A sense of relief often accompanies being fitted with proper foot orthotics. These corrective medical devices can help ease pain associated with conditions that range from Achilles tendinitis and overpronation, to fallen arches and other biomechanical deformities or dysfunctions.
You will know when you’ve found the right foot orthotics for you and your specific issue or condition. You may even begin to notice that you do not feel so good when you switch to shoes without an orthotic.
This is not such a bad thing — your body is letting you know that your feet are no longer receiving the support they need. Once you become used to what it feels like to be supported in optimal function, not having that support should be noticeable.
In most cases, you will want use your foot orthotics as much as possible to achieve the fastest possible correction and relief from pain. Investing in multiple sets of orthotics, perhaps a pair for your work shoes and a pair for your tennis shoes, may be worth the cost.
For example, you may already own sport orthotics to use when you are engaging in physical activities, such as walking, running, or playing sports. Then, when you get home and change into regular clothing and shoes, you may feel unsupported if you do not also own a pair of non-sport orthotics. The same scenario may apply when you get dressed up to go out and do not have orthotics for your dress shoes.
There are companies and professionals who make and sell custom foot orthotics to suit nearly any occasion, from that sweaty session on the basketball court to a fancy night out on the town. If you feel you are benefiting from the support your orthotics provide, then it may be wise to go ahead and invest in these other styles so you can always be supported.
Another consideration when it comes to reaping the most possible benefits from the use of foot orthotics is knowing when to switch out or replace these corrective devices. Much like any other beloved pair of shoes, foot orthotics — whether they are inserts or actual shoes — can get worn down. Once this happens, you may not be achieving the full support you need to correct any biomechanical dysfunctions. You may even find that symptoms of your condition begin to creep back in.
Talk to your chiropractor or other care provider who has fitted you with custom orthotics to find out how often you may need to switch out or replace these devices. He or she should be able to tell you what signs indicate that it might be time for a new set.
