They may not look like much, but the feet are highly intricate structures. Each foot has twenty-six bones, twenty-six muscles, and fifty-two ligaments that work together to enable weight-bearing and movement, allowing you to stand, walk, and run smoothly and efficiently.
However, genetic or acquired imbalances can affect foot structure, leading to heel pain, bunions, tendonitis, hammer toes, and other foot problems over time. Poor foot structure or alignment can also cause leg, hip, or back pain.
Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with foot or ankle pain or jump straight to a surgical solution that could keep you off your feet for weeks or longer. Custom orthotics effectively treat wide-ranging conditions related to poor foot mechanics.
At Indy Podiatry, our board-certified podiatrists use prescription shoe inserts to correct alignment issues, relieve pain, and improve foot function. Here’s what you should know about podiatric biomechanics and our custom orthotics.
More Than Arch Supports
Don’t confuse orthotics with the prefabricated arch supports you can buy at the grocery store. While these inexpensive inserts can be helpful for minor issues, they’re dramatically different from their custom counterparts. Custom orthotics are prescription shoe inserts made to your feet specifications. These medical devices do more than provide arch support—they reposition and rebalance your feet, improving comfort and function during standing, walking, and running. Custom orthotics are particularly effective in relieving imbalance or structural abnormality-related foot pain, soreness, and fatigue.
Distinguishing Between Normal and Abnormal Foot Motion
Each step you take should start with the foot striking gently on the heel. Then, your body weight should smoothly transfer toward the front of your foot and through the big toe. Deviating from this optimal range of motion places excessive strain on the feet and legs that accumulates, causing or contributing to injuries, deformities, and other foot problems over time.
Overpronation, or an excessive, inward, rolling motion of the foot as it strikes the ground, is a common abnormal foot movement that’s caused by flat feet. When someone who overpronates takes a step, their arch appears to collapse. High arches, though less common, are also prone to various podiatric issues.
Custom Orthotics for Athletes and Active Other Active Patients
Exercise is good for your overall health. Unfortunately, runners, athletes, and other active people are particularly prone to developing podiatric conditions related to abnormal foot mechanics due to repetitive stress and movements. At Indy Podiatry, our experts aren’t just podiatrists--they’re also athletes who understand how frustrating it can be when foot and ankle problems take you out of the game and disrupt your athletic progress. Custom orthotics are crucial to helping athletes and other active patients resume their favorite sports and activities.
Getting Started With Custom Orthotics
During your appointment, your Indianapolis podiatrist or Fishers podiatrist will carefully evaluate your feet, ankles, and movement to identify structural imbalances or gait abnormalities causing or contributing to your discomfort. We make a mold of each foot to get its precise dimensions, then send them to an orthotics lab that fabricates the devices according to your prescription. Once they arrive at our Indianapolis or Fishers office, we ensure a proper fit, making adjustments as needed.
Our central Indiana foot specialists use custom orthotics as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for various podiatry problems, including:
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Corns, calluses, and blisters
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Arthritis
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Bursitis
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Flat feet or high arches
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Plantar fasciitis
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Achilles tendonitis
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Bunions
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Hammer toes, mallet toes, and claw toes
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Neuropathy
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Morton’sMorton’s
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Diabetic foot ulcers
Are Custom Orthotics Right for You?
Don’t let foot or ankle pain—or leg soreness and fatigue—get you down. When podiatric problems affect daily activities, our foot experts in Indianapolis and Fishers offer answers and solutions. If you’re tired of putting up with painful feet, we can help you determine if custom orthotics can provide the relief you need. We create custom care plans that align with your medical needs, athletic goals, schedule, and lifestyle.