Custom Foot Orthotics to protect from injuries
Last week in one of my many trips to the local Costco I noticed a booth setup inside that was selling custom orthotics. While this wasn’t the first time I had seen such a booth, or a company making a similar claim, I was surprised with their claim of fixing foot problems in a matter of minutes and for a fraction of the price. So what makes a “custom” made orthotic from Costco different from one from a podiatrist’s office? To the untrained eye the differences may be undetectable.
For the reader who has been to the podiatrist’s office and has custom-made orthotic,s the answer may be simple. However, for the rest of us there might be a few differences that we aren’t aware of. When your podiatrist makes you a custom pair of orthotics they will begin with a biomechanical exam of the foot and the way you walk. Next, the podiatrist will hold your ankle in a neutral position and apply plaster to get an imprint of your foot. The plaster is one of the most important parts of the whole orthotic process. It’s at this stage that the podiatrist can make subtle adjustments to the orthotic that make it truly custom. Once the plaster has setup, the podiatrist will send the imprint to a lab where the orthotic will be made of a number of different materials depending on what the orthotic is intended for.
You will notice a big difference between the custom made orthotic and the Costco orthotic. Many people take their orthotics out of one pair of shoes and put them in different pairs. This becomes extremely important when a patient puts their orthotics in a pair of running shoes. There are many injuries that can happen to a person by having an ill fitting orthotic or pair of shoes. Most runners complain of getting a deep dark bruise or collection of blood under the toenail. This can occur due to and orthotic that isn’t firm enough to hold the foot in place thus allowing jamming of the toes into the end of the shoe. Blisters also can be a problem that plagues runners. If you put a Costco insert in a pair of running shoes and the fit isn’t perfect, it can rub on your foot in a funny position and cause blisters. The next couple problems are a bit more serious. Our tendons are protected by small, thin coverings that are filled with a very fine fluid. The purpose of the covering is to reduce friction. If the orthotic doesn’t do its job properly and the foot is not held in the correct position the covering can become inflamed and painful. Finally some runners have experienced fractures of certain bones in the feet due to abnormal forces on the foot.
So why is it so important to be custom fit? When your podiatrist makes you a custom pair of orthotics they not only custom make them for your feet, but also for the types of shoes that you will be wearing them in. If the orthotics need a few more adjustments after you get them, your podiatrist can accommodate that. There are many new materials that work well for active people. The materials now days are light, strong, and can handle an active lifestyle. If you are training for a race or starting a new workout routine, listen to your feet. If you take care of them, they will take care of you!
If you have questions or need to see a physician call our office: 518-273-0053 or visit our website @ : http://www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com/
