Orthotics for flat feet
Orthotic insoles and inserts (Wikipedia link) are devices, specially designed to improve characteristics of the skeletal system. Feet orthoses may be used to: guide, control, limit joint for a particular reason, restrict movement in a given direction, assist movement generally, reduce weight bearing forces for a particular purpose. Orthotics combine results of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics and engineering studies.
Foot orthotics are useful for aligning and supporting the foot; preventing, correcting or accommodating foot deformities; improving the overall function of the foot or ankle.
An ankle-foot brace can help relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis in the heel or ankle. Some of the foot and lower limb problems that can be successfully treated in the long term with orthoses include tendonitis, plantar fasciitis and recurrent stress fractures.
Foot orthotics are often used by athletes to allow athletes to be able to maximally participate in their sport and perhaps heal and prevent further injury. For children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis orthotics may also reduce foot pain. Proper footwear is an important part of an overall treatment program for people with diabetes, even for those in the earliest stages of the disease.
Foot orthoses (commonly called "orthotics") are devices inserted into shoes to provide support for the foot by redistributing ground reaction forces acting on the foot joints while standing, walking or running. Foot inserts and insoles are often purchased at local pharmacy or sporting goods store and are frequently used to treat various conditions of the foot and ankle and often very effective in relieving common complaints. Custom made devices are custom-molded and individually designed, although they are considerably more expensive, they last much longer and provide more effective correction.
Absorbing shock as the body's weight shifts and distributing the weight throughout the entire foot is very important feature of the foot. In a person with a high arch occurs a problem with arch than does not flatten and absorb shock poorly. This increases stress on the foot, especially the heel and it radiates up the leg to other joints, causing pain in the knees, hips, and lower back. Orthotics allows the entire foot to support the weight of the body, extra cushioning also reduces the force reaching the foot. A different problem results when the arch flattens too much - the weight distribution is too far on the medial side, a flatfoot is unstable and cannot maintain a proper arch. An orthotic with an increased arch can be prescribed to solve the problem, the heel of the orthotic can be slanted to shift the weight more toward the center of the heel.
