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INSERTS, ARCH SUPPORTS OR CUSTOM MADE ORTHOTICS. HOW THEY DIFFER

Monday, June 2nd, 2008
     Since opening 360 Foot Care Center, we often have customers who come to us with complaints about foot pain and even musculoskeletal complaints like knee, hip, back or ankle pain. The customer will say that they always buy “good shoes with good arch support” in the shoe. We then attempt to educate the customer about the difference between the insert that comes with your shoes, over the counter arch supports and custom made orthotics.
     To begin, very seldom will any shoe that you purchase have appropriate support for the foot. Proper support for the foot generally means having the ability to position the foot to a more suitable position. Often when people are having problems associated with their feet, it is due to some type of malfunction of the foot, such as over pronation, supination or just bad positioning of the foot as the bones and joints move about from walking or standing. Usually, to correct these types of problems it means that some effort or force has to move the foot and its joints or to better hold them in a certain position. In almost all cases, it takes a fairly firm device that is inserted into the shoe to accomplish these possible motions.
     When you purchase shoes, there is an insert that comes inside the shoe. These same types of products (I.e. inserts) are what you purchase in most drug stores and super markets. Usually these inserts are made of foam rubber. The obvious purpose of these devices is to provide cushioning and thus comfort to the purchaser. Because rubber flattens it generally does not have the level of firmness that might be needed to reposition the foot and or its joints in order to achieve pain relief. While cushioning is good it does not help to resolved biomechanical problems that a person might be experiencing. Hence, no relief or minimal relief can be obtained from inserts.

     Arch supports tend to be the mid-way between the cushioned insert and the traditional very firm custom made orthotic. While arch supports can be soft and slightly more firm than an insert they can also reach the firmness of custom made orthotics. Usually, however, they are pretty much in the middle. Arch Supports are typically made of firm plastic (polymers) or rubber. They are made to achieve the affect of custom made orthotics but at a fraction of the cost. Arch Supports, generally will help people resolve many biomechanical problems without the need to obtain more expensive custom made orthotics. They are also easier to adjust to and will generally fit into shoes that custom orthotics will not. Arch Supports will generally work for problems like sore feet, sore arches, some joint pain in knees, hip and lower back, plantar fasciitis, heel pain and forefoot pain. Custom made orthotics are just that, custom made. Generally, in order to get custom orthotics, the customer / patient will need to have a doctor’s prescription. A mold is taken of the foot and the orthotic is fabricated with various degrees of wedge ankles in order to reposition the foot.

     In summary, know what you want or need. In most cases people benefit greatly from wearing the correct arch support. In fact, a large number of feet problems or feet related problems can be addressed with a good arch support. In more severe cases people may need to seek the advice of a physician and receive a prescription for custom made orthotics.

 

 About the Author: Milton is Vice President of 360 Foot Care. A Certified Pedorthist, Milton is trained on the foot and feet conditions.  Visit 360footcare.com to see more on various health conditions and the 360 Foot Care products that are available to help you in achieving your health goals.

360 FOOTCARE Website Discalimer:
ATTENTION: This information is not intended as medical advice or solutions. The information is offered for educational purposes only. Only a certified medical practioner can diagnose medical conditions. You should always consult your medical practioner if you have questions about a medical issue. Always follow your medical professional’s advice.

 

 

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Posted in Orthopedic Supplies, Orthopedic shoes, arch supports, diabetic shoes, spira shoes | 10 Comments »