The feet are the body’s foundation that carries you throughout the day. If you don’t have a good foundation, you may experience pain in other body parts like the knees, hips, and back.
Your feet experience a lot of wear and tear daily, sometimes leading to issues like bunions, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis. Over-the-counter shoe inserts aren’t enough if these issues hurt your feet and body.
Custom orthotics are just one of the therapies we offer at the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico in Roswell, New Mexico. Our two expert providers are Dr. Omar Osmani and Dr. David Ball.
Dr. Ball is an experienced foot and ankle specialist who carefully examines your feet to determine the best treatment for your needs.
Custom orthotics and shoe inserts are devices you put in your shoes to provide comfort and correct foot problems that cause pain or difficulty walking. There's a significant difference between the two; shoe inserts are over-the-counter options for generic issues, while custom orthotics are specifically for your feet and needs.
Shoe inserts are generic, meaning they aim to provide cushioning for your feet or prevent issues like heel rubbing and arch support. However, they don't contour precisely to your feet or provide custom care for foot and ankle problems.
If you're looking for a custom device to give your feet the cushion they need and correct structural issues, custom orthotics are the way to go. Dr. Ball specifically tailors custom orthotics to your feet and needs.
He offers two main types of custom orthotics – accommodative and functional. The softer of the two are accommodative orthotics, which aim to provide support and cushioning for issues like diabetic ulcers or calluses.
Functional orthotics are more rigid and correct abnormal foot motion, often leading to intense pain and trouble walking. Dr. Ball also prescribes functional orthotics to treat specific overuse injuries, such as tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, that cause discomfort.
Custom orthotics are an excellent option for relief tailored to your needs. They offer more support and structure to your shoe to correct mechanical issues in the foot that affect how you walk or run.
Custom orthotics benefit various conditions. If foot or ankle discomfort persists despite shoe changes and other interventions, you may consider them.
You should consider custom orthotics if you're experiencing regular discomfort in your feet, knees, hips, or back and are often on your feet during the day. Other reasons Dr. Ball recommends custom orthotics are to correct:
You may also consider custom orthotics if you're an athlete to help prevent injury and provide your feet with the support they require to run and jump. These activities take a toll on your feet and ankles, especially if you have biomechanical issues or previous injuries to the feet.
The main benefit to getting custom orthotics is that we tailor them specifically to your feet and needs. You can't get that from an over-the-counter shoe insert.
Another significant benefit of custom orthotics is long-term pain relief. Because we mold them specifically to your feet, you can expect better mobility, less pain, and improved function. Other benefits of custom orthotics include:
Custom orthotics improve your overall quality of life because you can walk, run, and jump without worrying about your foot health. Although they don’t completely prevent injury, custom orthotics mold to your feet and provide a base that supports and corrects problems that lead to pain.
Call the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico today to schedule an appointment for custom orthotics, or you may request one on our website.
