A lot of people have pain in the back of the heel or the foot. You might think your shoes are to blame. You bought orthopedic shoes, but no change. The pain just stays and stays.
If your gait or posture when you stand is to blame, shoe choice won’t be decisive to the outcome. The amount of support you have in your shoe is also a factor.
You might find orthotics a suitable solution for your needs. These are insoles you insert into your shoes. You begin to notice improvement as you use them over time. They might be just what you need.
This article will shed light on the causes of heel pain and explain what orthotics are, the different types, and how they can help reduce heel pain.
There are different kinds of orthotics, which are specially designed heel and shoe inserts. Some are prefabricated and sold without a prescription. Others are made just for you. The second kind is known as custom orthotics.
Custom orthotics fit your individual foot size and shape, providing the heel with ample support and protection. If they are selected properly, you have every chance to experience improvement. With every step, they ensure you’re moving in a healthy and beneficial way where your feet are concerned. They do this by adjusting your gait.
Your comfort level will also increase when you get orthotics.
Plantar fasciitis leads to stabbing pain, which is worst when you get out of bed and take your first steps. When you walk around a bit, the pain subsides but returns after you’ve spent some time sitting or lying down.
Other common causes of heel pain include stress fractures, heel spurs, bursitis, tendonitis (an inflamed tendon), etc. A ruptured Achilles tendon can cause heel pain, but its level is such that you can’t walk on that foot.
Each individual and condition require a different approach because the list of causes of heel pain is quite long. Custom orthotics are typically part of the plan when it comes to successful treatment, but there are other factors as well. Custom orthotics are not a panacea for heel pain and can only help in some situations.
When you contact an expert to determine the cause of your heel pain, they can come up with a comprehensive treatment plan which addresses every aspect of your unique situation. Clients of Milton Orthotic Wellness are often astounded by the prolonged relief they experience.
Imagine your foot was a chair. When it’s stable, it distributes the weight of the body evenly. If one leg is too short, however, it becomes unstable, and so does the person sitting on it. Some parts of the chair have to bear more weight than others, leading them to become strained and damaged in the worst case. When one foot is weak or your gait is not optimal, you shift your body weight to the other foot, which becomes strained.
Two of the most common structural abnormalities are high arches and flat feet. When you stand and walk, your body weight is not distributed across the feet properly. Parts of the feet bear the stress, which they are not capable of handling. This causes strain and pain.
Structural foot problems make people change the way they walk to feel more stable. Then, the whole body becomes affected. You might start getting pain in the knees, legs, hips, back, etc.
If you have an anomaly like high arches or flat feet, you could have inherited it. Even in this case, you’ll find custom orthotics can provide some relief from the discomfort they are inflicting.
There are two types of custom orthotics: functional and accommodative.
are made using flexible materials and can help improve abnormal foot movement and positioning, which could be causing heel pain. Patients with flat feet, high arches, or Hallux limitus sometimes find them helpful for their conditions.
are made of shock-absorbing materials, which provide compression. They can help with foot ulcers and plantar fasciitis, which is the most frequent cause of heel pain.
The best custom orthotics provide the exact right amount of support and cushioning for the patient’s needs. They are like sliding a cushion under the short chair leg but are far more effective and precise.
Custom orthotics shift pressure away from sensitive areas by adjusting for abnormalities in gait and foot structure. As a result, conditions like tendonitis and plantar fasciitis can heal more easily and become less likely to return.
They can require a “break-in” period, where the patient gets used to them. It might be necessary to make some slight adjustments, but wearing them consistently will make a difference. Custom orthotics are not a permanent solution, and heel pain can return after the initial treatment. When this happens, it almost always emerges that the patient stopped wearing their orthotics. This is sometimes because they can’t get used to them – they feel like a foreign object inside your shoe at first. Other times, the orthotics have worn out and no longer work. You’ll achieve the best results by maintaining them and getting them replaced when needed.
If you would like to discuss how orthotics may help deal with your heel pain, contact our team at Milton Orthotic and Wellness Centre for an assessment.