Custom Orthotics
Ankle & Foot Specialist of N.J.
Podiatrists & Podiatric Surgeons located in Hillsborough, South Plainfield, Middlesex, East Brunswick & Woodbridge, NJ
If you suffer from pain, deformities, or alignment issues in your feet, your footwear can make a world of difference. Custom-made orthotics, which are shoe inserts, can support your feet, correct alignment issues, prevent deformities from getting worse and relieve pain and discomfort. The team of podiatrists at Ankle & Foot Specialist of N.J., led by Pragnesh Patel, DPM, and Jyotsna Thapar, DPM, can fit you for orthotics, as well as ankle braces. For your convenience, there are five New Jersey offices, in Middlesex, Woodbridge, South Plainfield, Hillsborough, and East Brunswick. To learn more about orthotics, call your preferred office, or use the online booking tool.
Custom Orthotics
What are custom orthotics?
Orthotics are custom-made medical shoe inserts. They can help your feet in many ways by:
- Relieving pain
- Providing support
- Correcting structural issues
Foot problems often result from some kind of misalignment. Your feet contain many muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones which are meant to work together. Orthotics can correct misalignments between these structures, allowing them to work properly.
Don’t confuse orthotics for the shoe inserts you can buy at the pharmacy though. You may find these store-bought inserts to be more comfortable and supportive than your shoe insoles, but there’s a limit to what they can do. Though over-the-counter inserts can provide some support and pain relief, only orthotics are custom-made to fit your foot’s unique shape and correct your specific foot problems.
How can orthotics help my foot condition?
Custom orthotics typically feature excellent arch support. They also cushion your feet and absorb the shock of impact, reducing the likelihood of putting excess stress on your foot, which is often the underlying cause of overuse injuries like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.
One key aspect of treatment with orthotics, and what separates them from standard shoe inserts, is that they also realign your feet, keeping your bones in the right place and relieving pressure on your tendons and ligaments. Orthotics can ease the pain you may associate with walking, standing, and other activities that require being on your feet.
Your podiatrist may recommend orthotics as part of your treatment plan to correct a wide range of conditions, including:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Arch pain
- Achilles tendonitis
- Diabetic foot complications
- Flat feet
- Bunions
- Hammertoe
- Bursitis
- Arthritis
- Differences in leg length
Orthotics may be just one part of your treatment plan at Ankle & Foot Specialist of N.J. and in many cases, foot conditions dramatically improve simply by wearing orthotics in your shoes.
If you have chronic ankle instability, ankle pain, or heel pain, you may benefit from a custom ankle brace, which can realign the bones in your ankle. But your podiatrist may have you try orthotics, a more conservative treatment, before determining if an ankle brace is necessary for your condition.
How are custom orthotics made?
Your doctor at Ankle & Foot Specialist of N.J. first takes makes a 3D mold or scan of your foot. An orthotics lab uses the 3D impression to manufacture your orthotics. Depending on your foot problems and activity level, your doctor may recommend rigid, semi-rigid, or soft orthotics, and you can expect to receive them a few weeks after your initial appointment.
Schedule an orthotics consultation at Ankle & Foot Specialist of N.J. online or over the phone.