A custom orthotic is a device designed to align the foot and ankle into the most anatomically efficient position. They look like insoles, but are biomechanical medical appliances that are custom made to correct your specific foot imbalance. Custom orthotics work on your feet much like glasses work on your eyes – they reduce stress and strain on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment. The plastic body of the custom orthotic helps to re-align the foot by redirecting and reducing certain motion that takes place during the gait cycle. Custom orthotics fit into your shoes as comfortably as an insole – and they have the advantage of having been made from precise imprints of your feet.
The symptoms of poor foot mechanics can include any one of the following:
Your health care practitioner can prescribe custom orthotics to help correct your specific foot and body imbalance. You can help your health care practitioner by discussing any nagging foot, leg, or back problems, and even by simply asking if your feet could be part of the problem.
The longer you wear your custom orthotics the more benefit you will get out of them. If your daily activities vary to the extent that you change your footwear, then you should have a second pair of custom orthotics designed for that specific activity. (I.e. going to the gym after work)
Since the custom orthotic works to realign the structure of your foot you may feel pressure in some areas as the custom orthotic attempts to do its job. For this reason custom orthotics should be worn in two hour intervals and slowly extend the wear time over a period of two weeks.
For the most part any shoe that has a removable insole will work with your custom orthotic. Just remove the insole that came with the shoe and replace it with the custom orthotic. TOG also offers a carefully-selected line of footwear that can accomodate custom orthotics, as well as custom sandals and clogs that have your prescribed device built right in.
Custom orthotics will not reduce muscle tone. They will help position your foot so you will be using the right muscles at the right time, minimizing fatigue and allowing your muscles to be used more efficiently.
Custom foot orthotics are an effective way to assist with problems associated with alignment and walking, including foot, knee, and low back pain. They help to realign weak bones in the ankle and foot, which can cause pain and other symptoms such as tingling, numbness, and a general sense of instability. They can also help to align the strong muscles in the legs and feet, relieving muscle tension and reducing the amount of strain that is placed on the joints. Chiropractors use orthotics to align and guide the spine and vertebrae, as well as to provide therapeutic benefits for low back pain and other health issues.
Custom orthotics are designed to fit each person’s unique needs and are often made to order or created at the request of the patient. A variety of materials are used during the creation of orthotic inserts, such as ceramic, metal, wood, acrylic, plastic, silicone, or foam. Orthotic inserts can be custom-made to take into account aspects of a patient’s foot structure and anatomy, as well as their specific pain and other medical concerns. A chiropractor may suggest orthotics to relieve pain and increase the patient’s ability to function. Orthotics also reduce the risk of injury and promote the healing process.
Chiropractors and other health professionals use custom orthotics to treat patients of all walks of life, regardless of their demographics. Pain and other medical conditions affect people of all ages and walks of life, making them ideal candidates for chiropractic care. Chiropractors use the techniques of this discipline to help improve the quality of life for their patients.