Tag Archives: custom foot orthotics
Believe it or not, a pain in the rear is often caused by problems with the feet! The average person walks approximately 2000 miles per year. That’s a lot of foot-mileage! Your feet support the weight of your entire body and the way the contact the ground directly affects how your back absorbs compression of the spine. It’s little wonder that people develop conditions in their feet and that the end result is back pain.
Flat foot is an example of a foot condition that can cause pain to the lower back. Flat foot happens when one or both feet have abnormal arches. When a person with flat foot stands, their inner foot or arch flattens, and the foot may roll too far towards the instep. This condition results in decreased hip and knee stability and abnormal motion, which can contribute to increased and unnecessary strain on the back.
Plantar fasciitis is another foot condition that may contribute to back pain. It consists of inflammation of the sole of the foot. It results in an involuntary change to the foot’s mechanics. The knee bone being connected to the hip bone (if you remember the children’s song) is the domino effect that Plantar Faciitis causes, and so it can lead to knee, hip and back pain when left untreated.
A sports medicine physician is qualified to find the root and cause of back pain, and should be regarded as an essential part of your seeking relief. This consultation offers you education as to the many causes of back pain, which is the first step in creating your comprehensive medical diagnosis for the treatment of it. And if it turns out that your back pain is caused by a foot condition such as flat foot or plantar fasciitis, the remedy may be simple AND effective: custom foot orthotics.
Many people wonder if they work. Those with custom foot orthotics are a good resource for verifying these claims. But not all orthotics are created equal. Over the counter foot orthotics are popular because they are inexpensive and available right there on the shelves of most drug stores. But bear in mind that they can be less effective than custom foot orthotics.
The big difference is the “custom” component of foot orthotic selection. How could an over the counter orthotic possibly compete with a custom one? The whole point of orthotics is to offer correction to weak or inadequate foot function/support. The over the counter models may offer comfort and cushioning for the foot, but since everybody’s feet and body are different, a custom-made foot orthotic to realign your posture (and correct your particular overall misalignment) may be superior for offering back pain relief. Custom foot orthotics will provide accurate, measured and proper support for the arch, feet, and legs. In turn, everything from the spine to feet will be in a better position to function throughout the day.
Still, not everyone with flat foot or plantar fasciitis is a candidate for a custom foot orthotic.
Sports therapy clinics offer both remedies and consultation in this regard as they routinely work with back pain sufferers and sports medicine physicians to diagnose and treat the root cause of back pain. In cases where back pain is being caused by feet, the treatment might well include custom foot orthotics, if the cause of back pain traces back to issues with the knees, hip or back, sports therapy clinics can also treat those issues. And if your treatment plan requires a combination of custom foot orthotics, physiotherapy and medication, a sports therapy clinic is your one stop shop for all of these.
For more information about custom foot orthotics for treating back pain please call 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca
Osteoarthritis sufferers already know just how painful and inconvenient it can be. Simple acts such as getting in and out of your car or opening a jar can be surprisingly challenging, and the pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints: can be debilitating. Osteoarthritis generally affects individuals after the age of 45 but is also common in athletes who are younger. As a disease of the joints where the cartilage in the joint begins to break down over time, Osteoarthritis typically affects the hips, knees, hands and feet. Since cartilage in the joint cannot heal itself, those who suffer from Osteoarthritis benefit from treatment once symptoms present themselves.
There are a number of surgical and non-surgical treatment options for Osteoarthritis sufferers.
Surgical treatment of Osteoarthritis may include:
- Joint replacement
- Bone realignment also known as osteotomy
- The fusing of bones
- Arthroscopy and debridement which involves the cleaning out of bone and cartilage fragments that may be the cause of pain and inflammation. There is some scientific evidence, however, that this sort of surgery may not give people any material relief in the long term.
