How Orthotics Can Help Treat a Variety of Foot Conditions

If you’ve been struggling with foot pain or other related issues, you might be surprised to learn just how effective orthotics can be in managing a range of foot conditions. These custom-made shoe inserts are specially designed to provide support, relieve pain, and correct structural issues. 

When you’re having problems with your feet or ankles, a podiatrist is the best provider to consult with. At Alpine Foot and Ankle, you can count on the expertise of Andrew McCall, DPM, FACFAS, to help you find effective solutions to a full range of issues that impact the foot and ankle. 

Board-certified in foot and ankle surgery, Dr. McCall reserves surgical approaches for only the most appropriate cases. Fortunately, nonsurgical treatments, such as custom orthotics, can be highly effective for a wide variety of foot and ankle conditions.

Custom orthotics are effective medical devices

While they may look like simple insoles, orthotics are medical devices that serve vital functions beyond providing cushioning for your feet.

Custom orthotics help address the root cause of various foot problems, from restoring even weight distribution to restoring proper foot alignment. They’re designed and fabricated based on your specific foot and ankle issues. 

Relieving pain from plantar fasciitis

When the plantar fascia — the band of tissue that connects the heel to the base of the toes — becomes irritated, chronic heel pain can follow. If you have plantar fasciitis, it’s common to experience heel pain that’s worse in the morning when you first get out of bed and gradually improves as you get moving. 

Orthotics can provide much-needed arch support in this situation, redistributing pressure and reducing strain on the plantar fascia. Custom orthotics designed to fit the shape of your feet can reduce pain over time and promote healing. They work by restoring proper alignment in your feet, reducing the stress and pressure on the plantar fascia.  

Addressing flat feet and fallen arches

The arches of your feet play a key role in shock absorption and distributing weight evenly. Some people are born with a shallower arch, while others may experience fallen arches, often referred to as flat feet, due to weight gain or aging. 

Fallen arches aren’t without issues. Lacking needed arch support, the feet tend to roll inward, a condition known as overpronation, placing added stress on your joints and tendons. Left unaddressed, this can cause foot, knee, hip, and even back pain over time. 

Orthotics designed for flat feet aim to correct your foot alignment and provide the support your arches need, helping to evenly distribute your weight and prevent overpronation. 

Relieving bunion pain

Bunions affect 50% of women and 25% of men, and they’re more common after age 60. While they rarely cause symptoms early on, this deformity tends to progress, become painful, and even interfere with walking if unaddressed. 

On the surface, a bunion appears as a bump on the side of the toe, but there’s much more going on below the surface. A bunion is a progressive issue whereby the bones in the front part of the foot shift out of place. This causes the big toe to angle toward the other toes, and the joint at the base of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal joint) sticks out. 

Orthotics can’t cure a bunion, but they can slow its progression by redistributing pressure away from the affected joint and providing better alignment to the foot. This can go a long way in relieving bunion pain. 

Orthotics are a proven solution for treating a variety of foot conditions. If you’re struggling with pain or mobility issues, it may be time to consider orthotics as part of your treatment plan. Contact us to schedule a consultation with the team at Alpine Foot and Ankle.