How Orthotics Can Remedy a Variety of Foot Conditions

Your feet have a big job, carrying you everywhere through your days and usually without complaint or effort. However, when foot pain begins, you gain a new appreciation for the role your feet play in many aspects of your life. 

Foot conditions can take many forms, including structural problems like flat feet or high arches, to soft tissue problems, including tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, and unique foot issues such as bunions, calluses, and corns. 

At Mastracco Foot & Ankle, we often turn to the support and protection offered by orthotics, both custom-made and over-the-counter designs. Sometimes, the simple support offered by these shoe inserts is enough to get you past the symptoms of your condition, where other conservative treatments failed. 

Let’s take a look at how orthotics can remedy a variety of foot conditions. You may be surprised by their versatility. 

What are orthotics? 

When you purchase a new pair of shoes, they’ll often have an insert that’s loose or easily removed. Inexpensive shoes may have an insert with only light foam cushioning, while more expensive shoes could have rudimentary arch support. 

Orthotics are shaped and cushioned inserts that replace those supplied with your new shoes. Typically using a combination of rigid plastics and foam, orthotics cushion and support your feet, serving as a type of cradle to relieve and reduce symptoms caused by a wide range of foot issues. 

Over-the-counter orthotics can be designed for added cushioning and arch support, and while you may be able to customize the fit of the insert for your shoes, consumer products don’t supply the same benefits as orthotics that are custom-made for your feet. 

What conditions can orthotics treat? 

Many foot conditions start out as relatively minor soft tissue problems that persist because it’s hard to give your feet the time they need to rest and heal. You could have aches and pains associated with your foot’s anatomy, conditions like flat feet or high arches. 

Orthotics with enhanced arch support can ease the symptoms of flat feet, which can include knee pain since low foot arches allow an inward gait that places your legs into a knock-kneed position. High arches may benefit from enhanced cushioning to spread the load on your soles over a wider portion of the foot. 

Our podiatrist, Dr. Dominick Mastracco, may recommend store-bought orthotics when you have minor foot problems. These provide enough support to help you past everyday aches and pains that sometimes arise. 

Custom orthotics could be required when you have moderate-to-severe foot conditions like balance or rotation problems related to your arch anatomy. Sharp heel pain, particularly in the morning, could be a sign of plantar fasciitis, a sometimes persistent tissue injury to the sole of your foot. 

Orthotics can also help with balance issues, preventing sprained ankle injuries, or with correcting gait problems. Dr. Mastracco might also recommend orthotics for: 

• Bunions
• Corns or calluses
• Metatarsalgia (pain across the ball of the foot)
• Tendonitis
• Morton’s neuroma, a nerve condition that gives the feeling of a pebble in your shoe
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also called runner’s knee
• Hallux rigidus, a stiffening of the big toe

The realignment of the foot that’s supported by good-fitting orthotics can make walking and movement more comfortable and efficient. 

Find out more by discussing your foot condition with Dr. Mastracco and the team at Mastracco Foot & Ankle in North Canton, Ohio. Book your appointment by phone or online today.