Foot, knee and hip pain is familiar to many people, but what many may not be aware of is that orthotics can help. Considering your feet are the foundation of your entire body, they do an incredible amount of labor everyday; a slight imbalance can cause a great deal of discomfort and pain.
Prescription orthotics are medical appliances that are custom-made to correct specific foot imbalances, meaning they are specifically designed for only you to wear. Over-the-counter (OTC) orthotics are also available at your local pharmacy. However, generic OTC orthotics, while helpful, are not specifically designed for you, nor are they designed to correct imbalances that may exist.
Medical devices such as orthopaedic and sports injury bracing have been around for a long-time and have been used for various orthopaedic injuries like tendonitis, sprains and strains.
Tendonitis occurs from overuse or improper motion that causes swelling of the tendons, the tissue that connects the muscle to the bone. Sprains and strains generally occur from a single incident causing tissue trauma to the muscles or ligaments.
Health care professionals specializing in orthotics explain orthotics work on the feet in the same way braces and other dental appliances work on the teeth, by exerting gentle but consistent pressure to bring the foot muscles and bones back into proper alignment.
Most People will Suffer Some Foot Pain
Over the course of a lifetime, most people will experience some type of foot problem, explained Nikki MacGillivary, a certified orthopaedic technologist and pedorthist, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. "It may be as simple as a blister or callus, or something complicated enough to require hospitalization, said MacGillivary . "But the majority of foot problems (vary in degree of seriousness) are relatively routine in nature."
Ms. MacGillivary explained that their clients at 'Body N Sole are usually referred by physicians, surgeons, and other health care professionals. "A referral can be as simple as "Please Assess and Treat," or as complex as a full biomechanical assessment from the referring practitioner.
"One of the services we provide is fitting the patient with specific and individual foot appliances and/or footwear as per physicians referral, said MacGillivary. "These appliances aid in alleviating painful or debilitating conditions as well as provide assistance for abnormalities or limited actions of the lower limbs.
Every Foot is Unique
"Every foot requires special attention. Variables such as overall length, heel to ball length, and width are assessed in both a seated and standing position. Other variables may include bony deformities of the greater and lesser toes, instep height, amputations, ulceration, and biomechanical anomalies such as over-pronation or over-supination, in-toeing or out-toeing."
Prescribed orthotics can be inserted comfortably into most shoes or sneakers and are often made of flexible molded thermoplastic. They function by gently and consistently correcting your foot's position for walking, running, and standing.
Getting used to wearing them differs for each person. Some people may experience an adjustment period, but more often than not, most people find orthotics so comfortable they wear them as much as possible.
Pedorthist provides devices and footwear to assist in:
- Accommodation of foot deformities
- Realignment of anatomical structures
- Redistribution of external and internal forces
- Improvement of balance
- Control of biomechanical function
- Accommodation of circulatory special requirements
- Enhancement of the actions of limbs compromised as a result of accident, congenital deformity, neural condition, or disease
