If you’re anything like many of us, you’ve probably spent countless hours in a pair of running shoes and felt the ache when you take them off at the end of the day. Your feet might feel it, but so might your knees, hips, and back.
The problem? Your feet are working overtime to support your body’s weight.
Most people have flat arches, which can lead to painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis and heel pain. If left untreated, these conditions can become chronic, affecting your every step and leaving you hobbling from place to place.
But what if there was a way to prevent or ease foot pain? You’d be glad to know that there are – custom orthotics!
What Are Orthotics?
Simply put, orthotics are custom-made foot supports designed to reduce the impact your feet take during exercise.
When you’re running, walking, or training for a sport, you put a lot of stress on your feet. This is especially true when you’re running long distances, which is why runners and other endurance athletes often seek out orthotics.
However, orthotics have many other uses. Whether you’re an athlete, a desk worker, or simply a person who wants to improve your fitness, you may benefit from custom foot supports.
The most common orthotic is a heel-cup orthosis (typically made of silicone), which is meant to take pressure off your heel during activities, like walking or running, that put a lot of stress on your heel.
How Do Custom Orthotics Get Rid of Foot Pain?
When your feet are placed under too much strain, the skin on them can become damaged, which can cause the condition of plantar fasciitis. In extreme cases, this can lead to heel pain or arthritis. With the right orthotics, you can prevent this from happening.
When you wear orthotics, you’re telling your feet to take it easy. This means that your feet aren’t being pushed to the point where there’s too much strain. With the right orthotics, you can reduce foot pain and prevent plantar fasciitis or heel pain.
There’s also the fact that you can reduce the risk of injuries.
If you’ve been experiencing foot pain, orthotics can help you avoid long-term conditions such as arthritis.
The Science Behind Custom Orthotics
There are many ways in which orthotics are thought to be helpful. One is to aid in the prevention of foot pain and injuries. Another is to aid in the treatment of foot pain.
By reducing the amount of stress on your feet, you can ease any damage that has been done and assist in the healing process. There are also those who use orthotics to improve their running technique.
This can be beneficial, especially if you’ve been experiencing a lot of injuries in the past. That’s because a custom orthotic will help to stabilize your foot and lower your center of gravity, which can help to prevent injuries such as stress fractures.
Why Is It Important to Have Custom Orthotics?
Custom orthotics are great for many reasons.
One is that they’re a great way to prevent foot pain or heal from injuries. Another is that they can help to improve your running technique. They can also correct foot problems, like flat feet and bunions, which afflict up to 70% of the population.
By adding a customized orthotic, you can reduce the amount of stress that is placed on your feet and, in turn, reduce the amount of pain that you experience. There are also social advantages of wearing orthotics.
Most people don’t realize it, but wearing orthotics can help to reduce your chances of developing foot disorders like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In fact, a study showed that those who wore custom orthotics had half the rate of cardiovascular disease found in those who did not use orthotics.
Benefits of Having Custom Orthotics
With the right orthotics, you can reduce the amount of stress on your feet, which means that your body will be subjected to less strain and injury. This can help to improve your running technique and reduce the risk of injuries, including those related to stress fractures.
Another very important reason to get orthotics is that they can help to improve your posture. Many people experience back pain as a result of poor posture, which can be significantly reduced or eliminated with the use of orthotics.
One of the most important reasons to get orthotics is because they can help to reduce stress on your joints. When you run or walk, you place a lot of pressure on your joints, especially your knees and hips. By wearing orthotics, you can reduce the pressure that you put on your joints.
Another benefit of custom foot supports is that they can help to improve your balance. This is especially important for people who participate in activities that involve a lot of standing, like construction workers or waiters.
One of the most important reasons to wear orthotics is because they can help to reduce your risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This is because your feet are receiving more support while your joints are being protected from the impact of every step.
When Should You Get a Pair of Orthotics?
You should get orthotics if you have pain in your foot or if your foot tends to be injured often. If you’re experiencing foot pain, you should see your doctor first to see if there’s a problem that needs to be addressed.
On that note if you fall into one of the following categories, you should also consider getting orthotics: you have flat feet, a bunion, a high-arched foot, joint pain, ankle pain, or knee pain.
Final Words
If you’ve been experiencing foot pain, you can prevent it from getting worse by wearing orthotics. Not only can they help to reduce foot pain and improve your running technique, but they can also help to prevent injuries by reducing the amount of strain that your feet are subjected to.
Custom orthotics are a great investment for runners, walkers, and those who participate in any other physical activity.