Surgery can seem invasive; therefore many Osteoarthritis sufferers prefer non-surgical treatments for relief from Osteoarthritis. These are also quite effective. Non-surgical treatment options for Osteoarthritis include:
- Hot and Cold Therapy
- Medication that relieves pain and inflammation
- Physical therapy
- Weight reduction
- Targeted Exercise, such as that prescribed by a physiotherapist
- Assistive devices such as custom foot orthotics and custom knee bracing
- Durolane injections
Durolane injections have become very popular as an alternative treatment for Osteoarthritis and involve injections directly into the joint affected. Durolane is a gel that contains hyaluronic acid that lubricates joints. This improves joint-function and range of motion. Durolane’s cushioning of the joints also brings pain relief to Osteoarthritis sufferers. These injections are quick to administer and are an innovative drug- free alternative treatment.
As Durolane injections target the affected body part, they may also offer long term relief by helping to delay or reduce the need for hip or knee replacement. So starting on injections early in the course of osteoarthritis is imperative. This is why many younger people with osteoarthritis have Durolane injections.
Since Osteoarthritis is a disease that occurs more regularly within the aging population, seniors may prefer Durolane injections as they pose considerably less risk than surgery. While Osteoarthritis surgeries are performed every day posing minimal risk, many see Durolane injections as a method of avoiding the headache of possible post-surgical complications. Reactions to anesthesia, bleeding inside the joints, blood clots, blood vessel or nerve damage, damage to cartilage, muscles, ligaments or tendons or infection are unpleasant side-effects that Durolane treatments help Osteoarthritis sufferers avert. Each individual’s personal circumstances, health and lifestyle will play a role in customizing a treatment plan that works right for them.
In many cases the best treatment for Osteoarthritis can be found in sports therapy clinics that provide regular assistance to athletes and non-athletes who suffer from it. The best sports therapy clinics will likely provide access to a multi-disciplinary medical team. There are many treatment options for Osteoarthritis, therefore you may want to educate yourself and explore several at once. The additional benefit of sports therapy clinics is one-stop access to a team of professionals who can help in this regard.
For more information about Durolane injections, treatment for Osteoarthritis and alternatives to Osteoarthritis Surgery please call 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca
Did you know that millions of North Americans suffer from a painful foot condition called Plantar Fasciitis? This pain-found on the bottom of the heel – is a figurative pain in the neck, and people of all ages can develop it.
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis can include physical therapy, injections, splinting, shock wave therapy, surgery, and custom foot orthotics. The severity of one’s condition usually guides them towards the best treatment option as will their lifestyle, their comfort level and their personal goals for rehabilitation.
Surgery is the most drastic option and should only be considered once all the others have been exhausted. Plantar Fasciitis surgery may carry risks that include rupture of the plantar fascia, infection, and/or nerve injury that results in numbness in the region. There are also additional complications that may emerge post-surgery. For instance, if the plantar fascia is released too much during the procedure, the arch of the foot might be reduced. In addition, some people still suffer from symptoms and pain related to Plantar Fasciitis after their surgery is performed. A sports medicine physician will be instrumental in determining the best course of treatment. As they will be very familiar with Plantar Fasciitis treatment, they can acquaint you with the full range of treatment options outside of surgery.
This type of physician may describe options like anti-inflammatory medications, night splints, cortisone injections and shock wave therapy as examples of commonly used non-surgical options.
One extremely simple method of treating Plantar Fasciitis is to wear custom foot orthotics. Unlike over-the-counter-orthotics, custom foot orthotics are custom designed to fit each of the specific individual’s feet. This presents many benefits:
- First, custom foot orthotics stabilize each foot, thanks to strategically built structure, they’re like cradles for your feet! And when the foot is stabilized and returns to its optimal alignment, the abnormal pull on the plantar fascia is relieved and can (finally) begin to heal. As the plantar fascia heals, the pain and inflammation begin to dissipate. Sounds pretty good eh? Guess what, there’s even more….
- The support of the arch that a custom foot orthotic offers provides the exact amount of arch support each foot needs. When the arch is supported it creates the opportunity for the plantar fascia healing to begin. A tired arch is a fast track to Plantar Fascia pain. A soothed arch is your best friend.
- Custom foot orthotics will absorb shock to the plantar fascia, cushioning the arch, feet (and heels) and, as a result, your entire body. This significantly reduces weight on the foot and restores the plantar fascia and arch to a healthy and pain free condition. This requires a cutout at the heel, to soften the orthotic and provide adequate cushioning. Most off the shelf arch supports are not built like this.
