If you have been experiencing pain in your foot, ankle, arch and heels, you should think about getting custom orthotic inserts. These inserts are beneficial in reducing strain around the feet and preventing strain injuries. These products can even help in managing common conditions such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis and ankle instability. If you choose to purchase custom inserts, they will be made for your specific needs. Therefore, the results are typically quite good. However, poor usage can reduce the potential benefits. If you are planning on using these inserts for the first time, you should consider these simple tips for the best outcome.
Choose the Right Footwear
Custom orthotic inserts are personalised to match your feet. Unfortunately, they are not customised for your entire collection of shoes. In general, different types of shoes have different designs. Therefore, inserts will not work perfectly inside all types of footwear. You should inquire about the specific shoes in which you can comfortably use the inserts from your manufacturer or podiatrist. Under ideal circumstances, you should order different inserts for your athletic shoes and formal footwear for optimal comfort.
Remove Footwear Additions
You should remove the footwear additions that come with some shoes. For example, some manufacturers add arch supports or an extra insole to accommodate different types of feet. These can be beneficial, but they do not work well with custom orthotic inserts. The inserts are manufactured to match your foot and to provide essential support for your build for ideal results. If there are additional accessories, your feet, arches and heels will get more support than necessary. As a result, your foot will become strained over time. Therefore, you should place the orthotic insert in your plain shoe. If you feel that a specific pair shoes needs extra padding, you can use a flat insert.
Build Up to Continuous Wear
Custom orthotics are designed to match an individual's feet. However, you will not get instant comfort on the first day. You must allow your feet to become comfortable with the units for the best long-term results. You can wear the inserts for an hour on the first day and add an extra hour each day until you feel comfortable enough to use these all day. If you feel that the inserts are squeaky after wearing, you can sprinkle some talcum powder on them before insertion.
If your custom inserts keep slipping or they exert uncomfortable pressure on your feet, you should consult your podiatrist for assistance.
Share27 February 2018
Hi, my name is Steve and I’m a keen runner. I’ve been running for fun for years. I love the buzz I get from a long run and the fact that my hobby helps keeps me fit. Last year, I started to experience problems with my feet and ankles. It started with just a few twinges and soreness but ended up getting so bad that I couldn’t run to my usual schedule any longer. I couldn’t work out what was going wrong, so a friend recommended I see a podiatrist. I was a bit sceptical at first; however, my podiatrist immediately identified some issues with my running gait and shoes that were causing my problems. I started this blog to pass on some of the advice I got for any other runners who are suddenly suffering from unexplained discomfort. Hope it helps keep you on the road!
