Orthotics

The general public may not know the full scope of practice of the modern day podiatrist, but they do know two things. They work on feet and they talk a lot about orthotics. But why? What’s so good about them? Orthotics are molded casts of the feet in a particular position that can serve many purposes. You place the molded insole into your shoe and walk on them as if they were your stock insole. This now supports your foot inside of the shoe in a way that is more beneficial to the foot and ankle.

Your podiatrist may recommend orthotics for a number of therapeutic uses such as redistributing weight to different parts of the foot, control abnormal motion of the ankle, to better align your lower leg, and to help dissipate the shock forces generated through the foot, leg, and spine. Many people use the term “arch supports.” While they do this, their primary function is to control your foot during its gait cycle.

Most athletes will ask, “Do I really need these orthotics?” The more important focus should be “Can I benefit from this?” Often orthotics can make the athlete less susceptible to injury as well as help the performance. They should be thought of as a preventative weapon rather than a crutch-after-injury. While no magic bullet can prevent injury, prescription orthotics certainly reduce wear and tear, help prevent over-use issues of the foot, ankle, leg and spine, as well as boosting performance of the athlete. If you are ready for these positive effects come by and see Dr.Grimm or Dr.Pattison to get your alignment checked.