4 Major Benefits of Custom Orthotics

Wearing the proper footwear can mean the difference between comfort and potential injury. This is especially true if you’re a jogger or athlete. If you’ve been experiencing foot pain or swelling after exercise, the problem could be your insoles. While OTC insoles can provide support, some people may require extra protection in the form of custom orthotics.

Custom orthotics can seem like a luxury item for some. Despite the pain, there are people who are reluctant to visit a podiatrist because they believe custom orthotics are expensive. If that’s the case for you, you’ll be happy to know that most orthotics are actually covered by insurance. Along with being cost-effective, they also provide a slew of benefits that can have a big impact on your life. Learn more about the surprising benefits of orthotics below and schedule an appointment at a Foot and Ankle Associates location near you to get a pair of your own.

When we think about insoles, we imagine that the support they offer is primarily situated in the arch of the foot. While this may be true, it’s not the only area that can experience relief. With custom orthotics, you will discover pain relief in areas, and for issues, you didn’t think possible. These include:

• Support for flat feet or high arches.
• Relief from heel pain and plantar fasciitis.
• Relief from pain caused by arthritis.
• Relief from pain caused by bunions, hammertoes, corns, and calluses.

If you’ve ever gone for a jog in the park, you’ll know that roads are rarely level. Holes, rocks, and molehills can all cause extra stress on your feet as you’re jogging through. This can result in inflammation or fractures and sprains if you’re not careful.

Wearing insoles is a great first step in avoiding discomfort and potential injury. Custom orthotics are a more optimal option because they’re made to fit your feet specifically. They provide extra support as well as a stable surface that protects the motion of your feet and legs. This extra protection is perfect for minimizing the strain on your feet and helping your body avoid over-extension.

Male orthopedist fitting insole on patient’s foot in clinic, closeup

Pronation is when collapsed arches allow the ankle to fall toward the midline of the body. This makes your body more susceptible to a knee injury. Beyond that, it also places increased stress on the knees, hips, lower back, and feet.

Supination is caused by having very high arches. When your arches are high, your ankles tend to lean outward away from the midline of the body. Similar to pronation, this puts additional strain on your knees, hips, and lower back. In both cases, custom orthotics can provide the appropriate level of support that your feet need to avoid excess stress on your body. All this without restricting your mobility.

Generic insoles can provide great support for most people. However, if you have an abnormality, a custom orthotic pair may be a better option. Custom orthotics not only offer support and minimize foot pain but they can also correct abnormalities. We’ve talked about pronation and supination – but did you know that customized insoles can also balance your legs?

If you have two feet or legs that don’t have the same structure, a set of custom orthotics may be the ideal solution. Since each orthotic is custom-made, it can be individually modified to cater to your individual feet. This results in greater uniformity, flexibility, and a reduced risk of injury caused by imbalance.