Signs You May Need Custom Orthotics

Odds are, you could benefit from custom orthotics. The vast majority of us – 90 percent, according to some studies – don’t have what experts would term “normal” or “neutral” feet. That means feet are not requiring any special care or support to maintain their shape. Custom orthotics are specially made inserts placed inside shoes to make it easier for your feet to support your body weight. But how do you know whether or not you truly need one? Here are some signs that will let you know.

How to Tell

Even though you may not have perfect feet, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to head to your nearest foot doctor and get outfitted for custom orthotics. However, there are some conditions that are serious enough for you to at least consider it. Here are a couple of the more common ones:

• Pronation – This is the most common foot issue, characterized by fallen arches. It’s often mistakenly called, “flat feet” but that is not accurate because the foot does not actually go flat until weight is put on it. This could become a serious issue for runners or other athletes because it could result in long-term damage to the hip, pelvis, knee or back.
• Supination – If it feels that you are walking on the outside portion of your foot, or your running shoes show more wear on the outside of the sole rather than the center, then you may have supination. In this case, custom orthotics could help if you are feeling pain.

Inserts could provide you substantial relief if you have pain due to pronation, supination or any of the several other types of foot conditions. Misalignment could lead to the degeneration of joint surfaces, eventually leading to osteoarthritis. An orthotic could help restore alignment so that your joints match as they should.

At Southwest Food and Ankle Center, one of our Dallas area experts can provide you with a thorough examination and let you know whether or not you would benefit from custom orthotics. Contact us online or call 972-805-9985 in Plano, 972-318-2738 in Lewisville or 972-318-2655 in Irving to learn more or schedule an appointment.