How Can Foot Orthotics Help?

 If we do a lot of walking we would realize the pain inflicted upon us as we put our foot down. Walking on the ground brings the whole weight of the body upon the soles of our feet, thereby increasing the pressure around the soles. A lot of nerve endings reside under the feet and the pressure gets to the nerve endings. Moreover, there remains a constant pain on the tarsal and meta-tarsal bones. In this scenario foot inserts can be of immense help in providing relief to us. Inserts provide a lot of help to us and are thus greatly beneficial. Let us have a look at what those benefits and other aspects of inserts can be:

• We may not realize but when we walk our feet may not all the time fall correctly. This will result in improper gait and the net effect of severe pain. Inserts go under our feet and correct our walking pattern.
• As has been said that inserts help reduce pain to a greater extent and so walking seems to be a pleasure.
• As we walk the inserts provide support and the required balance to walk so, we do not feel much of a problem in walking.
• Some people have foot deformity and this can be reduced or cured if these inserts are put into the shoes.
• Finding the best alignment is necessary for any person to shift the body weight up and down and sideways.
• As the insert stays beneath the feet, it fills up the empty spaces and distributes the pressure all over and hence, no area feels unequal pressure.

The inserts are prepared from a mold of plaster cast. The foot of the patient is scanned and the cast is made to fit onto the feet of the patient. The problem is then fixed. About 70% of people suffer from the common problem of flat-feet. This can be attributed to the fact that we have to walk upon flat hard surfaces which bend the arches of our feet. The inserts fill up the void under the arches and rectify the problem.

The effect of footorthotics cannot be undermined as researches have shown. In a trial conducted in 2008, it is seen that people who have been suffering from pes cavus have found relief from 3 months of using inserts. In kids, who suffered from arthritis, these helped minimize the pain after 3 months of usage. In adults too who suffered from arthritis, pain was reduced after 3 months of usage. Senior citizens too reported subsiding of pains after 6 months of using custom inserts. However, people having planter faciitis have found not much of a good benefit using them.