Orthotics in

In contact sports such as football, rugby, basketball and hockey, injuries to the foot, ankle or leg are extremely common. Foot and ankle injuries also frequently occur in runners, walkers, tennis players and dancers. This is why we recommend the use of orthotic insoles to not only treat but also prevent these injuries from occurring. To give an example, a tennis player may injure his or her ankle or foot by slipping and falling. By wearing orthotic shoe inserts, this will support the foot and therefore prevent the ankle or foot from twisting or collapsing inward, and so reduce the risk of injury, also allowing the foot to heal more rapidly.

Foot orthotics are very useful for the prevention of foot conditions which are very common in diabetic patients. For example, the use of an arch support will help to support the body and prevent foot deformities. Orthotics will also help relieve the pain of diabetic foot problems by providing support to the joints and muscles.

Orthotics are very useful in the prevention of knee injuries, one of the most common of which is a sprain or tear to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This type of injury is very common in contact sports, but with proper foot care and the use of orthotics, this injury is less likely to occur.

The first day, start with two hours of exercising the foot on a device. For each day of exercise, the time on the device will be increased by one hour. Each individual and foot is unique. Foot arches, legs, knees, and hips need to be broken in different ways. We also recommend the amount of time needed for each type of foot problem. You should be able to feel some soreness and mild discomfort specifically around the foot arch, leg, knee, or hip. It may take a couple of weeks for the pain to disappear completely.

You should schedule a review appointment to be seen in about 2 weeks. At that time, you may be wearing your orthotic devices comfortably for 8 or more hours per day. It is possible that your orthotics device may require some small adjustments to improve its function or make them more comfortable.

Once you have successfully completed the break-in process, wear the device as much time as you can during the day. Ideally, this would be around 80% of the time. You should also wear the device during your regular work activities, and only then should you start doing higher impact activities such as running and other sports.

Clean your orthotics with soap and cool water on a damp cloth. Never use warm or hot water on the orthosis, as this may distort the devices. Avoid submerging the devices in water. To avoid orthotics squeaking sprinkle a small amount of talcum powder in your shoes this will eliminate the friction that causes the squeak.