Step Into The New Year With Better Foot Health
Welcome 2024 with happier heels! Now is the perfect time to prioritize our health, starting from the ground up. Yes, we're talking about our feet!
Custom orthotics have been gaining attention not only among people with foot disorders but also those looking for overall comfort and better foot health. These are specially designed inserts that you place in your shoes, tailored to address your unique foot structure and needs.
Here are some common reasons you may need orthotics:
Foot pain or swelling
Sharp heel pain
Flat feet or high arches
Standing for more than five hours a day
Undergone knee, hip, or lower back surgery
Chronic back or lower body pain
Arthritis
Bursitis
Bunions
Achilles tendonitis
Even if you don't have a specific foot condition, orthotics can still be a great addition to your foot care routine.
For a further look into common questions asked about orthotics, read this blog post: Orthotics 101: What You Need to Know About These Foot Support Devices
Fashionable shoes may look good, but they're often not worth the foot pain or troubles they can cause. This year, consider using orthotic inserts to reduce strain while wearing shoes. You'll be surprised how much difference a little extra support can make!
If you've set a fitness-based New Year's resolution, a new pair of high-quality shoe insoles could really help you achieve your goals. Whether you're planning to run a marathon, spend more time on the hiking trail, or simply walk more, the right foot support can enhance your performance and prevent foot discomfort.
How to get custom orthotics?
At Westside Chiropractic, we want to ensure you can have the correct foot alignment so your feet can work properly and in a pain-free manner. To begin with, we provide a complimentary and comprehensive analysis of your gait - the pattern and manner in which you walk. This involves close observation of your foot movement and function while you're walking and standing still. We study how your feet touch the ground, the alignment of your foot and ankle, and how weight is distributed across your foot. This can help identify any irregularities or imbalances that could be causing discomfort or pain.
Next, we assess the range of motion of your foot and ankle joints. The human foot is a complex structure comprising numerous bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, all working together to support and balance the body. By examining the flexibility and movement capability of these joints, we can identify if any imbalances exist. These might manifest as limited mobility, over-flexibility, or asymmetry between your left and right foot.
If our analysis reveals issues that can be improved with orthotics, we then proceed to take a cast of each foot. This is done in a neutral position, where the foot's three arches are in their most optimal alignment. This casting process captures the exact contours of your feet and provides a precise model for crafting your custom orthotics.
These bespoke orthotics are then created specifically to address your particular foot problems. They're designed to correct the identified imbalances, provide the necessary support, and enhance your foot function. Unlike generic insoles, these orthotics are individually crafted based on the unique characteristics of your feet.
*Please check your insurance plan before starting with orthotics. Most insurance pays for a set every 2 years! If you are using your insurance, they may require a written prescription from your medical doctor prior to your assessment and casting for orthotics.
Remember, our feet carry us through life's journeys, so taking care of them should be a priority. Taking care of people's feet is an important part of what we do here at Westside Chiropractic.
Here's to stepping into the New Year with healthier, stronger feet.
Call 403-686-7242 to book today!
