This time of year sees the season changing after a summer of wearing sandals or walking barefoot. “Whether it is the months of poor foot support or the immediate change of footwear, I often get a lot of foot complaints around now,” said Dr. Berenstein.
As your feet are the foundation of your body, you want them to feel great. If you have sore feet (or knees, and sometimes even pain further up the body), custom orthotics may be necessary.
What Are They?
Orthotics are shoe inserts that help restore alignment and arch support to your feet. These custom foot forms are specifically crafted for your feet, using a 3-dimensional laser to scan your feet to create the ideal fit.
Who Can Benefit?
Here are some conditions that orthotics can address:
- Arthritis
- Bunions
- Hammertoes
- Hip pain
- Knee pain
- Plantar fasciitis
What to Expect
When a patient complains of sore feet, Dr. B will make a proper diagnosis of what is causing the pain and potentially why it may have developed now (as opposed to before or sometime in the future). Foot pain is common, and like many other aches and pains in the body, may go away on its own.
When it doesn’t, Dr. B recommends that the usual approaches to body pain be applied: exercise and therapy, such as soft tissue, manual, or laser. “When those aren’t enough, a custom orthotic may just be what the doctor orders,” said Dr. B.
A proper history and evaluation will lead us to do one of a few things:
Nothing – Just wait and see if the pain goes away.
Exercise – Starting, resuming, or changing your exercise routine, frequency, or intensity may have an effect on your foot pain.
Treatment – Some combination of self care (e.g. stretching) plus manual therapy (soft tissue, joint care, laser therapy) usually helps a lot.
Give Your Feet the Treatment They Deserve
Whether you buy a non-custom orthotic from the store, or a custom-fit one from Dr. B, these foot forms tend to help, because the shock absorption of an orthotic may reduce the stress on your feet. Or, the changed alignment of your foot arch will improve the efficiency of your gait. Either way, orthotics often help relieve pain.
If you think you could benefit from these customized shoe inserts, contact us today!