Orthotics are a custom medical device designed shoe insert prescribed by medical professionals. Individuals may be prescribed orthotics to help treat and alleviate leg, foot, or back pain. Custom orthotics aid in adjusting and modifying how the foot moves and functions. Additionally, orthotics are also specially designed to distribute force and align the foot, providing comfort for those who wear them.
At True Life Physiotherapy & Wellness, we specialize in custom orthotics. Our team of physiotherapists and chiropractors are able to examine, diagnose, and treat your pain effectively in an encouraging environment with customized treatment plans tailored to your unique needs and circumstances.
How do orthotics help with pain?
There are several medical conditions a medical professional may prescribe custom orthotics for. This includes:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Back pain
- Bunions
- Bursitis
- Diabetes
- Flat feet
- Hammer toes
- Heel spurs
- High arches
- Plantar fasciitis
- Foot injuries
Furthermore, orthotics are commonly prescribed as a treatment in conjunction with additional therapies including physiotherapy and chiropractic care.
How to tell if you need orthotics?
As mentioned above, while there are numerous medical conditions orthotics may be prescribed as part of a more extensive treatment plan, common signs that may indicate you need orthotics include foot pain, knee pain, leg pain, and back pain. However, as orthotics are highly customized to the patient’s foot, chances are, a doctor will not prescribe orthotics unless there are no over the counter options available.
Regardless, if you’re experiencing prolonged pain and discomfort in your feet, legs, and back we recommend visiting your doctor or physiotherapist. They will conduct a thorough physical examination that includes a scan of your feet. These scans and images will indicate how your feet hit the ground as you walk. As a result, a medical professional will be able to determine the difficulties you’re experiencing in the function and structure of your feet.
Do orthotics really relieve pain?
Pain and discomfort are common symptoms patients experience following an injury or as the result of an underlying medical condition. As we rely on our feet and legs to support the rest of our bodies, abnormalities in the feet, including high arches or collapsed arches can cause misalignments and pain in the rest of your body. However, by correcting these abnormalities and cushioning the foot, the provided support can provide pain relief.
Furthermore, custom orthotics can provide other benefits, including:
- Relieving pressure on the feet
- Maintaining alignment of the ankles, knees, and back
- Improvement of athletic performance
- Enhances your overall health and wellness
With custom orthotics patients can improve their mobility and work towards living a more comfortable, pain-free lifestyle.
Can orthotics help back and leg pain?
Yes, custom orthotics can be employed to regulate foot movements that can be transmitted up the leg and to the lower back, depending on your specific foot dynamics. Exaggerated foot motion can be translated into rotational movement of the leg. This rotation is moved to the knee, which either has the potential of creating knee problems, or it can pass through into the knee and up to the hip.
As a result, the lower muscles of the back are forced to work harder as the individual moves in order to stabilize themselves throughout the day. Custom foot orthotics can be used in this particular instance to regulate foot movements and decrease the domino effect up the leg to the hip and lower spine.
Furthermore, custom orthotics can also be utilized to reduce the force of impact on your feet as you walk. The pressure of your heel hitting the ground may be routed through your foot and up your leg to your hip and lower back when the joints in your foot have limited mobility.
Generally speaking, this pressure is more common among people with high arches and a restrictive foot formation. However, custom orthotics can then be used to decrease some of the contact pressure connected with walking by padding and uniformly delivering pressure beneath your feet.
Do custom orthotics help with foot pain?
Yes, in fact, there are numerous types of foot problems that can be relieved by prescribing patients with custom orthotics. Here is a closer look at some of these medical conditions:
- Heel pain
- Foot pain caused by bunions
- Foot sprains and injuries
- Pain experienced in the arch of the feet
- Pain in the feet due to an underlying medical condition such as arthritis
Moreover, orthotics are especially beneficial in alleviating foot discomfort and fatigue in older individuals who may have joint pain in their feet. At the same time, children and adults with foot deformities may also be prescribed orthotics in conjunction with another treatment or therapy such as physiotherapy to decrease the level of pain experienced, while improving the overall quality of life of the patient.
This is done so by preventing and slowing the progression of the demotic by having the foot positioned more effectively inside the shoe in order to improve how the individual moves their foot and lower leg region. As such, these medical devices are effective at relieving stress from more painful areas in the ankle and foot region.
Can Orthotics Help with Sciatic Pain?
Sciatica is a symptom of a variety of common lower back problems. However, sciatica is not considered a diagnosis despite what many patients may have originally believed. Numbness, lack of strength, loss of sensation, or pain that begins in the lower back and is felt all the way through the glutes to the large sciatic nerve that connects to the back of the leg are common symptoms of sciatica.
As such, custom foot orthotics are suitable for a wide range of conditions, including sciatic pain. Specially designed foot orthotics have been shown in scientific journals to significantly improve pain in patients while helping them enhance their mobility.
Generally speaking, custom foot orthotics can help patients improve their posture, skeletal alignment, and how they walk. As such and over time, using custom orthotics can allow the soft tissues in the lower region of your back heal. As a result, patients will experience a reduction in their sciatica and can get back to enjoying their life without worrying about pain in their lower back region.
Which type of orthotic is right for you?
All patients are different. There are also several types of custom orthotic solutions available for patients. Therefore, before we are able to determine which type of orthotic is right for you, you will need to book an appointment for a physical exam with a medical professional. If you’re experiencing prolonged pain as the result of a medical condition or injury, working with a physiotherapist can help you alleviate your pain and discomfort by customizing a treatment plan that may include custom orthotics.
At True Life Physiotherapy & Wellness, we specialize in custom orthotics. Our experienced physiotherapists work closely with patients from all walks of life and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality patient care. When working with our team, you can have peace of mind knowing they are in good hands. True Life Physiotherapy & Wellness offers an encouraging and comfortable environment and can help you get back to enjoying your life, pain-free.
Call and schedule your initial consultation with the friendly staff members at True Life Physiotherapy & Wellness, today.