What Are Orthotics, and What Do They Do

Our feet take a lot of stress every day, particularly if you have a job where you need to be on your feet all the time. Walking on a hard surface can make it even worse. When your feet hurt, it can be challenging to get things done. Foot pain steals your energy, ruins your posture, and darkens your mood. Orthotics have been invented to help you manage and reduce foot pain by supporting strategic areas. We are all different shapes and sizes, and our feet are unique too. So, there is no one size fits all answer for orthotics. For this reason, consultation with a foot doctor is the best way to find out what kind of orthotic would be best for you. These items can be custom-made to your exact requirements, from arch support to heel wedges. People also find relief with more generic inserts that you can buy at the drug store or online.

• What is an Orthotic? An orthotic could be described as anything that you place inside your shoe to provide some comfort. Some orthotics are made to a general shape to fit the average person, and some orthotics are custom made using the patient’s foot as the guide. There are some very excellent products on the market, such as G8 Performance insoles. However, it is challenging to make an orthotic for yourself. 
• What Conditions are Orthotics Used For? Orthotics are used for numerous conditions. Sometimes a foot hurts from overuse, and sometimes there is an irregularity that needs to be corrected somehow. The list of conditions that orthotics are helpful for include: arthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee and back pain, heels spurs, hammertoes, and bunions. But there are other conditions as well.
• How Do Orthotics Work? Feet are incredibly complicated. There are 26 bones, 33 joints, and 100 muscles, and there are numerous joints, ligaments, and tendons as well. Orthotics are designed to provide support to whatever foot area needs a little help to do its job without causing pain. We put the weight of our entire body onto our feet and expect them to handle what ever-changing load and force we throw at them. But if there is an injury or an irregularity in the foot. Support will be needed to give that foot area the rest or support required to work correctly.

Have you ever put on a particular pair of shoes and felt like you were walking on air? When your foot and your footwear are a good match, you will find that you have more energy, and your mood is much better too. The goal of orthotics is to bring you closer to that perfect match, so you can live your life without being concerned about your feet. If you work on your feet all day, you might be surprised how much better things can be with a little extra something in your shoe. If you commonly have foot pain, or even occasionally. It might be a good idea to make an appointment with a foot doctor and see if you could benefit from using orthotics.