your other joints and reducing your pain.
Improved Performance
In addition to realigning to the position of your feet, orthotics are also shock absorbers and ankle supports. By reducing your risk for injury, reducing joint pain, and aligning your body, you will immediately see improvements in your exercise performance. Whether you enjoy going for a daily run, playing a specific sport, or enjoying a class at your local gym—wearing orthotics will make your experience much more enjoyable!
Additional Treatment
Depending on the podiatric ailment you may be experiencing, it is likely that your treatment plan will include more than wearing orthotics. In order to reduce your pain and improve your balance, doctors may recommend additional interventions. You may be in need of physical therapy, stretches, strengthening exercises, or anti-inflammatory medications.
Always speak with your doctor about what treatments are best for you.
Get Your Custom Orthotics at New York Foot Center
If you are experiencing foot imbalance, pain, and discomfort, our trusted team can help. At New York Foot Center, Dr. Robertson is dedicated to helping you rehabilitate your feet. If you want to see whether custom orthotics are the right treatment for you, contact us online or call us at (917) 809-6318 today.
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