Approximately 70 percent of the inhabitants of the earth suffer from a condition called over-pronation, something that can be the culprit for painful conditions over the years. Some individuals overpronate more than others. The reason why so many individuals have flat feet is caused by the hard, flat surfaces we walk on each day. Also, age, weak ankle muscles and body weight can be a factor. Hence, overpronation is much more prevalent in people in their 50’s and above, and also in people with excess weight.

For a lot of individuals, over-pronation doesn’t pose a real problem, particularly for younger people. Nonetheless, irregular foot function caused by over-pronation will cause a number of issues including plantar fasciitis, heel pain, heel spurs, metatarsalgia – even knee pain and low back pain!

Orthotics correct the problem of over-pronation and can help reduce or eliminate many common aches and pains caused by flat feet and other ailments of the foot. Orthotic shoe inserts are not pricey, with a price from $30-40/pair. Acquiring a pair of orthotics can be an important investment in your health, because they can also prevent many future biomechanical ailments.

What Exactly Are Orthotic Shoe Inserts?

Orthotic shoe inserts are products that are put inside your footwear with the goal of restoring our normal foot function. Many familiar complaints such as heel pain, knee pain and low back pain are triggered by flawed foot biomechanics. Biomechanics is the science of movement and studies the motion of our bodies during walking, running, and sports. The most familiar kind of bad foot biomechanics is overpronation. It consists in the arches being dropped and the turning in of the feet and ankles. An estimated 70 percent of people experience overpronation to varying degrees. Orthotic shoe inserts correct overpronation and realign the foot and ankle bones to their proper position, reestablishing the original foot function. At the same time, this will help relieve problems not just in the feet, but also in other sections of your body, particularly the lower body such as the knees, hips and lower back.

What is the Difference Between Orthotic Shoe Inserts and Regular Insoles?

There is a big difference between standard shoe insoles and orthotic shoe inserts. Standard shoe insoles are only designed to provide a cushioning effect and shock absorption. They may provide comfort at to start, however they do not deal with any biomechanical problems i.e. they do not relieve overpronation. On the other hand, orthotics are active devices, designed to correct and normalize our foot function. Some shoe insoles also contain an arch support, but often the support is too weak to have any effect, especially if the shoe insoles are made of soft materials.

So how do orthotics exactly work? First of all, orthotics do a lot more than providing support to the arches. Orthotic shoe inserts bring back the correct position of the feet and ankles and restore normal foot function. Also, orthotics cause a more stable spread of our body weight, taking pressure off tender sites such as the ball of the feet, heels, corns and bunions, etc. They also provide a certain degree of shock absorption, but this not their main purpose. The main goal of orthotics is to correct foot function. In many instances, this will reduce foot discomfort and help stop future troubles and harm.

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Heel pain is usually felt in two main sections of the heel, under the heel and in the back of the heel. In most cases, when people feel pain in the back of the heel it is related to excessive use or inflammation of the Achilles tendon. When people suffer from plantar pain, it can be caused by a person stepping on a large stone or rock which bruises the heel, or the tissue in the bottom of the foot known as the plantar fascia can become inflamed. A heel that is hurt by a sharp object will heal on its own over time. Nevertheless, if the pain in the heel is a result of inflammation of the plantar fascia, there are a few things that need to be done to help including exercises for plantar fascitis and orthotics.

The plantar fascia is the soft tissue on the bottom of the foot that connects the heel to the toes. Under usual conditions, the plantar fascia is a flexible and strong region of the foot that helps the foot to support our weight and helps us to maintain our balance. If the foot is facing abnormal stress, such as excessive body weight, repetitive movements from sports, age or compromised foot function, it can create small tears in the plantar fascia. These small tears normally occur near the heel bone, where they become inflamed and cause pain. If this tissue is stretched over and over it can create the formation of heel spurs. Heel spurs are solid growths on the heel that can be the source of much pain.

If you are feeling heel pain, a recommended strategy to remove the stress on the bottom of the foot is to make use of orthotic insoles and perform plantar fasciitis stretching exercises, to help strengthen the foot arch as well. One of the recommended exercises for plantar fascitis is stretching the foot before getting out of bed. The Plantar Fascia will tighten when you sleep, which causes the severe pain that people feel as soon as they get out of bed. By stretching the bottom of the foot before you put pressure on it, you can lessen the pain associated with your first morning steps. Another great exercise for stretching out the plantar fascia is to roll a tennis ball or rolling pin with the arch of your foot. As this becomes less and less difficult you can try the same exercise in the standing position.

The next helpful thing to do is immediately put on a comfortable pair of shoes and arch support insoles. This will help to cushion and support the foot arch and help to keep it from additional damage. If you make use of the proper exercises for plantar fascitis and orthotic insoles, you will see a great improvement in your heel pain. It is important that you pay attention to your body and if you are feeling foot pain, talk to a doctor as soon as possible. This will ensure that your pain does not develop into a more serious condition.

Technorati Tags: arch supports, foot pain, foot strecthing exercises, heel pain, orthotic insoles, orthotics, plantar fasciitis, plantar fasciitis exercises, plantar fascitis