Custom Orthotics in Studio City

If you’re experiencing foot pain related to deficiency with your arch, you may need custom orthotics in Studio City. The purpose of corrective insoles referred to as custom orthotics when specifically designed for your feet by a podiatrist, are to restore normal function and minimize foot pressure. Lack of support can contribute to many foot conditions, along with related pain in your hips, knees and lower back. Having a better understanding of custom orthotics can help you decide whether or not it’s a solution worth considering.

Shoe Inserts vs. Custom Orthotics

Shoe inserts are prepackaged, non-prescription foot supports often found in grocery stores or online from various retailers. Shoe inserts are essentially a generic approach to providing added support for your feet, with the only difference between selections being the shoe size. Our custom orthotics in Studio City are patient-specific supports crafted for your feet by a foot doctor.

Why Consider Custom Orthotics?

When the added cushioning you get from shoe inserts isn’t doing much to ease any pain or lingering soreness you may be experiencing while walking, jogging, or running, it’s time to consider a trip to a foot doctor. After a medical assessment that usually includes imaging testing, custom orthotics may be recommended based on specific issues with your feet. Customer orthotics can address many conditions involving the structure of the foot, including:

• High arches
• Low arches, or “flat feet“
• Age-related heel pain

Types of Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics will only be made following a complete examination of your feet, ankles, and legs to determine the full extent of any issues that may be contributing to your discomfort. Custom orthotics specific to the pathology and structure of each footfall into two categories:

Functional Orthotics

If an abnormal motion is the cause of your foot pain, you’ll likely receive functional orthotics, which are typically made from a semi-rigid material like plastic. This type of custom orthotic can also be effective in the treatment of foot-related injuries, including:

• Shin splints
• Tendinitis
• Stress fractures

Accommodative Orthotics

A step above over-the-counter foot inserts, accommodative orthotics are designed to provide extra support and cushioning. Accommodative orthotics may also be recommended for patients with medical conditions that tend to affect the sensitivity of the bottom of the foot, including:

• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Painful calluses
• Heel spurs

Foot Problems Often Treated with Custom Orthotics in Studio City

Podiatrists sometimes use orthotics to custom orthotics to treat conditions that can be aggravated by a lack of support or misalignment of one or both feet. Various studies suggest foot doctor orthotics can reduce pain and discomfort for patients with certain foot disorders by providing added support and improve overall function of the feet, which is why custom orthotics are often prescribed to treat some type of medical condition or structural deformity affecting feet rather than as a means of providing extra support for comfort alone. Conditions often responding well to some type of custom orthotic include:

• Plantar fasciitis: A common cause of heel pain, plantar fasciitis is characterized by inflammation that can be aggravated by movement and eased by a combination of custom orthotics and medication.
• Bursitis: Often affecting the heel and base of the toe, bursitis is an inflammation of small sacs of fluid that can sometimes be eased with medication and custom orthotics to prevent added strain from repetitive motions.
• Diabetic foot pain: Often varying in severity, diabetic foot pain can sometimes be minimized by customized foot inserts, although proper management of diabetes is also necessary.

How Custom Orthotics in Studio City Are Prepared

Foot doctor orthotics are custom made for the purpose of realigning your arches and other structures of your foot to a neutral position. Custom orthotics are prepared following a biomechanical assessment of each foot to identify the areas where a correction may be necessary. In some cases, a different type of custom orthotic may need to be prepared for each foot. A podiatrist will also prepare custom orthotics based on an assessment of your feet that often includes determining what likely triggers any discomfort you may experience while walking.

Activity-Based Preparation: Custom orthotics in Studio City can also be designed based on your activities. For instance, added support on the bottom of the feet and the ankles is often necessary for avid joggers with recurring foot pain.

Preparation of Durable Materials: Foot-doctor-designed orthotics are often made of materials designed to withstand average wear from regular use. With proper care, well-crafted custom orthotics can last for many years.

Shoe inserts tend to work better if you’re just looking for some extra cushioning. If you have significant foot pain that can be attributed to a lack of support or a mechanical issue with your feet, however, custom orthotics are often a more effective solution. The first step in determining whether or not custom orthotics in Studio City are right for you is to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for a full evaluation of your feet and an accurate diagnosis of what’s likely contributing to or causing any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation, contact our office today. We can talk with you about the different options for the symptoms that you are experiencing. We can also explain the process of fitting custom orthotics so that you know what to expect.

Keep in mind that custom orthotics are not always the best solution for your issue Part of the diagnostic process is to determine the cause of your foot problems and then determine a treatment plan that will work best for you. We focus on primarily minimally invasive and conservative treatments. In many cases, the best treatment plan for you will involve a combination of approaches, such as custom orthotics combined with medication, physical therapy, or foot stretches to do at home.

Regardless of the treatments that you require, you can trust that you are receiving top podiatry care in California with access to one of the best foot doctors in the field.