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Very few people will believe that the pain or discomfort they are feeling in their foot, knee or even back has any relation to their shoes. This will come as an actual shock to many who would have been looking for something more profound as the cause of their pain or discomfort.
While of course, your shoes may not be the reason for the pain or discomfort that you are feeling, there are many cases where that’s the root cause. It’s for instances such as these that special orthotics are designed for shoes.
In this article, we will be looking at shoe orthotics, what they are, why they are necessary and how to know if you need one.
What are Shoe Orthotics?
These are either over-the-counter or custom-made orthotics, designed to be inserted into your shoes. Their purpose is to offer support, alignment, balance or just comfort. They can achieve this by distributing pressure more evenly across the feet, supporting fallen arches, or helping with the foot’s biomechanics to ensure that any irregular walking patterns are corrected and more. All of these result in less (or no) pain or discomfort.
You will often find athletes and other equally active people using such inserts in their shoes. Another set of persons who will most likely use these inserts are people having pains in their feet, knees, back/hip or any discomfort that is related to the feet’s biomechanics.
How Your Shoes Can Cause Foot, Knee or Back Pains/Discomfort
Your feet are the foundation on which your entire body weight rests. So, if there is a slight misalignment or imbalance in this foundation, you can expect to experience some issues. These issues can translate to pains and discomfort in other connected areas, which can include the knees and back.
A shoe orthotic will therefore be used to correct the underlying factor(s), ensuring that the weight of the body is evenly spread, any misalignment corrected and optimal biomechanics restored.
Signs that You May Need Shoe Orthotics
The decision to get shoe orthotics can be made by you or for you. If you are having issues with your foot and you consult a podiatrist, physical therapist or orthopedist, you may be advised to get shoe orthotics. That’s the decision made for you.
You can also just decide to get one if you think that you need one. That’s you making the decision for yourself.
So, how do you know if you actually need one? To help you make this determination, we will be looking at some signs that may be an indication that you need shoe orthotics.
Chronic Foot Pain
If you are constantly feeling pain in your foot, then you might need shoe orthotics to help alleviate the pain. Such constant pain in the foot is one of the most common reasons why people go for orthotics.
Pains in the balls of the feet, arches or heels could be indicative of some underlying factors. Examples include plantar fasciitis, which will cause sharp pains in the heels or metatarsalgia, which is pain in the balls of the feet.
If you've tried a change of footwear and rested the feet but the pain still persists, you may just need shoe orthotics to help with the pain and discomfort, especially when it has gone on for a period or has begun to make it difficult for you to carry out your daily activities.
Malformed Foot Structure
There are malformed or abnormal feet structures that can result in biomechanical issues with the foot. Anyone with this issue will likely require orthotics to help correct it.
Some common examples of malformed feet structures include:
· Flat Feet – This is also known as Pes Planus and simply describes a foot with an underdeveloped or collapsed arch. This causes the foot to roll inward while walking; a situation known as "overpronation." The resultant effect of this is pains in the foot, ankle, knee, and even up to the lower back.
· High Arch – Also known as Pes Cavus, this is the opposite of Flat Feet, because in this case, the arch is higher than it should be, making it difficult for the feet to absorb shock as it should. This can cause the feet to roll outward in what is known as "supination." The result is increased pressure on the forefoot and heels, which will lead to discomfort and pain.
For any of the two examples above, the right shoe orthotics can help correct the underlying factors, bringing about better balance and alignment. Once this is achieved, there will no longer be pain and discomfort.
Uneven Shoe Wear
If you find that your shoes wear excessively on one side and not on the other side, it is a sign that your movement is not even. This can be caused by different factors like flat feet or high arch.
The right orthotics can help restore balance by correcting the underlying factor, allowing you to have a more balanced walk. This will increase your comfort and also help your shoes last longer.
Pain in the Knees, Hip or Lower Back
Like we stated at the beginning, your foot is the foundation that carries your entire body. Any imbalance or misalignment in this area can affect your entire movement structure. This begins from your foot up to your lower back.
Therefore, when you experience constant pain anywhere along the path from your feet to your lower back, it may just be as a result of an imbalance or misalignment in the foundation - the foot. If this is proven to be the case, then the right shoe orthotics can help provide the balance and alignment required, easing the pain and discomfort in the process.
Professional Demands
If your work requires that you spend extended periods on your feet, then you may benefit from the use of shoe orthotics. This will provide added support to help deal with the fatigue of having to constantly put pressure on your feet. You will basically be more comfortable with orthotics than without it.
Medical Conditions that Require the Use of Orthotics
People with certain medical conditions are more likely to need orthotics than others. Some of these include:
· Arthritis Patients - These patients often require orthotics to help reduce stress on the joints that have been affected, thereby reducing discomfort and pain.
· Diabetics - Neuropathy is common among diabetics and can cause poor circulation and numbness. This increases the risk of ulcers so orthotics is used to create a cushioning effect so there are no pressure points where neuropathy can occur.
· Recovery After Injury – During the recovery process after an injury, the foot may need to be stabilized to hasten the recovery process. The right orthotics can be used to provide this support and stability.
The above are just a few examples of medical conditions that can increase the chances of a person needing shoe orthotics.
Steps to Assessing Your Need for Shoe Orthotics
Now that we’ve discussed some of the signs that can be a pointer to the fact that one needs shoe orthotics, how can you be sure that you indeed need one?
Let’s look at the options available to you for assessing your need for shoe orthotics.
Doctor’s Assessment
This is easily the surest way to confirm whether or not you need any type of orthotics. A qualified doctor, like a podiatrist, would take you through an extensive evaluation to confirm, not just your need of orthotics, but also the exact type that you need.
Some of the assessments that you will be taken through include:
· A detailed foot examination – A visual inspection of the feet to note any anomaly that may be visible to the naked eye
· Gait analysis – This involves a visual observation of your gait as you walk
· Imaging of the feet – Using x-rays or scans, the joints and bones are examined to ensure their health status
· Pressure mapping – This uses technology to measure how the body weight is spread across the foot
With this level of assessment, you are assured of getting a near-perfect evaluation and solution.
Personal Assessment
You can check a few things by yourself to determine if you should go for shoe orthotics. Some of the checks you can carry out include:
· Checking for chronic pain in the foot, knee or waist
· Checking for severe unevenness in how your shoes wear
· An existing diagnosis of abnormal foot structure
· Checking to see if your feet easily get sore or are always tired at the end of the day
These checks will show you whether or not to get orthotics. However, there’s an extent to which you can go with this type of assessment. This is best for mild cases and not serious issues.
Lifestyle Needs
For folks who have to stay on their feet for extended periods every day, using shoe orthotics is crucial. This applies to professionals like nurses, construction workers, beat cops, and other such individuals.
Just Wing it
You can also just get insoles just because you want to get them. At least, they may offer you some added comfort or fit for your shoes. This will not be for any medical reasons, but for increased comfort and fashion needs.
Conclusion
Shoe orthotics can be gotten by anyone for comfort or even fashion fit. They can also be gotten for mild foot-related issues. When you begin to deal with more complex issues, it can get trickier.
We’ve looked at how to know if you need shoe orthotics but that’s only half of the process. You also need to know which type of orthotics you need to fix the issue you are dealing with. This is why consulting a podiatrist is the best way to ensure you get the best result.
As an alternative, you can get your shoe orthotics from sellers who take you through a process of thorough assessment to create orthotics that are perfect for your condition. Find such providers and you can be assured of enjoying the full benefits that shoe orthotics can offer.
