Most people that come to Reflex Spinal Health spend a lot of time on their feet, writes Reading Osteopath Seb Murtagh. This can be for work, exercise, leisure or all of the above. A large percentage of those people will also complain that time spent on their feet seems to aggravate their issue. This can be in the form of, but not limited to, low back pain, knee pain or foot pain. More often than not, at Reflex Spinal Health, we can help, and can demonstrate to you reasons to support your feet with foot orthotics.
Depending on the specific problem the person consults us on this help can come in a number of forms. At Reflex Spinal Health we will give advice on footwear, prescribe exercises, provide treatment or build custom orthotics.
Here are just 4 reasons to support your feet with foot orthotics
1. Injury prevention: Wearing supportive footwear can help reduce the risk of foot injuries. This included conditions such as sprains, strains, and plantar fasciitis, by providing stability and shock absorption for your feet. Good footwear should have a sturdy sole, appropriate arch support, and shock-absorbing properties to reduce the impact of physical activity on your feet. However, regardless of how good your shoes may be, if you have biomechanics challenges you need appropriate correction. No shoe alone can offer this, and you will almost certainly benefit from foot orthotics.
2. Reduce pain: Foot pain can be caused by various factors, such as flat feet, high arches, and overpronation. Supportive footwear can help alleviate this pain by redistributing pressure and providing arch support to keep the feet in proper alignment. This can reduce the strain on specific areas of the foot and prevent pain from developing. Many people present to us having already self-prescribed pre-made orthotics. Sadly many of these pre-made orthotics are either rubbish, or worse may actually worsen the problem as they are inappropriate for that individual.
3. Improve posture: Footwear with appropriate arch support can help improve posture by aligning the spine, hips, and legs. This can reduce the risk of back, neck, and joint pain and improve overall comfort. When the feet are properly supported, it helps maintain balance and stability, which can prevent falls and other injuries. However, no shoe can correct biomechanics in the manner of correct foot orthotics.
4. Enhance Sports Performance: Supportive footwear can help improve athletic performance. Supporting your feet properly can reduce fatigue and allow better movement control, balance, and power transfer when participating in sports and other physical activities. A good pair of shoes can help improve traction and stability, which can reduce the risk of slips, falls, and injuries.
To determine if a pair of shoes is right for you
Consider the following factors:
- Comfort: Make sure the shoes fit well and don’t pinch or rub your feet.
- Size: Measure your feet and compare it to the shoe size chart provided by the manufacturer.
- Support: If you have flat feet or high arches, look for shoes with good arch support.
- Purpose: Choose shoes that are designed for the specific activity you’ll be using them for (running, walking, hiking, etc.).
- Feet: Consider the shape of your feet, as well as any foot conditions, such as bunions or hammertoes, and look for shoes that accommodate these.
- Quality: Look for shoes that are well-constructed and made of high-quality materials.
If all of the above works for you, then great!
Gait Assessment at Reflex Spinal Health
For those that have tried it all please speak to one of our practitioners. They can make recommendations regarding footwear or refer you for an in house gait assessment where we can make more specific recommendations based around your own personal challenges.
A gait assessment is a 45 minute appointment where we spend approximately half of the time assessing your biomechanics. We do this with you both standing, walking and lying down. We also take a 3D scan of the feet. This is so we can assess you functionally and in both your compromised and uncompromised positions. The second half of the appointment is spent explaining what we have seen, if there is a rationale for making correction, and if so then what is recommended.
This will often come in the form or strengthening exercises or custom orthotics. Foot Orthotics can help turn your on-trend but biomechanically useless footwear into supportive, comfy and on trend!
