Mia
You may have heard of custom orthotics and your first thought was probably that they are only for people with foot pain. While this is true to some extent, there are many benefits of wearing custom insoles beyond their use for those who struggle with foot pain. In this blog post, you will learn about the different benefits of using custom insoles and why it is a good idea to start using them from today.
What are Custom Orthotics?
Custom orthotics are specially made orthotics that are designed to correct specific foot conditions and help alleviate pain caused by those ailments. Orthotics can be placed in a shoe to correct abnormal foot motion and provide support where it’s needed most.
Custom orthotics are made by an orthotist, who uses a scan to determine what needs correcting. The orthotist then uses a special machine to create a custom orthotic, which is then delivered to the patient.
Custom orthotics are designed to relieve common pain and improve the quality of life for those with foot problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 50 percent of adults experience some level of foot pain each year.
What’s more, people with foot problems often experience a combination of issues that cause discomfort and difficulty functioning normally.
These conditions may include plantar fasciitis, bunions, calluses, corns, and other minor ailments that can affect even the most active person. However, custom orthotics can help or prevent several other problems as well.
Improve Your Athletic Performance
Most people who have custom orthotics to improve athletic performance have also had them for balance and alignment improvement. Now, how do you know if you need to use orthotics for performance?
The main indicators that you may benefit from using orthotics for performance are if you have pain while running or even walking, if your gait is off-kilter, if your ankle or foot feels weak while running, or if you are experiencing knee pain while running.
If these or any other performance-related problems are present with your running or walking, then you should definitely consider buying custom orthotics.
Strengthen Your Bones And Muscles
When you use orthotics to correct your foot structure and biomechanics, you are working to improve your alignment and strength of your bones and muscles. By strengthening your bones while wearing orthotics, you can prevent them from breaking while running or any other strenuous activity.
If you have had custom orthotics for a while, you may notice that you are walking or running much more smoothly than before. This is because custom orthotics are helping to correct your alignment.
When your feet are correctly aligned, muscles throughout your body are able to function better. What else can you expect to experience if you have used your orthotics? With time, you will see an increase in blood flow to your feet, which means that your bones and muscles are receiving more nourishment.
Recover Faster From Workouts
One of the best benefits of using custom foot orthotics is that they can help you recover from your workouts much faster than before. How is this possible? Since you are correctly aligning your feet, you are able to push your muscles much further than before. This means that you will be able to recover from your workouts much faster than before.
With time, your muscles will adapt to the increased levels of stress that they are experiencing. But this does not mean that you will have to stop pushing yourself. In fact, you can continue to push yourself and your muscles even harder.
Long-term Pain Relief
One of the most common reasons why people have orthotics is for long-term pain relief. If you have tried every pain reliever under the sun and the famous “just put ice on it”, custom orthotics will more than likely help you. If you have been suffering from plantar fasciitis or heel spurs for a long time, then custom orthotics may also be the best option for you.
When you have custom orthotics for long-term pain relief, then you are using orthotics with the intention of improving your biomechanics. This means that your custom orthotics will be correcting your foot structure, alignment, and mechanics.
Custom Orthotics to Prevent Sports Injuries
Another common reason why people use orthotics is for sports injuries. If you have had a sports injury and are looking for ways to improve your mobility and joint health, then custom foot orthotics may be for you.
You can also use custom orthotics to prevent sports injuries to begin with. A custom orthotic can be used to prevent injuries to your joints and muscles, therefore giving you a more pain-free playing field.
Custom Orthotics for Postural Alignment Improvement
If you have had orthotics for a while and they are now starting to feel uncomfortable, then you can use them for postural alignment improvement. When you have orthotics for postural alignment improvement, then you will be using your orthotics to correct your alignment.
This will help immensely with back pain, which is a common pain for most people. Orthotics can overall help the alignment of your spine and would be beneficial with a mixture of seeking out a chiropractor.
Who Should Wear Orthotics?
People who experience foot pain and discomfort may benefit from orthotics. Health care providers may recommend custom orthotics if patients are experiencing foot pain due to a common condition, such as plantar fasciitis, bunion, or corns.
Your doctor may also recommend orthotics if you have diabetes and other foot health issues, such as arthritis, neurological issues, peripheral neuropathy, or diabetes. If you don’t experience pain but have abnormal foot motion or are experiencing foot deformity, orthotics can help correct those issues and improve your range of motion.
Conclusion
Custom orthotics are designed to correct common foot issues and improve the overall health and well-being of those who use them. They can also be used to help manage foot deformity and provide support in shoes. If you’re experiencing pain or experiencing the negative effects of abnormal foot motion, custom orthotics may help.
