Fort Point Chiropractic

Custom Orthotics Could Be What You Need to Fight Foot Pain

Sore, aching feet are a common problem in the U.S. In fact, 51 percent of adults surveyed by the American Podiatric Medical Association reported struggling with daily activities due to foot pain. Custom orthotics can ease pain and make walking and standing much more comfortable.

What Are Orthotics?

Orthotics are shoe inserts that cushion, align, and support your feet. The inserts are available in both over-the-counter and custom varieties.

What Is the Difference Between Drugstore and Custom Orthotics?

Over-the-counter orthotics use a one-size-fits-all approach to relieving foot pain. While the shoe inserts may be helpful for some people, they might actually worsen pain for others. Custom orthotics are designed by your chiropractor to address your specific foot issues. The inserts are made from a physical or digital impression of your foot to ensure a perfect fit.

Who Can Benefit from Orthotics?

Orthotics relieve pain caused by a variety of foot conditions, including:

Overpronation. Overpronation occurs when the inside of your foot turns too far inward when you walk. In addition to causing pain in your feet, overpronation may also disrupt the natural alignment of the bones in your legs, hips, and back, triggering pain in these areas. If you overpronate when you walk, you may be more likely to develop Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and other foot conditions. Orthotics align and support the foot, preventing this inward turn.
Arch Issues. Both low and high arches can cause foot pain. Arch problems may also affect the alignment of your spine and legs and cause pain in your knees, hips, or back. In addition to supporting the arches, orthotics reduce pain by distributing pressure equally over the surface of the foot.
Arthritis. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cause pain and swelling in the joints in the feet. Orthotics cushion sore feet and make walking less painful.
Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis, a common cause of heel pain, occurs when the band of connective tissue that connects the heels to the toes becomes inflamed. Every year, about 10% of the U.S. population develops plantar fasciitis, according to Medscape. Wearing orthotics reduces stress and inflammation in the fascia and helps it heal.
Overuse. Foot pain is more common in people who stand for hours, run, or play sports. Orthotics decrease pressure, offer extra cushioning, and prevent your feet from moving too much in your shoes.
Aging. The layer of fat covering the bottoms of your feet thins with age. Without that natural cushion, walking and standing can become painful. Orthotics support and cushion your foot, relieving and preventing soreness.
Other Conditions. Orthotics are also helpful in decreasing pain caused by bunions, bursitis, hammertoes, heel spurs, sprains, and diabetes.
What Are the Type of Custom Orthotics?

Your chiropractor will recommend a type of orthotic depending on your foot condition. Orthotic types include:

Rigid Orthotics. These orthotics are made of inflexible materials, like plastic carbon fibers or stainless steel. Rigid orthotics are ideal if your foot pain is caused by abnormal foot motion. The orthotics align the foot and reduce motion. They can be helpful for plantar fasciitis and arch pain and may also reduce pain in the legs, hips, and back.
Semi-Rigid Orthotics. Semi-rigid orthotics consist of a hard inner core covered by a softer material. These orthotics offer support and cushioning, while also improving balance. They're a good choice if you run or walk for exercise and are also helpful for flatfoot, plantar fasciitis, overpronation, hammertoe and foot alignment issues in children. Semi-rigid orthotics may offer a good option if you find rigid orthotics uncomfortable.
Soft Orthotics. Ideal for cushioning, soft orthotics feature several layers of foam. In addition to improving comfort and absorbing shock, they also reduce pressure that can cause blisters and calluses. These orthotics can be helpful for people who have age-related foot pain, diabetes, bunions, and arthritis.
Heel Cups. Heel cups only cover the heel portion of shoes. They ease pain caused by Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and other conditions.
Ready to ease your foot pain with orthotics? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with our chiropractor.

How Posture Affects Your Health

Could your health issues be related to your posture? Poor posture not only causes back pain but may be the reason for several other health problems and conditions.

Why Good Posture Is So Important

Your bones support your weight and keep your body properly aligned and balanced. If you slouch or contort your body while you sleep or work, you're bound to experience problems with your joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments or even organs eventually.

No one has perfect posture all the time. Although occasional bad posture probably won't cause health issues, you may be more likely to notice a difference in your health if poor posture is a frequent problem.

Shortness of Breath Could Be Related to Poor Posture

Do you struggle to take a deep breath? Although asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, lung cancer and other conditions can cause shortness of breath, poor posture could also be to blame.

Breathing issues are more common in people who hunch over when they work, watch TV, or use their laptops or smartphones. As you hunch over, you round your shoulders and hold your head forward. These positions tighten the chest muscles that help you breathe and make it harder for the diaphragm to expand fully. (The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle under your lungs. Every time you inhale and exhale, the diaphragm contracts and expands.)

Researchers who studied the effects of cellphone use on breathing discovered that study participants had reduced breathing function after just one hour of phone use. They noted that changes in breathing muscles and the rib cage in cellphone users could play a part in the breathing problems. Their work appeared in the May 2016 issue of the Journal of Physical Therapy Science.

Aches and Pain May Be Caused or Worsened by Posture Issues

Poor posture strains muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons, causing pain, stiffness, loss of flexibility and reduced range of motion. If your body is imbalanced, one muscle may become stronger while the corresponding muscle on the other side of the body weakens.

Neck, hip, back or leg pain may be caused by bad posture, as can arthritis. When you have poor posture, you're much more likely to suffer a misalignment of the vertebrae in your spine. These misalignments can press on nerves or tighten muscles or tissues, increasing pain.

In recent years, more and more people have headed to the chiropractor's office for treatment of text neck. The condition gets its name from the way people bend their necks to look down at their smartphones and other digital devices. Text next causes pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, headaches and eye pain and increases wear and tear on the vertebrae in your neck.

Other Health Problems That Can Be Traced to Poor Posture

Poor posture can lead to several other health problems, including:

Frequent Headaches. Muscles in the head and neck tighten if you hold your head too far forward or in unusual positions. Tight muscles are a trigger for tension headaches and can make migraines feel worse.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ). The way you hold your head and jaw may put you at risk for developing TMJ, a painful condition that affects the hinged joints in your jaw.
Incontinence. Stress incontinence (leaking urine when coughing, laughing or sneezing) may also be caused by poor posture, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
Digestive Problems. Slouching or hunching over places pressure on your stomach and intestines and can cause acid reflux, constipation, gas and bloating.
Follow These Tips to Improve Your Posture

It's never to late to change the way you sit or stand. Improving your posture can be as simple as:

Reminding yourself not to slouch or hunch over when sitting or standing
Holding your cellphone at eye level
Performing stretches every day to make your muscles more flexible
Strengthening weak muscles, especially core muscles, with exercise
Choosing a mattress that's firm enough to support your spine without sagging
Selecting ergonomic office furniture that correctly supports your back and neck
Visiting the chiropractor for treatments that correct spinal misalignments, ease pain, balance your body, and loosen tight muscles and tissues.
Are you tired of living with posture-related health problems? Give us a call and we'll schedule a convenient appointment with the chiropractor.