Functional Foot Orthotic Devices
Your doctor uses an area of medicine called
"Biomechanics" to treat many foot, ankle, leg, knee, hip and low
back injuries. Biomechanics is the study of body motion. Pain in
any area of your body can be caused or aggravated by a certain
motion or position (alignment). Your doctor tries to correlate the
diagnosis with the biomechanics and then make changes most likely
to reduce symptoms. These changes include shoe inserts and
modifications, shoe taping, shoe recommendations, strengthening
exercises, stretching exercises, changes in walking or running
style, and training techniques. The shoe inserts may include lifts
for a short leg, wedges to redistribute weight to another area of
your foot, custom-made functional foot orthotic devices to support
your foot and change your motion, and shock-absorbing inserts to
cushion or accommodate areas. Depending on the complexity of the
problem, your doctor will make decisions based on the severity of
the injury, the severity of the biomechanics, the cost, and the
expressed need of the patient.
The doctors at the Center for Sports Medicine
use an additive approach to treatment, starting with reasonable,
cost-effective approaches, and then adding more and more treatments
based on patient response. It is vital for the patient to
communicate with their doctor about the results of treatment. Each
type of treatment initiated (ie. inserts, exercises, shoes, etc.)
can be modified based on patient response. Sometimes if progress
has plateaued, there are no reasonable changes that can be
implemented. This is more the exception than the rule. Normally,
with any treatment, changes can be implemented that can speed up
the rehabilitation. This emphasizes the need for the patient to
communicate with the doctor.
Important Notice:
We cannot give medical advice about how to treat a specific injury.
While we may discuss general exercises to prevent sports injuries
and also may recommend methods that can be effective in treating
sports injuries, not all exercises are designed for all individuals
or problems. A physician should be consulted before starting any
exercise program. If you are experiencing any severe pain or
discomfort, it is particularly important to seek the advice of a
knowledgeable physician and get a specific diagnosis and management
plan for your problem. The remedies outlined here are general
recommendations and are not intended as a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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