If you consider the job your feet perform and their size relative to the rest of your body, you can see why having a few aches and pains is normal.
Your feet are amazing, and they work hard for you every day. Besides doing the mundane work of holding your weight while you stand and walk, your feet also allow you to do fun things like run, jump, and dance.
Our highly trained podiatrists at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center love helping our patients enjoy busy, active lives without foot pain. One of the ways we help is by offering custom orthotics that are designed to address your specific issues.
The shoe inserts or orthotics you can buy over-the-counter aren’t designed for your feet or to address your specific issues. They are based on the most generic foot shapes and are often constructed of flimsy materials.
Your feet are as unique as you are, which means you need a solution for your foot pain that is designed specifically for your foot. Custom-made orthotics can relieve your pain and even prevent future issues.
In order to design an insert for you, we do a thorough examination of your foot, and analyze your gait, or the way you walk. We measure your feet, and identify areas where you need additional support.
Once we have the specifications, we send them to a lab, which uses state-of-the art technology to produce orthotics for your feet.
If you imagine that you must wear ugly shoes in order to use orthotics, think again. We can design orthotics for different shoe types, including athletic shoes and dress shoes. The materials used to construct your orthotics are durable, long-lasting, and comfortable.
Some of the issues we can address with orthotics include:
A painful bump on the side of your foot, usually at the base of your big toe, a bunion indicates your big toe joint is out of alignment.
Bunions are painful and often run in families. If you have a foot shape that is predisposed to developing a bunion, orthotics may be a good choice. If you already have bunions, orthotics may help ease your symptoms.
If your feet lack arches, you have a condition called flatfoot. Without the structures to support a healthy gait, you may develop aches and pains.
Flatfoot typically begins in childhood, but some adults develop it, too. You may hear it called “fallen arches” sometimes. Custom orthotics can help replace the support you’d normally have from arches.
Some people don’t have correct muscle balance to support their toes, and the toes become abnormally bent. This is called hammertoe and can be the result of injury, genetics, or a condition like arthritis. Orthotics can provide the support you’re missing.
The thick band of tissue that runs from the base of your toes to your heel is called your plantar fascia. This tissue provides shock absorption with every step you take. Over time, it can develop microtears and become irritated and inflamed. When that happens, you have plantar fasciitis.
If you have pain when you first stand up in the morning or when you stand after a period of rest, you may have plantar fasciitis. Custom orthotics can provide support and help ease the irritation, allowing your plantar fascia to heal.
A specific type of nerve damage involving a thickening of the nerve tissue is called a neuroma. It causes shooting pain, achiness, and a burning sensation. Neuromas usually form in the ball of your foot, just at the base of your toes. Custom orthotics can help ease the pain with extra padding.
Even if you think your aching feet are a normal part of life, you should schedule an appointment at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center. Something as simple as custom orthotics could be the right solution for you.
We have five locations for your convenience: Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Granby, Evergreen, and Thornton, Colorado.
