3 Types of Orthotics

You rely on your feet and ankles to get you where you want to go, hopefully without too much pain or instability. Foot pain, ankle pain, and ankle instability can seriously limit your mobility and quality of life. If you don’t want to let podiatry problems hold you in place, you should know more about the different types of custom orthotics that may be able to help.

Orthotics, also known as orthotic devices, are specially designed to provide the best possible support to your feet and ankles. If you’re suffering from foot and ankle pain, or have podiatry problems that could get worse without the right support, custom orthotics are a great tool to resolve many types of podiatry issues.

Expert podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Leonard Greenwald recommends custom orthotics from his practice in San Jose, California. Here are three of the main types of custom orthotics that Dr. Greenwald might suggest as a solution for your foot and ankle pain, misalignment, and instability concerns.

1. Shoe inserts

Do you have flat feet or high arches? You might need shoe inserts.

Orthotic inserts invisibly adjust the fit of your shoes. Your custom orthotics through Dr. Greenwald are made exactly to your measurements, so they work more effectively than over-the-counter shoe inserts. With the right orthotic inserts, you stride and stand with better alignment, reducing foot pain and other podiatry issues.

Shoe inserts can support different areas of your foot depending on the insert type. You may benefit from heel support, arch support, footbed support, or insoles. Shoe inserts may be firm or soft.

2. Footpads

If you need padding or support in a specific, smaller area of one or both of your feet, footpads might be the right answer for you. Dr. Greenwald often recommends footpads for patients with bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, diabetic neuropathy, bursitis, and other conditions that impact the front of your foot.

Footpads don’t take up as much space in your shoes as shoe inserts. Some footpads attach to your foot, while other types are placed in or on your shoes. Footpads can be rounded or shaped to address a specific issue with an area of your foot.

3. Ankle bracing

Instead of fitting inside your shoes like shoe inserts and footpads, ankle braces sit over your shoes and provide extra stability and support for your ankle. Dr. Greenwald may suggest a custom-fitted ankle brace if you suffer from ankle instability due to a past injury or a degenerative condition like arthritis.

You might need ankle bracing long-term, or just until your healing process is complete.

To learn more about which types of orthotics could best help relieve your foot pain and transferred whole-body pain related to foot or ankle issues, get in touch with Dr. Greenwald today. Contact our office online or over the phone now to schedule your initial consultation appointment.