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Beyond Foot Pain: 5 Ailments That Can Be Alleviated With Custom Orthotics
Custom orthotics, or personalized shoe inserts that support the unique shape and condition of your feet, are commonly prescribed to relieve foot and heel pain, yet their design is capable of so much more. They also support your body, help evenly distribute your weight, and encourage proper alignment — all factors that can relieve discomfort throughout your body.
At The Foot Institute in Shreveport and Natchitoches, Louisiana, expert podiatrist Angelo Morreale, DPM, and our team use custom orthotics to treat various musculoskeletal issues. Read on to discover how orthotics help five common ailments.
5 musculoskeletal problems custom orthotics can help treat
Some common musculoskeletal problems that can benefit from custom orthotics include:
1. Lower back pain
Structural abnormalities, such as flat feet and an abnormal gait or walking pattern, can affect your posture and place stress on your joints and muscles. Over time, this can cause tissues in your lower back to overcompensate, leading to overuse and, ultimately, pain.
Custom orthotics can help offset some of these issues by offering proper arch support and helping redistribute your weight. They can also correct gait abnormalities, like overpronation, which causes your feet to roll inward while walking.
2. Knee pain
Leg length discrepancy, a condition that occurs when one leg is longer than the other, affects up to 90% of people. Depending on the severity, this can place uneven pressure on the knees, especially when walking and standing.
Custom orthotics can help offset this typical imbalance, improve musculoskeletal alignment, and reduce strain on the knee joints — effectively helping relieve pain and improve mobility.
3. Hip pain
Your feet provide a foundation for the rest of your body, but if they don’t absorb shock properly, that stress can travel up your legs and into your hips. Since custom orthotics cushion your feet with every step and promote proper posture, you're less likely to walk in a way that causes hip problems.
Research backs up this thinking. A 2023 study published in the medical journal Gait & Posture found that women with greater trochanteric pain syndrome, a common cause of chronic hip pain, experienced significant symptom relief after wearing custom orthotics.
4. Shin splints
Shin splints are one of the most common overuse injuries, affecting up to 70% of runners annually. While easing into more intense training can help reduce your risk, improper foot mechanics can make it hard to avoid this type of injury.
Custom orthotics provide a safe, non-surgical treatment option by evenly distributing your weight and offering extra shock absorption. This can alleviate discomfort and help you perform better in activities that require intense training or long hours on your feet.
5. Achilles tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is an overuse injury that causes inflammation of the Achilles tendon, a thick band of tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heels. Since improper foot mechanics often contribute to this injury, using orthotics can be beneficial. Specifically, they help hold your feet in the proper position, reduce stress on your Achilles tendon, and improve overall foot function.
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research found that participants with Achilles tendonitis who wore custom orthotics experienced a 92% improvement in their symptoms.
Contact us to learn more about custom orthotics
Musculoskeletal pain, whether in your knees, hips, back, or shins, can affect your mobility and keep you from your favorite activities. If you’ve tried various treatments without success, it’s well worth your time to explore the benefits of custom orthotics.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Morreale and our caring team at The Foot Institute, call your nearest office in Shreveport or Natchitoches, Louisiana, today.