Most people don’t pay much attention to their feet until something bothers them. Fortunately, relief from foot pain — and even future injury prevention — can be as easy as putting on your shoes.
In this blog, Kelly L. Geoghan, DPM, covers custom orthotics so you can learn how they work to improve or restore foot function and how they can benefit you.
Who needs custom orthotics? You might ask, who doesn’t need them? Orthotics designed specifically for your feet can treat a current foot condition, prevent a future one, and even support your overall health. Dr. Geoghan prescribes them for a wide variety of foot and ankle problems, including:
Custom orthotics can even help relieve back, hip, and knee pain. In short, they’re one of the most versatile podiatry treatments available, and we often pair them with other therapies and strategies to round out your treatment plan.
Those shoe inserts you can grab at the store aren’t designed with your feet in mind. After a comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Geoghan, she can determine what’s causing your foot pain, where the sore spots are, and the type and amount of cushioning and support required.
Our team carefully measures and scans your feet and sends the data to a lab that creates a customized orthotic to address your specific needs. Dr. Geoghan may recommend either functional or accommodative orthotics.
Functional orthotics are semi-rigid and made from plastic or carbon fiber. This type is best for foot aches and strains and leg pain. Accommodative orthotics are made from soft compression materials that reduce pressure on your feet.
Your orthotics are one-size-fits-you, so each step you take is padded and supported in the right areas, ending weeks, months, or even years of foot pain.
Some of our patients need custom orthotics for a foot condition; others seek them out for injury prevention. Custom orthotics correct your foot mechanics and evenly distribute stress and pressure as you walk, run, jump, and make fast-twitch movements, which is why our athletic patients love them.
With better mechanics, you can significantly reduce your risk for sprains and stress fractures.
Sitting up straight isn’t the only way to improve your posture. We recommend supporting your feet and ankles with custom orthotics, which create a ripple effect that improves alignment in your legs, hips, and back.
Proper posture and alignment are crucial to overall health, contributing to pain relief, improved digestion, better breathing, and even improved mood.
Ready to walk away from foot problems? Custom orthotics can help. Contact Kelly L. Geoghan, DPM, in Lutherville, Maryland, today to schedule your consultation.
