Our feet are more complex than you might think.
Comprised of 28 out of the 206 bones which make up our body structures, our feet are also home to hundreds of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that allow us to go from here to there each and every day. They are responsible for not only sustaining our body weight and giving us balance but are also strong enough to propel our bodies forward as we walk, run, jump, and dance.
But the truth is, on an average day, most of us don’t really give much thought to our feet. That is, of course, until they start showing signs that something might be wrong. And if that is the case for you, then you likely already know that painful feet can keep us from doing the things we love, like participating in favorite sports, and even those simple things we might not love so much, like completing household chores.
Now, mild discomfort doesn't necessarily indicate serious health issues, but this doesn’t mean you should ignore the problem or hope that it will go away on its own given time. When you wait to seek appropriate medical treatment, you are risking the potential of making the situation worse.
So if your feet are a pain, don’t hesitate to come visit one of our Idaho offices right away. When you address your symptoms at their early stages, there is a good chance that simple and easy conservative treatment methods will be able to find you the relief you need.
One such treatment that tends to work well with most of our patients is the use of custom orthotics.
But first, let’s get to the root cause of the problem.
What Is Causing Your Discomfort?
Experiencing pain in the feet and ankles is actually very common. This should come as no surprise. After all, our feet endure constant impact from the time we rise out of bed to the minute we lay back down to sleep.
No matter if you are an athlete or if you simply enjoy taking a stroll throughout the neighborhood once in a while, your feet will absorb a total average of three tons in any given day. With all this wear and tear, the possibility of developing painful foot conditions naturally increases.
Some common problems you may experience, include:
- Plantar fasciitis. An inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of connective tissues that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. This is the most common source of adult heel pain.
- Flat feet (fallen arches). A flattening (or lack) of the arches on the inside of the foot which allows the entire sole to touch the floor when standing.
- Bunions. A shifting of the big toe towards its neighboring, smaller toes, which usually causes a visible bump on the side of the big toe joint.
- Hammertoes. A downward bending of the smaller toes caused by weakened muscles that are unable to keep toes in proper position.
- Diabetic foot problems. These issues can range all the way from corns and calluses to ulcers and even amputation.
- Achilles tendinitis. An injury that occurs due to overuse, causing the Achilles tendon to become inflamed.
- Heel spurs. A calcium deposit in the foot that causes a painful bony protrusion.
This list can go on forever. But the one common factor in this wide array of potential causes for your foot pain is the fact that custom orthotics can be extremely beneficial when finding the relief you need. In fact, custom orthotics may be all you need to put that pep back in your step today!
How Can Custom Orthotics Help You?
Well, these versatile devices can optimize the overall function of your feet, ankles, and even knees, as well as help alleviate pain. And unlike over-the-counter shoe inserts which you can find at a local pharmacy or grocery store, custom orthotics are individually tailored to comfortably fit and support the unique structure of your feet.
Not convinced? Here are some good reasons why you should consider the use of custom orthotics:
- Orthotics can help relieve foot pain. We already mentioned this, but custom orthotics go beyond merely cushioning your feet from the stress of hard pavement and floors during the 10,000 or so steps you take each day.
- Orthotics can help heal injuries. Once your feet are supported by custom orthotics, the injuries and deformities that cause your foot pain will begin to heal. By aligning your feet into a healthy position, overstretched tendons and ligaments relax and repair themselves.
- Orthotics can help relieve back and hip pain. You may think it’s your back that’s hurting, but it could actually be the misalignment of your spine caused by the abnormal gait you’ve developed to avoid foot pain. Orthotics can straighten your hips and help you develop better posture.
- Orthotics can help resolve leg asymmetry. 90 percent of men, women, and children have one leg that’s slightly longer than the other. Even though most of the time, this doesn’t affect functioning at all, if the difference is significant enough, it may throw your hips and back out of alignment, interfere with a normal gait, and cause pain in your hips, legs, feet, or back.
- Orthotics can help improve athletic performance. Custom orthotics reduce injuries like runner’s knee, Achilles tendonitis, and twisted ankles by keeping your feet in proper alignment. Aligned feet reduce stress on supporting tissues, such as ligaments and tendons, allowing them to stay strong and flexible.
Often, custom orthotics are able to prevent patients from having to undergo surgery to repair painful foot and ankle conditions. That alone is a good reason to consider wearing orthotics!
Get Your Pair of Custom Orthotics at Canyon Foot + Ankle
So if you are ready to kick foot pain to the curb and get back to enjoying your favorite activities, then come visit our expert podiatrists at Canyon Foot + Ankle today!
We will perform a thorough evaluation of your feet and ankles in order to accurately diagnose your condition and determine if custom orthotics are the best solution for your foot, ankle, knee, hip, or back pain.
Are You Considering Custom Orthotics in Twin Falls, ID?
If you are considering custom orthotics, you should reach out to an experienced podiatrist. Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us online our call our Burley office directly at 208.678.2727. We also have an office in Twin Falls!