Understandably, many people suffering from Plantar Fasciitis are able to make a complete recovery using custom foot orthotics.
Why procrastinate? If you have any suspicion you may have Plantar Fasciitis, seeking medical attention as soon as symptoms appear may spare you prolonged pain and a limitation of your activity? Sharp pain in the heel, particularly in the morning or after a period of rest, is one of the common symptoms you’d be wise to seek medical attention for. It is always easier to solve a problem you catch early. Remember, “A stitch in time
saves nine!”
For more information about treatment for Plantar Fasciitis including non-surgical treatments and custom foot orthotics please call 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca
Plantar Faciitis: tricky to say and extremely unpleasant to experience! Pronounced PLAN-tar fah-cee-EYE-tis, this foot condition specifically refers to the bottom of the foot. Fascia – Latin for the tough, fibrous outer casting of muscle – becomes irritated and inflamed making it painful to walk. If caught early Plantar Faciitis is easier to remedy than if you wait until it becomes chronic. This painful, annoying condition frequently affects athletes, among them Kobe Bryant who learned in 2004 that Plantar Faciitis was the cause of his foot pain.
Kobe Bryant is not alone. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and tennis player Pete Sampras were also reported to have suffered from Plantar Fasciitis. In May of 2011, Sports Illustrated reported that Scott Podsednik of the Toronto Blue Jays was working diligently towards a full recovery from his plantar fasciitis. Though athletes like these have faced treatment for Plantar Faciitis, it’s actually a condition that most frequently plagues runners.
So, why are athletes so susceptible to this kind of foot pain? To answer this question first you must understand what Plantar Fasciitis is. This extremely painful inflammation occurs in the connective tissue (fascia) at the bottom of the foot (plantar). The Plantar Fascia is a band of connective tissue that begins at the bottom of the heel bone and extends along the bottom of the foot to the toes. This muscle also helps support the arch of the foot, though pain is often first felt in the heel.
Plantar Fasciitis seems to strike most after long periods of putting weight on one’s feet. Athletes are more prone to Plantar Fasciitis because of the stress and tension placed on the Plantar Fascia when running long distances or putting repetitive stress on the heel. Sports like basketball tend to invite the condition since athletes are constantly jumping and pounding down on the heel, but really, any sport or activity where that part of the foot is being used extensively increases the odds of developing Plantar Fasciitis.
That said, even non-athletes who develop Plantar Fasciitis have often put excessive weight on the foot either as a result of obesity, sudden weight gain, prolonged standing, Osteoarthritis and/or Rheumatoid Arthritis and wearing shoes with poor support (and sigh…have you ever noticed that some of the best looking shoes are the ones with poor support?!)
People who suffer from Plantar Fasciitis sometimes describe the feeling as a hot, sharp sensation in the heel, often experienced first thing in the morning which dissipates as the day wears on. This ebb and flow of the pain might explain why it’s often tempting to procrastinate giving this condition the attention it needs. What’s more, the pain associated with it can be felt most intensely after a period of rest. So what is a sufferer to do???
Well, there are a number different treatment options. Since Plantar Fasciitis is so common in athletes, sports therapy clinics often offer the most comprehensive selection of choices available. These can include stretching exercises, massage, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and preventative programs. The most popular treatment for Plantar Fasciitis, by far, is custom foot orthotics.
A custom foot orthotic stabilizes the foot, provides arch support, absorbs shock and cushions the heel. Custom foot orthotics are far superior to over the counter orthotics that are much less expensive since these custom inserts are manufactured based on your foot’s shape and where most of your weight lands on it. These are usually made by a physical therapy clinic that specializes in sports medicine.
Several hundred years ago both athletes of the day and every regular Joe had to just suffer through Plantar Fasciitis. But no more, thanks to modern medical advancement! Seeking a medical opinion has, for many, offered a first successful step towards resolving an annoying and painful Plantar Fasciitis problem.
For more information about foot pain caused by Plantar Fasciitis along with treatment options please call 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca
