Is pain in your feet making it difficult for you to stay active or even take a few steps when you get out of bed in the morning? Do you notice that when you spend time on your feet, you seem to have soreness and discomfort in other areas of your body? You may benefit from having one of our skilled physical therapists at PWR Physio help uncover the underlying causes of your pain!
Foot health is critical and often overlooked. After all, your feet are responsible for supporting your entire body when you stand, walk or run. Your feet are also the foundation for maintaining your balance and posture.
The type of shoes we wear, the amount of time we spend on our feet, and the type of activities we enjoy can affect the health of our feet. Some studies suggest that up to 30% of the population have experienced activity-limiting pain in their feet. In addition, complications from previous injuries can cause strain and pain on our joints, muscles, and ligaments in the foot. One way to alleviate these issues is to use a custom orthotic.
Orthotics are not one-size-fits-all, so instead of heading to your corner store and grabbing a random in-sole insert, hoping for the best, you need something that will target your specific problem. This is why a custom orthotic is a good idea to provide extra support and relief for your feet!
If you are searching for an orthotic device and unsure where to turn, PWR Physio can help. Contact our Lenexa, KS physical therapy clinic today to learn how custom orthotics can help you function and move with ease through your daily life!
Conditions affecting your feet can impair mobility and negatively impact your quality of life. The mechanics of the foot directly affect the entire body. Limitations or excessive movement in your foot joints leads to alterations in your knee, hip, and even spine function. These changes, in turn, can lead to pain, impaired function/performance, and even injury.
As a result, it’s critical to understand how a foot condition, injury, or illness can affect the health of other parts of your body. Foot pain can cause issues in the following areas:
Your feet are designed to absorb the shock and direct the movement to allow you to walk, stand, walk, run and jump. When your feet aren’t functioning correctly, the rest of your body can be affected. Any change to the foot will lead to changes in your function.
Painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, or bunions may force you to adjust your walking pattern to avoid foot pain. This can impact your knee function and put additional strain on other parts of your body.
That’s why it is critical to see a physical therapist as soon as possible once you begin experiencing foot pain. That way, your physical therapist in Lenexa, KS can correct the issue before it spreads.
A custom orthotic is an individually created device using casts, impressions, or scans to fit your feet uniquely. They resemble the insoles of a sneaker/shoe but are crafted of materials that last longer than prefabricated orthotics. A physical therapist-designed orthotic will help control the positioning and function of your foot.
Orthotics are designed to treat and/or prevent abnormal motion of the foot. They are sometimes referred to as prescription glasses for each of your feet. There are generally three types of custom orthotics, therapeutic, accommodative, and functional.
Therapeutic – Used for irregularly shaped feet. They provide support/stability and facilitate ease of function. The goal is to optimize the alignment of the lower limb and may be used to prevent or correct deformity and increase/improve function.
Accommodative – These are created to help you relieve the stress on joints often caused by conditions such as arthritis. Accommodative foot orthoses typically use a cushion or pad to relieve pressure from a painful or injured area. They may also be designed to try to control abnormal function of the foot.
Functional – These will help your feet to move or bear weight in a way that will help you move and walk better. Their primary purpose is to correct how the feet and ankles move and position themselves during motion.
Orthotics are part of a comprehensive treatment plan designed by our physical therapists to address various problems and conditions of the feet but can also affect the rest of the body.
The kind of foot pain you have, the severity of the pain, and your physical activity levels all factor into whether or not custom orthotics can genuinely alleviate your condition. There isn’t a “one size fits all” option, no matter what you see being sold on shelves in stores!
When you first visit our Lenexa, KS physical therapy clinic, you will undergo a comprehensive assessment that includes the possible benefits of a custom orthotic. When designing your treatment plan, your physical therapist will also consider your current medical conditions and activity level.
Based on the findings, one of our skilled physical therapists will provide a custom fitting to determine what will work best for your feet and, by extension, your entire body. After your evaluation and fitting, we will schedule a follow-up assessment to ensure they’re performing the way they should help you experience less pain and discomfort.
Orthotics treat a lot more than just foot pain. They can address pain and discomfort in the ankles, legs, knees, hips, and back by facilitating a more efficient position for weight-bearing function overall.
It’s time to start reducing pain throughout your entire body. Contact PWR Physio today to get started!
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