When you hear the word orthotics, do you think about those pre-packaged orthotic inserts at your local drugstore?
You’re correct! However, they are just one of many types. Orthotics come in many styles, sizes, shapes, and uses that can help patients find relief. They are also not just for the foot; they can also help support hips, knees, and wrists.
We’re focusing on foot orthotics today. Here are some types of orthotics for the foot and their benefits to their wearers.
What are Orthotics?
Orthotics are orthopedic devices worn under the foot to improve your foot’s function by providing balance, support, and optimal repositioning.
Custom orthotics from plaster casts of a patient’s foot offer benefits to people of all ages who wish to prevent or treat posture problems and pain in the feet, lower legs, or hips.
Some of the conditions foot orthotics treat include:
- Plantar fasciitis
- High arches
- Back pain
- Injuries
- Arthritis
- Bunions
- Flat feet
- Bursitis
- Heel spurs
- Hammertoes
Benefits of Orthotics
Here are some of the benefits of wearing orthotic devices:
Promotion of an Active Lifestyle
Most types of orthotics provide pain relief that you need to help you get back to your routine with exercise and physical therapy.
A healthy weight is vital for your health. However, weak limbs or painful joints can prevent you from even moving. Custom orthotics can help you walk and run without feeling any discomfort or injury.
Pain Relief
You are probably in pain if your joints are stiff due to injury or arthritis. Medications and therapies are not the only ways you’ll find relief. One of the benefits of orthotics is the relief they provide, regardless if you need extra support in your footwear to alleviate your foot pain or braces to support your other joints. You can move more freely and enjoy the activities you love with less pain.
Injury Prevention
Additional support for your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and wrists reduces the risk of injuries like fractures or sprains. Orthotics in your shoes provide stability and support for your feet and legs. Additionally, most types of orthotics protect joints from overextension and strains.
Posture Correction
Foot orthotics also help correct specific postural imbalances. They initiate biomechanical alignment, which allows muscles and joints of the whole body to move more freely. This is followed by natural posture correction and continuous prevention of incorrect movements.
Adaptation to Terrain
Slippery, sloping, and uneven surfaces present multiple obstacles to our feet, whether at work or in play. We naturally jump, run, and walk; we don’t even realize how much energy our lower limbs use to keep us balanced and mobile.
Pressure points on our feet help our bodies adapt to changing terrain. However, they are often disturbed by uneven weight distribution. This imbalance leads to injuries like blisters, plantar fasciitis, and fatigue fractures.
Most types of orthotics help distribute the pressure points below the foot to better support the foot. This optimizes body movements, posture, and muscle performance, playing a significant role in preventing most foot and lower limb conditions.
Types of Orthotics
Foot orthotics have three main types based on function: optimum foot function, injury protection, and a combination of function and protection.
Rigid Orthotics
Rigid orthotics are designed to control the motion of the two main foot joints located below the ankle joint. They are durable, don’t change shape, and are often difficult to break.
Rigid orthotics are made of hard materials such as plastic or carbon fiber, and they require little modification to match a patient’s shoe size. They extend from the sole of your heel to the ball or toes of the foot.
Soft Orthotics
Soft orthotic devices absorb shock and balance the foot. They also relieve pressure from sore or uncomfortable spots. These orthotics are made by walking over a mold or placing a mold over a plaster foot impression. They are often used to treat foot problems associated with arthritis, diabetes, and deformation.
Soft orthotics are constructed from soft, compressible materials. They are worn against the sole, from the heel to the toes. However, they may require more room or prescription shoes.
Semi-rigid Orthotics
Soft orthotics give feet dynamic balance while you walk or participate in sports. They don’t act as a crutch. Instead, they aid the muscles and joints they support.
Soft orthotics are made of layers of soft material made strong by rigid materials, designed based on the sport and the athlete’s needs.
The various designs and materials of foot orthotics give them different indications:
- For athletic use: These types of orthotics were designed to maximize muscle activation and alignment to reduce the chance of injury for people leading active lifestyles.
- For diabetic patients: foot orthotics made of absorbent and flexible materials distribute pressure across the plantar surface. These are ideal for patients with diabetes and osteoarthritis.
- For everyday use: People who are constantly standing or are on the move, like health professionals, sports therapists, and office workers, can reap the benefits of foot orthotics.
- For children: These types of orthotics have high elasticity, allowing them to grow with children. Experts recommend these to correct biomechanical problems in early childhood.
How to Tell If You Need Foot Orthotics
Biomechanical assessments are the first step to knowing if you need a foot orthotic. It’s an assessment that gives a complete picture of your body’s mechanics and highlights any potential abnormalities. It also allows for the study of the relationship between the structures and physiological functions of your joints while walking.
Regardless of age or profession, anyone can benefit from a biomechanical evaluation, which may involve the following:
- Range of joint motion assessment
- Examination of the posture and alignment of joints
- Walking analysis
- Plantar pressure analysis
These will help identify and address foot structures and pressure levels that impact performance and comfort. They also help determine if you are a good candidate for foot orthotics and a personalized treatment plan.
Find the Right Orthotics at Advanced Chiropractors Group
Chiropractors also use customized orthotics to address posture and foot issues. We are affiliated with only the best chiropractors in Vail, CO, who can provide the right orthotic device that suits your needs and preferences. Call us today and start your journey to wellness.
