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How Custom Orthotics Help Relieve Flat Feet Pain

How Custom Orthotics Help Relieve Flat Feet Pain

Our feet bear the weight of our bodies, and most of us spend a great deal of time each day standing or walking. Your feet support even more stress when you participate in running or other athletic activities, or carry heavy items.

It’s important to take care of your feet, and if you have flat feet, it’s even more challenging to maintain healthy, strong feet. 

At Apple Podiatry Group, our expert podiatrists Jarna Rathod-Bhatt, DPM, and Rahul Bhatt, DPM, specialize in custom orthotics to relieve flat feet pain. At our offices in Arlington, Flower Mound, Fort Worth, Texas, you can find relief for flat-foot pain so you can continue participating in the activities you enjoy.

Complications of flat feet

If you have flat feet, the soles of your feet don’t have a curve. When you stand or walk, the entire surface of your foot touches the ground. 

Almost all babies are born with flat feet, and arches form during the toddler years. Flat feet are typically a result of improper development during childhood, but they can also be caused by obesity, diabetes, injury, or the natural aging process.

Some people have flat feet without discomfort or pain, but flat feet can cause discomfort in your legs because of the way they change your leg alignment. You may experience both decreased function and pain in your knees and ankles too.

Are orthotics better than supportive shoes?

While supportive shoes help relieve discomfort and pain, your feet are unique. The shape of your feet, the size, and the amount of arch vary from one person to the next, and there are no shoes off-the-shelf that will fit and support your feet perfectly.

Orthotics, on the other hand, are custom-made insoles created to fit the exact shape and size of your feet. There are several types of orthotics designed to address different problems with your feet, including:

Orthotics can relieve flat-foot pain and offer a nonsurgical way to help improve the function of your feet in ways supportive shoes simply can’t achieve.

How custom orthotics work

Most discomfort from flat feet is experienced in your knees or ankles. Custom orthotics work by supporting your feet to prevent that discomfort. Custom orthotics can also help postpone or avoid surgery for issues resulting from the altered alignment of your legs.

It’s possible to buy off-the-shelf orthotics, but like shoes, they’re not customized to the exact shape and size of your feet and may not offer as much relief as custom orthotics. In some cases, off-the-shelf orthotics could potentially make your condition worse or increase your pain.

The compassionate team at Apple Podiatry Group reviews your medical history and conducts a comprehensive evaluation along with tests needed to determine the root cause of your issues and find a solution to relieve your discomfort and pain.

If your doctor determines that custom orthotics are the best course of treatment, your orthotics are designed and adjusted to ensure they perform as well as possible for your unique situation.

To find out if orthotics are right for you, schedule an appointment with Apple Podiatry Group today. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment online.

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