Bringing your Body to Balance

I’m a believer in the benefits of orthotics. Orthotics being devices made of rubber, plastic, cork or other materials that are placed in the shoes to add balance and stability to the wearers feet, ankles, hips and back. After living for years with daily foot discomfort, I tried a pair of custom-built orthotic walking shoes. What a difference they made! I felt as if I was walking on clouds. The shoes felt funny at first, a little bumpy, but once I got used to them I found I no longer had tired, achy feet at the end of a day spent on my feet. Once I try something and find it really works, I start recommending it to my patients as well. I now rarely wear any other sort of shoe, and many of my patients have been thrilled at the comfort level achieved by using custom orthotic footgear.

It’s wonderful to go through the day on your feet and still feel good. However, comfort is not the only good reason to use orthotics. In order for your body to be as structurally balanced as possible, a good foundation is necessary. A good foundation means proper alignment of the bones of the foot, and proper support for the arch. Most people wear shoes that do not fit properly, that do not support the feet as well as they could. Off-the-rack shoes cannot accommodate the many variations in foot size and structure that we see in the population. On top of that, many people put style before function and wear beautiful but uncomfortable or ill-fitting shoes.

If you spend much time on your feet, if standing is a part of your job, or walking and/or running make up a large part of your daily exercise, then it’s even more important that you use orthotics to support your body. Orthotics can help eliminate or avoid such problems as heel spurs, scoliosis, shin splints, and foot, back, knee, and hip pain. Not only do orthotics help to eliminate such problems, they can also help to increase performance levels. One study showed that golfers consistently hit the ball farther when wearing orthotics.

If you try custom-made orthotics and find that your back or foot problems persist, be sure to tell the practitioner who fit you. They may have to change the fit, or give you other recommendations for care. You may need to see a chiropractor to be checked for alignment problems in the back, hips, knees, and feet.

Orthotics come in many shapes and forms, and can range in cost from the very reasonable to a major investment. But if you compare the cost to that of a really good pair of dress or athletic shoes, I think you’ll find that orthotics are affordable. One thing to remember when shopping for orthotic shoes is that, ideally, they’ll be made specifically for you.

Some stores sell pre-made orthotic inserts to put in your shoes. I don’t recommend these, because everyone of a given foot size gets the same “fit.” Everyone’s orthotics should be as individual as their feet. A variety of healthcare providers measure, cast, or fit their patients for orthotic inserts; I recommend you have the fitting done by one of these professionals.

When you’re fitted, talk to your healthcare provider about the various orthotic materials available. I’ve seen many patients who’ve spent large sums of money on orthotics, only to find that the hard-plastic inserts were much too uncomfortable to wear. If possible, opt for an orthotic made from a more flexible material—you’ll be more comfortable, and though you’ll have to replace them more often (generally once a year), they tend to cost less than hard-plastic inserts.

Once your foot is measured or a mold of your foot is taken, you can then choose: inserts to slip inside your shoes, or a custom-made pair of orthotic shoes. And no, orthotic shoes do not have to be unattractive. One company I deal with makes some very nice men’s and women’s dress shoes.

If you’re going to use orthotic inserts, remember that you must not put them in shoes that are already well-worn. After you get your inserts, it’s best to go out and buy new shoes that fit the inserts. That way, there’s no wear on the bottom of the shoe that could throw off the balance of the insert. Also, be aware that your inserts are built with specific heel heights in mind: the inserts for your tennis shoes won’t work in high heels. I don’t recommend high heels, but if you’re going to wear them, get inserts made especially for them.

Orthotics work only if you wear them. Most people have some type of dress code or requirement for work. Tennis shoes are permissible at some jobs; at others, dress shoes are required. Buy orthotic shoes appropriate for the type of work you do, then wear them every day. Get inserts for the shoes you wear on other occasions, or not as frequently. If you have these two choices available to you, there’s no reason to ever go without your body-balancing, foot-pampering, structure-enhancing orthotic shoes.