Orthotics Can Help Alleviate Bunion Discomfort And Improve Alignment

Our feet carry us everywhere we go, leading to aches and pains as we grow older. About 75% of Canadians have a foot problem at some point in their lives, and bunions are no exception. Orthotics for bunions are perhaps the most effective way to alleviate symptoms.

But what are bunions? Bunions are a protrusion that forms on the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint right where your big toe connects to the foot. And they’re more common than you might think. About 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 have a bunion. At first, they may appear to be a small bump; however, bunions grow overtime as the MTP joint compresses or shifts out of alignment, becoming a painful and swollen sore.

Today, we’re going totalk about how orthotics can help alleviate bunion discomfort, improve foot alignment, and help treat many other health conditions.

What Are Orthotics?

Orthotics for bunions are insoles that are inserted into your shoes to support the joints, muscles, and tissues of your feet. They treat and prevent many common conditions and foot injuries, while also providing comfort throughout the day. Orthotics are also known as bunionette correctors, foot pads for bunions, and bunion pads for shoes.

We suggest opting for custom made orthotics specifically designed for your feet to optimize joint movement, foot function, and support. While you can buy shoe inserts at most drugstores, Orthotics Direct is more than that. We handcraft breathable customized moulds designed for your particular foot shape and health condition. We recommend you consult with your doctor to see if orthotics are right for you.

How Do Orthotics Help Bunion Discomfort?

Orthotics for bunions can alleviate the pain and stiffness you experience, while preventing further damage. Depending on your foot type, orthotics can also support and realign your foot to reduce pressure on your MTP joint. They do this by evenly dispersing the weight and pressure placed on your foot. Custom orthotics can be used to correct foot deformities, provide ankle and foot support, and reduce further injuries.

Arch Support

The medial arch runs along the inside of your foot, supporting body weight activities such as walking and standing. Excessive movement of the medial arch can cause bunions by increasing the pressure on the MTP joint. It can also cause further pain once the bunion has formed. Orthotics work to decrease excessive movement of the medial arch, thereby improving alignment and decreasing pain.

Metatarsal Support

Metatarsal support is another key factor in alleviating the pain associated with bunions. Located at the ball of your foot, the metatarsal arch maintains balance in the foot. Supporting the metatarsal arch can offload weight on the MTP joint, preventing pain and discomfort. This also encourages normal foot movement to prevent further injuries.

What Other Conditions Can Orthotics Treat?

Orthotics aren’t only highly effective for treating bunions. They can also treat a variety of health conditions throughout the entire body. Read on to learn how orthotics can benefit you.

Arthritis

If you have rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, orthotics can help to reduce the discomfort felt in your feet. They can also correct any poor positioning in your feet to prevent further pain.

Flat Feet Or High Arches

Your foot shape plays a major role in how your feet feel. You may already know that wearing supportive footwear is essential to preventing what’s known as “flat foot” or flattened arches. This occurs when the muscles in the bottom of your feet are too weak to support the arches. When this happens, the weight of your body will flatten your feet, causing your soles to touch the ground.

Flat feet can be a painful condition to have, but too high arches aren’t any better. If the dome shape at the bottom of your foot is too high, the majority of your weight will be put onto the heel and toes. Because these areas are smaller and weaker than the arch, this foot posture can cause pain. This condition can also lead to shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and knee pain.

So now you know that too low or too high arches can cause pain in your feet. Luckily, customized orthotics can help you with both of these problems. Flat feet need firm support to lift the arches of your feet. On the other hand (or foot), high arches need extra support from the underside of your feet. Custom made orthotics can both support the arches while also realigning the foot for proper weight distribution. Orthotics help by placing weight where your feet can naturally handle it, preventing excessive inward or outward rolling of the feet.

If you have either of the above issues, you’ll know it. When the muscles in your feet are weak, they’re not able to handle everyday activities like standing or walking without pain. You may be tempted to try using cushioned shoe inserts that you can find at the drugstore. However, these may not be the right orthotics for you. You can complete an assessment here to get a mould that’s custom designed to support your unique foot shape.

Back Pain

Depending on your age, you’ve likely experienced back pain at some point in your life. There are many causes of back pain, and your feet can be one of them. The posterior chain is all of the muscles that run down the back of your body, head to toe. Everyday activities like standing, walking, or picking something up use your posterior chain muscles, including your feet.

When you have an injury or weakness somewhere along the posterior chain, the chain reaction of movement puts stress on other muscles and joints to support you. This means that everything from poor back posture to foot posture can cause back pain.

That’s where orthotics come in. Research shows that orthotics are effective at treating lower back pain. Orthotics can realign your foot positioning which is a common cause of lower back pain. By realigning your feet, orthotics can give you the extra support you need to reduce back pain.

Plantar Fasciitis

If you’ve ever felt a sharp pain in your heel when walking or standing, you’ve likely experienced plantar fasciitis. This condition is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia: a thick band of tissue that runs from heel to toe. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain.

It often occurs by putting too much pressure on the bottom of your foot. Unsupportive shoes, foot shape, and quick changes in activity levels can all lead to this condition. Fortunately, orthotics can relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis by evenly distributing pressure onto your plantar fascia.

Knee Pain

If you regularly experience knee pain, you may find that your feet tend to fall inwards or outwards, causing abnormal alignment. Similar to back pain, knee pain can be attributed to a weak posterior chain. Since foot movement follows a chain reaction up to the knee joint, poor foot posture can make your knees work extra hard to support you. Meaning everyday movements like walking or standing can cause knee pain. Orthotics correct your foot alignment, as well as the alignment of your knees, to alleviate knee pain and prevent further injury.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a condition that occurs in diabetes. When your blood sugar levels are too high, your nerves can get damaged, resulting in numbness, weakness, or tingling in your feet. This is also known as “diabetic foot”. Your feet may be more prone to blisters, infections, and pressure ulcers as a result. Custom made orthotics can protect your feet from diabetic neuropathy by providing support where you need it most.

Types Of Orthotics

Now that you know how orthotics can help you, what orthotics should you get? That depends on your feet. A one-size-fits-all approach to orthotics can further increase your foot pain. That’s why we handcraft custom made orthotics to provide support for your specific foot shape and shoes. Our approach ensures that your orthotics are properly fitted to your feet for optimal treatment.

There are many types of orthotics made in a variety of styles. Orthotics can be made as full-shoe inserts or insoles that only support the heel. Ankle-foot orthotics are made with both a full-shoe insert and upright support that extends around the calf.

Typically, orthotics are made from materials like carbon fibre or plastic. We use premium medical material with moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic properties. We recommend getting a prescription from your doctor to ensure you get the right orthotics for you.

Conclusion: Orthotics Help Bunion Pain And Improve Alignment

Orthotics are a non-invasive and affordable way to support your feet while alleviating pain from a variety of health conditions, including bunions. While products such as bunion pain relief cream can get the job done, orthotics do more than that. They realign the positioning of your feet which are the primary cause of most foot problems. By wearing orthotics, you can relieve pain while preventing further injuries.

Orthotics Direct are the best bunion corrector Canada offers, custom made to meet your individual needs. They are made to be as unique as you are. If you ever experience foot pain, don’t go anywhere. We deliver to you!

Try our assessment today to get orthotics specially designed for you. As your needs change over time, we can readjust your orthotics to continue providing relief and foot alignment.