Custom orthotics are far more than just shoe inserts; they are precision medical devices designed to address the unique biomechanics of your feet. Unlike over-the-counter options, custom orthotics are molded to the exact contours of your feet to provide tailored support and alleviate the symptoms of many foot conditions we at My Chicago Foot Expert see daily. Let’s look at how custom orthotics are making a real difference in people’s lives.
Plantar Fasciitis
Imagine a 45-year-old woman who loves her Saturday morning runs. She recently began experiencing agonizing heel pain in the morning, so she went to the podiatrist and found that her pain was caused by her slightly pronated feet that were putting excessive strain on the plantar fascia when she ran.
She was then diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and prescribed custom orthotics, which were designed with specific arch support to control this pronation and redistribute pressure away from her inflamed heel. Now, Sarah can run without the sharp pain, and her morning discomfort has significantly decreased.
Chronic Ankle Instability & Early Arthritis
Maria is a 50-year-old who loved basketball in her younger years and had a history of multiple ankle sprains. Although she doesn’t play anymore, to this day, her ankle frequently feels unstable, and she’s developing nagging pain that a recent X-ray confirmed as early-stage osteoarthritis in her ankle joint.
Her podiatrist prescribed custom orthotics to stabilize her foot and control excessive motion. The orthotics provided consistent support that her weakened ligaments couldn’t and improved her ankle’s alignment during walking. This reduced stress on the ankle joint has significantly lessened her pain and prevented further degeneration.
Sever’s Disease and Overpronation
Emily is a 15-year-old soccer player who was recently sidelined by heel and knee pain due to flexible flat feet and excessive overpronation during play. Her custom orthotics provided much needed arch support that helped control the inward rolling of her feet.
This improved her foot and ankle alignment, which positively impacted her technique. With her orthotics, Emily found immediate relief, her gait improved, and she was able to return to the soccer field with greater stability and less pain.
Metatarsalgia
Imagine a 38-year-old restaurant manager who spends 10+ hours a day on hard kitchen floors. He developed debilitating pain in the ball of his foot, diagnosed as metatarsalgia.
His off-the-shelf inserts offered minimal relief, but once he visited the podiatrist, the custom orthotics given to him changed everything. With specialized padding and precise contours designed to offload the pressure from his painful metatarsals, the orthotics provided a well-adopted barrier between his weight and the unforgiving surfaces he stands on.
Now, David can stand and move comfortably throughout his long shifts and experience significantly less pain and fatigue, which has drastically improved his quality of life at work.
For any questions about foot health and wellness, reach out to the tenured staff at My Chicago Foot Expert by calling (773) 561-8100 or by clicking here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.