Discomfort in your feet should not be ignored: foot pain will have an impact on your general health and fitness as well as your mobility. If your feet are uncomfortable when you have shoes on, you may find that custom-made orthotics can completely transform the way you feel, spreading the body weight evenly throughout the feet and ensuring that the bones and joints of the feet are supported correctly.
There are many painful foot conditions that can result from wearing shoes that do not fit properly or offer the right amount of support, including plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and bunions, and we’ll take a look at how to avoid these conditions by simply swapping out your footwear and investing in custom-made orthotics. If you are ready for your feet to feel better, read on to how Foot Solutions can help you.
Custom-made Orthotics
If you’ve never worn custom-made orthotics before, you’re in for a treat! These are custom devices that are made from 3D scans of your feet. They sit inside your shoes to correct any gait inconsistencies or structural differences. It is possible to buy generic insoles and orthotics over the counter, and you may notice a slight improvement in the way your feet feel when you use these, but these are not designed specifically for you and custom-made orthotics can offer a far superior approach that can prevent foot pain and protect foot health as you age.
Custom-made orthotics work because:
- They offer personalised support by taking into account the unique shape and contouring of your feet. Our custom-made orthotics are made from 3D scans of your feet your feet, so they are as individual as you are. This means that they will provide support and cushioning in the areas in which your feet need it most, balancing out any abnormalities in your feet and improving the way your shoes fit. Sometimes the shape of the foot requires a little extra help to support the body, particularly if you have high arches or flat feet, and you may be surprised just how much difference our custom-made orthotics can make.
- They alleviate foot pain. There are many different causes of foot pain and none should be ignored, but many people do not realise that most foot problems can be addressed by changing your footwear or adding custom-made orthotics inside your shoes. Foot pain can lead to acute conditions such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and Achilles tendonitis, as well as aches and pain in the lower back, legs and knees, and all of these can result from wearing poor footwear or shoes that do not fit you well. Custom-made orthotics can alter the position of your feet inside your shoes and ensure that your bodyweight is spread more evenly, which can alleviate foot pain and help to prevent more serious problems from developing.
- They help to improve posture. The way your feet sit inside your shoes will be affected by the shape of the feet and the shape of the shoes, and when these are not a good fit, problems can occur. Common issues such as overpronation, where the feet roll in towards each other, or supination, where they roll out, away from each other, can become problematic over time and wearing a small custom insert that corrects instabilities or abnormalities in the feet can make a big difference. This can help to align the foot correctly, reducing strain on the joints and the muscles of the feet and legs and providing enough cushioning to absorb the shock as you walk or run.
- They increase stability and prevent injury. If your feet are not stable when you walk or run, you are much more likely to roll your ankle, trip or otherwise injure yourself. This can be devastating for your mobility and your fitness, and increasing stability is a great way to take care of yourself. Custom-made orthotics can ensure that the feet are more stable in the shoes, providing a good level of support where it is needed most.
- They feel comfortable. Wearing shoes that do not fit your feet properly is a common problem, but many people do not realise the potential damage it can do. If your shoes feel uncomfortable on your feet, you may be damaging your feet and you could be creating problems down the road. Your shoes should always feel comfortable and custom-made orthotics can help to ensure a great fit. Remember that the socks you wear can also make a difference to the way your feet feel, and comfortable, breathable socks can help you to feel better all day.
- They can support chronic conditions. Chronic conditions that affect the feet include arthritis and diabetes, and anyone who lives with conditions like this will be working with a specialist care team that includes foot specialists. However, simple devices like custom-made orthotics can make a positive difference by changing the way the feet are supported inside the shoes, relieving ongoing foot pain and improving circulation and mobility. Positioning the feet correctly can improve blood flow to the extremities and this can reduce the risk of serious foot conditions such as diabetic neuropathy and infections.
- They prevent long-term foot conditions. Some conditions can affect the feet in the longer term, such as bunions and hammertoes, which can occur when the bones of the feet are pressed together in a way that damages them. These conditions cannot be reversed once they have developed, but preventative measures can protect against them and can also stop them from getting worse. Our custom-made orthotics help by redistributing the weight of the body throughout the feet and avoiding extreme pressure in certain areas, which can reduce your risk of developing these problems.
Custom-made orthotics can be added to your casual shoes, your training shoes and the shoes you wear for work, optimising the position of your feet at all times and preventing or alleviating foot pain. Custom orthotics are also a great option after an injury or surgical procedure, allowing the feet to recover and speeding up the healing process.
Visit us at Foot Solutions today
Here at Foot Solutions, we can offer personalised solutions to the problem of foot pain, with options such as gait analysis that enable us to identify problems, even in the early stages. We can make custom-made orthotics for you, based on the unique shape of your foot, and this can completely change the way your feet feel in your shoes.
We have many years of experience in addressing common foot problems and we will always take the time to understand why you are experiencing foot pain so that we can find the perfect solutions for you and your lifestyle. To get to know your feet better and ensure that you can protect your foot health along with your general health and your fitness, pop in and visit us in your local store. We have a great range of comfortable footwear and will be happy to share our expertise with you.
