Custom Orthotics

Custom made orthotics may be prescribed to patients for various conditions. Many medical conditions can arise from a biomechanical gait abnormality and can be easily and effectively treated with custom made orthotics.

 

Improper foot biomechanics can lead to ailments such as:

Plantar Fasciitis

What is it?

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that occurs where the plantar fascia attaches to the medial tuberosity of the calcaneus. This inflammation can cause pain on the sole of the foot and/or pain along the  bottom of the heel.

What causes it?

Improper footwear or repetitive stress can result in overpronation and further causing constant tension of the plantar fascia resulting in inflammation of surrounding tissue. When you are not on your feet, scar tissue begins to repair the injury; but when you get back on your feet after being seated or wake up in the morning the newly formed scar tissue is re-torn resulting in acute pain.

What is the treatment?

In the acute phase ice will aid in the reduction of inflammation. The biomechanical issue needs to be corrected to take the chronic strain of the fascia by way of manual manipulation of the bone and further support with a custom orthotic.

Morton’s Neuroma

What is it?

This neuroma is a thickening of the tissue that surrounds the intermetatarsal nerve leading to the toes. When the nerve becomes squeezed and irritated, it causes painful symptoms and can be described as a “pins and needles” sensation that spreads through the fourth and fifth toes or of a feeling similar to hitting your “funny bone.”

What Causes It?

A neuroma can occur in response to the irritation of a nerve by one or more factors:

Abnormal foot function or foot mechanics: primarily excessive pronation that causes strain on the nerve.

Improper footwear: constricting, narrow, poor-fitting shoes with a tight or pointed toe box tend to compress the end of the foot, leading to excessive pressure in the area of the nerve. High-heeled shoes are a particular culprit here.

Previous trauma to the foot: Those who engage in high-impact activities that bring repetitive trauma to the foot (running, aerobics, etc.) have a greater chance of developing a neuroma.

What is the treatment?

When examined and diagnosed in a timely fashion there are orthotics that can alleviate the disturbances to the foot mechanics that are causing nerve inflammation.

Metatarsalgia

What is it?

Often sharp and shooting pain in the ball of the foot or near the big toe with inflammation and sometimes even bruising. Pain can often be worse with pointing of the toes (flexion) and may have associated symptoms of tingling or numbness in the toes.

What causes it?

Being overweight: the more weight is brought to bear on the foot, the greater the pressure is on the forefoot when taking a step.

Wearing shoes that do not fit properly:

Claw toes or hammer toes can press the metatarsals toward the ground and cause stress on the ball of the foot.

Arthritis

What is the treatment?

Keep your body weight at a healthy level and wear shoes that fit properly especially in the toe area and avoid high heels when possible.

Achilles Tendonitis

What is it?

Inflammation of the tendon of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the calf.

What causes it?

Running uphill and over pronation syndromes.

What is the treatment?

Ice to decrease inflammation, heel lift to reduce strain on tendon and avoiding standing bare foot in the acute phase. After the acute phase, the prescribed stretching and foot orthotics (possibly with a lift as well) to reduce the over-pronation.

Shin Splints

What is it?

Muscular over-use of the tibialis anterior muscle of the anterior compartment of the leg or tibialis posterior muscle of the posterior compartment of the leg.

What causes it?

When someone over-pronates or pronates too rapidly, either or both of these muscles may be called upon to work harder than normal. As a result, fatigue sets in, leading to inefficient force production which leads to micro-tearing of the soft tissue and therefore an inflammatory reaction.

What is the treatment?

First, rest and ice to decrease damage being done and inflammation. Following the acute phase, orthotics are prescribed to reduce the over-pronation and help take the load of the muscles that will be over-worked if the pronation is not controlled.

Sacroiliac Syndrome

What is it?

Painful inflammatory condition of the sacroiliac joints with possible pain in the buttock and thigh regions.

What causes it?

Could be a fall on the buttocks or during a lifting activity; and if the biomechanics of the feet are not symmetrical problems may occur at the sacroiliac joints.

What is the treatment?

Spinal manipulation will be effective if the cause was traumatic in nature. However if the cause is poor foot mechanics, correction of the abnormal foot mechanics may be accomplished with orthotic prescription.

Source: http://www.theorthoticgroup.com/TOG-Professionals-PatientDetail.html