Not Sure if Orthotics are for You?

At our office, we insure that they are. We custom mold all of our orthotics to fit the individual's foot and footcare problems. They will be fit to your feet to help alleviate pain and reestablish good alignment, which may be the cause of other problems you are having not only in your feet but also in your ankles, knees, hips, back, and even your neck.
If you think that you may need orthotics, call our office at 419-423-1888. We will be happy to schedule you an appointment with Dr. Vail to evaluate your footcare needs!

Ankle, Knee, Hip and Back Pain

You may not realize it, but the pain you feel in your ankles, knees, hips or even back may stem from misalignment of your feet. When the feet are not carrying your weight correctly, it can cause many of your other major joints to be misaligned as well. Orthotics are useful in correcting the alignment of your feet, and redistributing your weight effectively, alleviating foot pain. But the use of these devices can also help to realign the improper way that your other joints bear weight as well. This can in turn help alleviate some of the pain you may be feeling in these joints.

Arthritis in your Big Toe

Orthotics can be used to treat arthritis in the big toe. In arthritis, the cartilage starts to crack and erode, resulting in bone rubbing on bone. As this is painful, extra bone is laid down at the edges of the joint to try and stop movement and thus symptoms. This is why arthritic joints are often enlarged.
When arthritis affects the big toe, it loses movement, becomes stiff and can cause pain, alter the way you walk and limit the heel height of the shoes you can wear. This condition is known as Hallux Limitus or Rigidus.
It can be more common in women as they tend to wear tighter, narrower shoes with increased heel height. These shoes place a lot of pressure onto the joint and predispose them to symptoms. It is also common for patients who wear shoes that are too small to be predisposed to the problem.
Orthotics can be useful in cases of arthritis, as the orthotics help to reposition the foot. This will help relieve the pressure placed on the hallux, and help alleviate the pain. The reduction of pressure can also help to slow the progression of the arthritic condition.

Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia is a general term used to denote pain under the ball-of-the-foot (the area just before the toes). This is a very common problem. Metatarsalgia (ball-of-foot-pain) is often located under the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal heads, or more isolated at the first metatarsal head (near the big toe). Metatarsalgia usually responds very quickly to proper treatment. It can almost always be treated conservatively and surgery is rarely necessary.

Causes: Metatarsalgia is most often caused by having too much pressure on a small area of the foot. This increased pressure can be caused by many different things including bunions, short metatarsal bones, hammer toes, high arched feet, arthritis, stress fractures, and bunion surgery. Onset is usually gradual as it takes a while to add up into an injury. However, it may arise suddenly if there is trauma to the area or if new shoes are involved. Sudden trauma might include landing hard on the ball of the foot while barefoot or while wearing non-cushioned shoes or stepping on a stone while running.

The main goal of using Orthotics in pain relief in cases of metetarsalgia is to help alleviate the excess pressure being placed on the ball of the foot area. The orthotics help to correct the way weight is distributed on the foot, so that it is not focused under the metatarsal heads.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the foot caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia that supports the arches of the foot or by biomechanical faults that cause abnormal pronation. The pain usually is felt on the underside of the heel, and is often most intense with the first steps of the day. It is commonly associated with long periods of weight bearing or sudden changes in weight bearing or activity. Jobs that require a lot of walking on hard surfaces, shoes with little or no arch support, a sudden increase in weight and over activity are also associated with the condition. Orthotics are an excecllent solution to the pain associated with plantar fasciitis, as they work to realign the foot and add support, helping to ease the strain on the plantar fascia itself.

Bunions

Bunions are caused by your big toe joints becoming incorrectly aligned. This causes the first joint on your big toe to slant outward and the second joint then angles toward your other toes. Your joints then begin to swell. It causes a bump of bone on the foot that can become very painful if left untreated. Orthotics can help realign the foot and give the patient relief from the symptoms of bunions. This conservative treatment may even prevent the need for corrective surgery.

In need of Orthotics?

Are you in need of orthotics? At our office, we are happy to help you find the right orthotics to help your specific footcare needs. And we make sure your orthotics are custom molded to fit your feet! We pride ourselves in the great care we administer to patients, and finding and fitting your orthotics is no exception. Do you think you may be in need of orthotics? Then don't hesitate to contact our office!

Phone: 419-423-1888
Email: vailmedassist@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.vailfoot.com