How Orthotic Shoe Inserts Can Help Your Foot Pain
There are many causes for foot pain. You might be wearing the wrong size or shape of shoes for your gait. The pain could be from a repetitive motion such as running or walking without proper support. You could also have a structural abnormality that affects your gait and leads to foot strain and pain. One of the first lines of treatment for foot pain is a simple shoe insert. A podiatrist can make a custom insert that supports your foot perfectly or you can buy stock inserts at a pharmacy. Here's how they can help.
Inserts Offer Arch Support
One problem that leads to foot pain and injury is lack of arch support. This is a particular problem if you wear flat sandals or flip flop shoes on a regular basis. If you have fallen arches, you need more support to ward off foot pain when you're on your feet for long periods. While you want to buy shoes with arch support built in and replace them when they are worn out, orthotics or shoe inserts can help too. These have the arch area built up so you walk on a pad or gel cushion that offers support and stabilization where it's needed.
Some Inserts Help With Heel Pain
Other times, you may need an insert that helps with heel pain. These are lifts for your heel that allow you to walk without placing strain on a tight tendon. Heel pain is often caused by an Achilles tendon injury and when the tendon is inflamed and sore, it hurts to walk. Orthotics with padded heels absorb some of the shock when you walk and keep your foot in a slightly raised position so your tendon isn't stretched as much when you walk or run.
Orthotics Prevent Foot Rolling
A common gait abnormality is foot rolling. Your feet may roll to the outside or the inside when you walk or stand. You can tell if you have this condition by looking at the soles of your shoes. Your shoes should wear evenly. If the inside or outside is worn down, it's probably because you roll your feet when you walk. Orthotics help treat this condition by keeping your foot stabilized. If you roll to the outside, the orthotic has padding on the outside to help hold your foot in place. You'll get the best results with custom orthotics from a podiatrist since the inserts will be tailored to the shape of your foot. Foot rolling causes foot pain and increases your risk of injury when you walk or run, so wearing this form of foot support is a good practice, especially if you run or jog frequently.
Orthotics can even be used to support and straighten your toes when you have pain in the toe area. These shoe inserts may seem like simple devices, but they can save you from a lot of pain. However, you need to choose the right kind of insert if you buy them over the counter. Choosing the wrong one could put stress on your foot and cause worse pain. If you struggle with chronic foot pain, see a podiatrist first for an evaluation and then consider custom orthotics or a recommendation for the best kind of inserts to buy at the store. You can also check out sites like http://www.westmorelandfootdoctor.com for more information.
