The Truth Behind Orthotics!
Orthotics – otherwise referred to as shoe inserts, inner-soles, shoe liners – whatever you call them, their purpose remains the same: to help your feet and legs by optimising their biomechanical function, that is, the way your bones, joints, muscles and tissues work together, when you move.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to hear that orthotics worked brilliantly well for one person and completely relieved their foot pain, whereas they made minimal difference for another. So what’s going on and do orthotics really work? Sole Motion Podiatry has your answers!
Our feet and foot problems are all different – so how can orthotics help everyone?
We feel it’s important to firstly acknowledge that feet are different and have different problems, pains and move in different ways. The term ‘orthotic’ seems to have taken on many meanings, ranging from the type that are prescribed specifically from a Podiatrist (like a pair of prescription glasses) to those generic insoles you can buy from a retail store (comparable to the cheap reading pair of glasses from a convenience store). While generic insoles can definitely make your feet more comfortable in a shoe, if you have pain or an issue with your feet, chances are that generic orthotics will do very little for you.
The benefit of orthotics comes from addressing your particular ailment in the context of the way your foot functions, the way your bones and joints move and so on. We completely agree that the same standard pair of orthotics won’t help everyone, but they can if they’re customised to suit your foot and condition.
This may mean off-loading and relieving pressure off a painful area of the foot, or changing the function and activation of one of a damaged muscle or tendon to reduce the strain and give it a chance to rest. Your needs are assessed by a Podiatrist with a thorough biomechanical exam before the right orthotic is prescribed for you. This is also why you may not have had the results you wanted with a standard orthotic from a store that wasn’t specific to the issues you were having.
So does everyone with foot pain need orthotics?
Absolutely not. Contrary to what other Podiatrists may tell you, not all feet require orthotics and we regularly don’t recommend orthotics to those that other Podiatrists might. At Sole Motion Podiatry, you will only be prescribed orthotics if:
1. There is clinical evidence that it can help your feet and your ailments.
2. It is perfectly suited to your feet, whether that be modifying and adding additions to a standard device or prescribing a completely custom device from a mould of your feet. In some cases we may use an orthotic without modifications, but only where the components of that orthotic match the findings of your biomechanical exam.
When we do prescribe an orthotic, we always endeavour to explain to you exactly what your orthotic is achieving for your feet. We believe that knowledge and understanding is a key part of the rehabilitation process and that it’s important to know why you’re having the treatment that you are. If you already have orthotics and you’re unsure of what they’re doing, don’t be afraid to go to your Podiatrist and ask them!
And orthotics achieve the desired pain-free results all on their own?
This is another common misconception – they often don’t. Because you must continue to use your feet while you have a foot ailment or injury, orthotics are often a good way of reducing unnecessary daily strain and redistribute pressure through your feet. They are, however, almost always only one part of a treatment plan – depending on your condition of course.
At Sole Motion Podiatry we employ a hands-on approach to rehabilitation – and we get GREAT results in getting you better and pain-free much faster than you otherwise would. We often combine orthotics and support from the right footwear with other musculoskeletal therapies to actually stimulate the healing and repair of injured tissues. This may involve dry needling, low-level laser therapy, identifying & strengthening intrinsic muscle weakness and various other techniques to return the body to its original functional self. Because why suffer from foot and leg issues longer than you have to?
Sole Motion Podiatry is committed to clinical excellence in podiatry and providing you with the best care and treatment outcomes – you matter to us! If you are having any issues with your feet or legs don’t hesitate to get in touch at 1300-FX-FEET and check us out on Facebook here!
