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How can custom orthotics help the bone spur on top of your foot?

Bone spurs, also called osteophytes, are painful protrusions that grow on bones and most often appear on feet, hands, knees and, even in some cases, the spine. They typically form on those 60 years of age and older, but can also appear on younger people. They’re usually a result of joint damage and cartilage that has worn down over time. Bone spurs that occur on the tops of feet are particularly painful. Fortunately, custom orthotics may help to address many of the symptoms of bone spurs on top of your feet. What are the symptoms of bone spurs on top of feet? Pain near the joint damage — These spurs may cause pain around the area of joint damage and...

Jan 03, 2022

5 benefits that custom orthotics can offer for your bunions

That bony bump on the outside of your toe. That’s a bunion, which podiatrists would call hallux valgus. It’s estimated that 33% of adults who wear shoes are affected by the pain and other symptoms of bunions, and podiatrists may prescribe custom orthotics for people with bunions. The reason is that custom orthotics can offer bunion sufferers a number of benefits.  What is a bunion? A bunion doesn’t typically develop overnight. This foot issue is something that develops progressively over a long period of time. Typically, bunions appear on the outside of your foot near the base of the big toe. The big toe also tends to bend inward toward your other toes. A bunion can lead to symptoms like: ...

Dec 20, 2021

4 ways custom orthotics can help foot arch pain that’s not caused by plantar fasciitis

Like the architectural feature for which it’s named, the arch of your foot is designed to hold things up. In this case, those things aren’t buildings but the bottoms of your feet. However, foot arches can become painful much like building arches may start to crumble over time.  The odds are good that if you heard someone say, “Foot arch pain,” you might think, “I have plantar fasciitis.” Yet out of the 42% of the adult population that develops foot pain, there are many who don’t have plantar fasciitis. They develop other issues. Let’s take a brief look at some of the issues that lead to foot arch pain that are not plantar fasciitis and how custom orthotics can address...

Dec 13, 2021

What can custom orthotics do to help the bursitis in your foot?

From badly fitting shoes to repetitive movements, there are many ways people may develop foot bursitis. Treating this condition can take time, but custom orthotics can be one important piece of your healing puzzle.  What is foot bursitis? Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that are found throughout your body. They act as cushions between ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissue and bones. In your foot, there are many of these cushions. One is located at the back of your heel. Another is located slightly higher between the Achilles tendon and your heel bone. Others can be found in the ball of your foot.  When one of these bursae becomes inflamed, you have bursitis. There are two types of foot bursitis that...

Dec 06, 2021

Where does a cuboid pad go in a custom orthotic and what does it do?

Custom orthotics may seem very simple when viewed from the outside. But you’re missing all the parts that you can’t see that come together to make custom orthotics so effective. One important piece in many custom orthotics is a cuboid pad.  Where is a cuboid pad placed in a custom orthotic? A cuboid pad gets its name from where it’s placed in a custom orthotic. Where is that exactly? These pads are placed on the outer side of the orthotic in the midfoot area. This just happens to be right below the cuboid bone. These pads are typically made from synthetic materials and have a wedgelike shape. They can also be different thicknesses. Cuboid pads can range in thickness from...

Nov 29, 2021

Three reasons to be concerned about low instep height

Many people may not be overly concerned about having low instep height, but this seemingly innocuous foot feature can be far more of an issue than you might guess. You may even find yourself looking for ways to address low instep height, such as custom orthotics.  Why you should be concerned about low instep height If you look at the instep, or inner side, of your foot, you should see a significant curve in the bottom of your foot. This curved area is known as the arch of your foot. The foot arch is important for many reasons. It acts like a spring that helps your foot absorb impact as it hits the ground, and it also plays a role...

Nov 29, 2021

What is the opposite of pronate and how can custom orthotics help me avoid it?

For many, their feet are just those things that are between the ankles and the ground. Yet that positioning makes your feet two of the most important structures in the body. The way your feet move is also vital to how you walk and run. But there aren’t many people who think much about how their feet move until their feet start to hurt.  Pronate, supinate, heel strike, forefoot strike, midfoot strike. There are plenty of terms experts use to describe foot positioning and movement, but pronate and the opposite of pronate, supinate, are two of the most important. Fortunately, custom orthotics can help address pronation and supination.  What do pronate and the opposite of pronate mean?  People whose feet...

Nov 29, 2021

Why should I consider custom orthotics for my high arches?

Having high arches, or cavus feet as podiatrists call them, can be very painful. This condition may not be as well known to you as flatfeet, but there are plenty of people out there who have it.  One population study reports that 10% of participants had cavus feet. People with diabetes may also have a higher risk of developing this condition. This is supported by a cavus foot study that identified this condition in 25% of diabetic male participants. If you do have high arches, you should seriously consider addressing them with custom orthotics.  Three reasons to consider custom orthotics for your high arches Custom orthotics are a useful and well-known way to address many foot problems. However, many people...

Oct 14, 2021

Three foot alignment issues you can address by adding custom orthotics to your shoes

Most of us go through our day without thinking much about how our feet are positioned when we walk. Why should we? The answer is simple: Poor foot alignment can be a common source of foot pain. Fortunately, adding custom orthotics to your shoes can help address foot alignment issues and their symptoms.  Address three common foot alignment issues by adding custom orthotics to your shoes Custom orthotics can be added to your shoes for many different reasons. Seeking to address foot or ankle alignment issues is definitely one of these reasons, and you should address such issues as soon as you notice their signs. Many people find custom orthotics beneficial for alignment problems like:  Overpronation — Normally, your weight...

Oct 13, 2021
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