Monday, March 2, 2015

How Custom Orthotics In Longmont CO Help Foot Pain Sufferers

By Earlene McGee


Over seventy-five percent of all adults have endured the agony of an ankle or foot injury, and in an effort to find relief have turned to over-the-counter inserts and arch supports. While those can be be helpful in some instances, personalized devices often prove more effective in relieving discomfort. Custom Orthotics in Longmont CO considers individual requirements when designing supports intended to encourage the healing process.

In general context, orthotics is a branch of medicine involving the use of braces, splints, or other external supports that allow people to walk or run in a normal manner, without pain. They are intended to combat problems affecting the lower extremities, including hips, ankles, knees, and feet. By decreasing the stress and strain on current injuries they help prevent recurrence, and promote proper skeletal alignment.

Not all foot pain has the same source. People with diabetes may suffer from slow-healing sores, while other patients experience extreme calluses or other abnormal tissue growth, including problems with bones. These individuals benefit most from wearing a type of accommodating insert that is primarily designed to relieve pressure, allowing them to stand and walk more comfortably, and increasing mobility.

When the pain is a result of an abnormal structure not related to injury, a podiatrist might recommend a functional device. A functional insert produces more than a pillow effect, and is often made of substances that are flexible but stronger than simple foam, including plastics and composites. They are created from three-dimensional foot models, and used to fight related pain in hips or knees as well as feet.

Because a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective, orthopedists and podiatrists use a biomechanical examination that produces a more lasting and beneficial result. This type of exam produces an analysis of personal motion, and illustrates how the foot or ankle actually moves. No two individuals are the same, and a custom-designed device makes a crucial difference when recovering from corrective surgery.

A personalized fit is not the only advantage of wearing specially designed inserts. Each foot can be corrected individually, unlike commercially sold products. The materials are durable, are molded to personal contours, and give ample support without added irritation to non-injured areas. They are useful in correcting flat arches, and can be helpful correcting childhood foot problems that can become a liability in adulthood.

Although the field of biometrics has not escaped controversy regarding its role in creating helpful orthotics, much criticism involves comparisons with drug-store products. Individually-fitted supports have been successfully used by doctors for decades, and have been particularly useful in restoring normal movement restricted by pain in the plantar region. They also help older people maintain balance while walking.

There are cases where these devices have actually prevented falls, a leading cause of injury and death among the elderly. While they may not be appropriate for all sufferers, the devices are useful to people of all ages who experience loss of mobility due to foot or ankle pain. They not only encourage natural healing, but also allow greater independence and self-reliance, and produce added comfort and relief when worn.




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