You may or may not be aware of what custom-made orthotics are, but you’ve probably seen someone walking around with them. They look like a boot, and they can be made in varying degrees of rigidness depending on the individual patient. A doctor in Colorado Springs, CO, usually prescribes custom-made orthotics to help treat problems such as flat-foot, fallen arches, and high arches. These medical devices work when they fill in for the missing or too weak arch to hold up your body weight. Find the best Colorado Springs custom made orthotics specialist. Here are seven common conditions that orthotics can treat.
Bunions
Bunions often get bigger and more painful over time. They can be inherited or caused by wearing shoes that crowd the toes, forcing them to turn inward. Bunions usually affect your big toe and the one next to it. Having a bunion does not necessarily lead to flat feet, but they can coexist.
Bursitis
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions the bones and tendons around a joint. An example of a bursa would be under your kneecap. They can become swollen and sore from overuse or an injury to the area they protect.
Diabetes
Those who have diabetes can develop numbness and tingling effect in their feet. This can cause problems with balance which increases your risk for falling and experiencing an injury such as a broken bone or cut that requires medical attention.
Flat Feet (Pes Planus)
Flat feet can affect people in different ways. For some, it causes no problems, and they only find out when an X-ray is key during a sports physical, for example. Others may experience pain or discomfort when running or standing for long periods.
The ligaments that help support the arch of your foot begin to stretch. This condition usually has no outward signs of pain or discomfort, but the ligaments are the plantar fascia that runs along the bottom of your foot.
Hammertoes
Hammertoes are a prevalent foot problem that often goes unrecognized. Hammertoes develop when one or more toes curl downward at the middle joint as if the toes are trying to touch the ground. In many cases, hammertoe is inherited from parents who also have them. The metatarsal bones of the affected toes shorten, and the toe pulls inward; hence can be challenging to straighten.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is a condition that results from inflammation of your Achilles tendon. This condition can arise from overuse, but it just comes on unexpectedly with no known cause in some cases. The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscle to your heel bone, and it becomes irritated because of the strain put on it during activity or exercise.
Arthritis
This is the inflammation of one or more joints. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, and it can be excruciating. The most common type would be osteoarthritis which happens when the cartilage on the ends of your bones wears thin due to aging, injury, or overuse.
The list of conditions that custom-made orthotics treat is extensive. That’s because there are so many different types of medical problems, each with its own set of symptoms, causes, and treatments available. The good news is that there are experts ready to answer any questions you may have about how these medical devices work, as well as what type would be best suited for you precisely.
