Author: Premier Clinic

I find that I continue to frequently recommend custom moulded orthotics, and there’s a reason. Many common foot complaints can be successfully treated with orthotics, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, neuromas, and flat feet. However, a general orthotic that you buy at the store where one prescription fits all (just different shoe size) is quite a bit different from one that is prescribed by a podiatrist/biomechanist.
If you are experiencing chronic, unresolved foot pain, custom orthotics might be right for you. Here’s why.

1. They are made for your foot, not anyone else’s

The over the counter shoe inserts (Dr. Scholl’s for example) only provide some additional cushioning and can’t compare to a prescription orthotic in arch and foot support. By the time a patient makes an appointment to see a foot doctor they have often tried one or more different store-bought orthotics without much success or relief. The process I like to use to make a custom pair of orthotics involves making a plaster mould of your feet in a biomechanically corrected/ideal position. This allows me to get an exact replica of your foot, which can be used to create an insert that is not only comfortable, but also highly supportive of any painful joints and tendons, and again, made specifically for you.

2. Technology has improved

Gone are the days of clunky, heavy inserts. I was fitted for my first pair of orthotics almost 25 years ago to treat chronic arch pain. Those inserts were not pretty, they only fit in a few shoes and must have weighed five pounds each! But, they worked great in relieving my pain and I have used orthotics ever since. The good news is, over the past 20 years or so, the technology and materials used for orthotics has greatly improved, so today’s orthotics are much lighter and thinner and can be used in a variety of athletic and dress shoes. This way, whether you are running a marathon, walking around the office, or attending a social event, your feet can have the support and comfort they need without having to be in tennis shoes all the time.

3. More comfort, less pain

Because that’s the whole point, right?
Most chronic foot pain is the result of daily wear and tear on the structures in your foot. Better, biomechanically corrected support results in less day-to-day damage and inflammation, and most importantly, less pain. So whatever your particular foot aches and pains are, there is likely a custom orthotic option for you. I would encourage you to make an appointment with our clinic to discuss what those options are. Even if you have had other inserts in the past that have not helped, I would recommend not giving up on orthotics just yet.
So come on in and discuss your options, your feet will thank you for it.

Teenagers are more likely to recognize the importance of regularly caring for their teeth, skin, eyes, and bodies, but few know to care for their feet. Feet are out of sight, out of mind. Yet, foot health plays an important role in overall health and wellness. Teens, especially girls, tend to care about having attractive feet versus healthy feet.“While most individuals tend to react to foot issues later in life, the time to begin a good foot care routine is actually in the teenage years. Only about half of teens believe that feet are important to their overall health and many are living with foot pain. It’s vital that we educate teens on how to properly care for their feet and that local podiatrists are readily available to help relieve pain and avoid long term complications.”
The average person takes approximately 10,000 steps per day, which adds up to more than 3 million steps per year. They apply four to six times their body weight on ankle joints when climbing stairs or walking steep inclines. With 26 bones and 33 joints, feet serve as the foundation for the rest of the body’s structure. Feet that are painful or not mechanically sound, can affect the knees, hips and even the lower back.

Feet are still growing during the teen years. However, teens should be aware that foot pain of any kind is not normal. Whether they are dealing with blisters, athlete’s foot, or ingrown toenails, caring for feet at an early age reduces the risk of complications later.

One third of teenagers experience foot pain at least some of the time. Sports are the major cause of foot pain among teens. Half who have had pain say sports was the source. Three-quarters of high school students play a school or recreational sport, and of them, four in 10 have injured their feet. Two in 10 suffer from foot pain from uncomfortable shoes — girls more than boys. High heels are the most painful shoe choice. Although six in 10 teens have had a foot problem in their lives, most self-medicate or just live with the problem.

Fewer than two in 10 teens have visited a podiatrist. Teens that do see a podiatrist are more likely to care for their feet.
Keeping feet healthy can help avoid embarrassing and uncomfortable problems such as athlete’s foot, foot odor, and toenail fungus.

• Wash your feet daily with soap and water. It’s tempting to just swish your feet around in the shower, but it’s important to use soap to remove germs and grime. Don’t forget to wash in between your toes.
• Keep feet dry. Fungus, including the kind that causes athlete’s foot, loves to grow in moist, damp environments, so after your shower, dry your feet thoroughly, paying extra attention to the spaces between your toes. If your socks get wet during the day, change them.
• Trim toenails into a slight curve. Too-long toenails not only wreck your socks and look crazy, but they can harbor bacteria. Use a pair of toenail clippers to cut your toenails to just above or at the edge of your toe. Cut straight across the nail, or a slight curve is okay, too.
• Wear supportive, properly fitted shoes. Improperly fitted shoes with no support are a major cause of foot pain and injury.
  If you are having problems or just want to be checked out to ensure all is well then contact us to make an initial appointment.