Custom-made foot orthotics by a podiatrist are prescribed to treat a biomechanical malalignment of the foot – that is, when the body adjusts its natural gait to compensate for injuries – or an abnormality that causes mild pain to severe discomforts, such as bunions or calluses.
It’s your decision whether or not you are looking for more comfort while walking or standing or if you have a more serious condition that needs to be addressed by a podiatrist. Talk to a podiatrist about which option of orthotic insoles in Singapore is best for your condition.
Here are some insights to help you understand the differences between custom and over-the-counter orthotics and the benefits of orthotic insoles.
Store-Bought Shoe Inserts
There are many options for prefabricated insoles, but not all of them offer the same level of support. You can find many over-the-counter foot products, including shoe insoles for arch support, foot liners and cushioned foot supports.
You may think you’re buying a product that will solve your specific condition as the packaging specifies your shoe size, gender, and other high-level details. These inserts may provide additional cushioning but could also cause more problems as you may not be aware of other factors affecting your condition.
The primary issue with store-bought insoles is that you are self-diagnosing your foot pain. If your feet hurt and you don’t know why the actual reason, the over-the-counter inserts could make your condition worse. The inserts may provide more shock absorption than your shoes alone. Still, often, they won’t be able to treat severe foot conditions or correct a biomechanical malalignment in your lower limbs.
It is important to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist specialising in treating foot disorders and lower limb dysfunction to find the real cause to remedy it.
Custom Insoles, Exactingly Precise for Your Condition
Untreated foot pain can lead to problems such as pain in the ankle, knees, hips and back or other health conditions and diseases. In most instances, these problems start in the feet, so getting an accurate diagnosis from the onset is critical. You should not take foot pain lightly!
Knowing whether the problem is an issue of function or accommodation is important:
- Functional orthotics for heel pain, arch support, or other issues are designed to improve movement and alignment.
- Accommodative insoles can be used to treat conditions like bunions or other deformities.
Whatever type of orthotics are required, you can rest assured that any custom orthotics prescribed by The Foot Practice, will address your condition’s mechanics and/or function.
With extensive knowledge of biomechanics, our podiatrists will prescribe an insole – for example – to reduce the muscle strain and weight that is placed on the tendon in the rear of the foot in cases of posterior tendon dysfunction that shifts a foot and ankle towards the outside edge of the foot when standing. They may also design features that counterbalance weight shifts for the condition by addressing arch pain and support. Our team can also prescribe cycling orthotic interventions to improve performance or benefit your golf game.
Your biomechanical evaluation will allow The Foot Practice to take precise measurements to design your custom orthotics. These will fit the contours of your feet perfectly and offer the right support. Customise insoles for foot pain works to:
- Correct alignment issues
- Control foot function
- Improve the function of the lower limbs
- Reduce muscle strain by shifting the body’s weight
- Correct gait to achieve balance in the feet as well as throughout the body
There’s a wide range of foot orthotics available in Singapore. The Foot Practice partners with Footwork podiatric laboratory in Australia, which utilises innovations in renewable and carbon fibre materials to craft high-performance orthotics with unrivalled design and experience. This achieves improved clinical outcomes for our patients.
Ultimately, what is important is which orthotic choice delivers the greatest benefit in addressing your specific condition. If you only need a little extra cushioning and arch support insoles or spend a lot of time on your feet because of your job, then over-the-counter insoles may work to alleviate the minor discomfort.
However, suppose you think the cause of your pain can be an indication of a more serious condition. In that case, the benefits of a podiatrist’s custom orthotics may help correct an imbalance in your body that is causing the pain.
You should always consult a specialised healthcare provider, like a podiatrist, before purchasing orthotics. Any time you experience pain in the foot, ankle pain or lower limbs, we recommend that you come in for a consultation and assessment, as symptoms can oftentimes be deceiving.
If The Foot Practice’s podiatrist determines that you can benefit from customised insoles in Singapore, we’ll discuss your options and help you make an informed decision. Book an appointment with our podiatrist to find out if custom insoles are the right fit for you.
