Foot Orthotics – Help, hindrance or crutch?

I am constantly surprised by how much controversy there is about the usefulness of foot orthotics. The analogy I use most often is that they are much like eyeglasses except you have to walk on them. In this respect, they work when you wear them and like glasses must be worn as much as possible to provide correction.

In our facility, these appliances are designed and molded from the client’s cast. They hold the wearers feet in the best mechanical position for the transmission of forces and provide optimum bone/joint alignment. Soft tissue and repetitive stress conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis and Metatarsalgia respond well to orthotics but often take time to resolve. Recovery will sometimes be slow and require other methods such as Physiotherapy, exercise or advice on how to perform your normal activities in a less stressful manner.

Unfortunately, people often do not discriminate between readymade and custom-made devices. You might have a friend say:” Just get a pair of Drug Store inserts” or “What you need is a simple arch support”. Unfortunately, there’s nothing simple about it. Appliances such as orthotics should help but they need to be used properly. Foot orthotics require some commitment and discipline on the part of the wearer. Therefore, you need a competent provider to explain how they work and how to use them.

Many people, especially runners and physically active people feel that these devices are a crutch and weaken muscles or create dependency. Since running shoe manufacturers make footwear for all purposes, many feel that matching the shoe to body, foot type or running style should be the best method. This is a fine approach but mismatching the shoe and foot can lead to more serious problems. Keep in mind that muscle strength and muscle balance are very different issues. Asymmetry is the most common cause of muscle imbalance, acquired disability and mechanical pain. Conditioning can make you more resistant to injury but strengthening muscles around a poorly aligned joint doesn’t always improve its alignment. If you experience acute, episodic or chronic joint or muscle pain you should talk to your Physician about it.

This article authored by Terry Trask C. Ped(C)