Orthotics – whether they are custom fit for your foot or a store brand that helps ease your problem – they can help foot problems that, if not dealt with, can lead to other ailments. Sometimes major ones. An orthotic is simply an insert that goes in your shoe that helps you deal with or combat some type of foot problem.
Here in our office at Tulsa Spine and Rehab, we do custom fitted orthotics. That’s where you actually step into some foam and have an orthotic individualized or fit custom to your need. There are many general orthotic brands sold at stores that can offer help and relief as well. But they are usually non-specific to your need.
The goal or the purpose of the orthotic is to provide support or deliver more of a neutral structure to the foot. A lot of times, patients may have flat feet or maybe losing their arch. This can cause other problems such plantar fasciitis, which is irritation of the soft tissue on the bottom of the foot. That affects a lot of runners. You may also suffer from bunions and callouses and corns.
Foot problems can lead to orthopedic difficulties such as ankle complications, knee and hip problems and even low back issues. And a lot of times folks are a little confused about how a dysfunction in their foot could potentially create some problems in those other areas. But when your foot does not have enough support, your body compensates. Your body is symmetrical meaning you have a right and left side and hopefully equal on each. Orthotics can help with your body working to compensate say if one leg is shorter than the other.
And orthotics, especially custom fit ones, become part of your everyday life. Once they wear out, you come back for another fitting to see if anything has changed with your body. We use a sport graphite material that is very supportive and long-lasting and our patients actually fall in love with their orthotics. So when it comes to your body you want the best treatment available, give Dr. Riley and his team at Tulsa Spine and Rehab a call at (918) 743-3737.
