Many troublesome and even debilitating physical
conditions are successfully treated through the use of
orthotics. Orthotic shoes are designed with added support for
weakened or hard to fit areas of the foot. Orthotic support can
either be built in at the time of manufacture or purchased
separately as a device that fits inside the shoe. Many physical
complaints elsewhere in the body are actually remedied by
correcting a weakness or by creating room for an impinged area
of the foot. Podiatrists, or medical doctors who treat the foot,
can write prescriptions for patients to be fitted for orthotic
shoes and devices.
Lifts are orthotic devices that alleviate spinal discomfort
resulting from the uneven posture created when legs are
different lengths. They are placed in the shoe under the heel of
the shorter leg, equalizing the length of both legs and properly
aligning the posture.
Clarks and Alpro are examples of orthotic shoe manufacturers
that make wide width shoes and mules that are also roomy enough
to allow for the placement of additional orthotic devices. Wide
fitting shoes are required by patients with bunions, swelling,
diabetes, and naturally wide feet.
No Need to Sacrifice Style to Find Relief
Few chronic ailments are more miserable than painful feet. The
person who is unable to ambulate freely and comfortably is
severely restricted and eternally searching for relief.
Sometimes a supportive orthotic shoe or device that provides the
proper fit is all that is required to get back on track.
Considering how much weight the feet are required to carry for
the entire body, it’s easy to see how ill fitting or
unsupportive footwear can aggravate an already compromised
condition.
A common example of a foot requiring added support is in someone
with fallen arches. The lack of arch support leads to many
uncomfortable symptoms. Feet and legs tire much more quickly in
the absence of arch support. It can lead to the formation of
bunions and even affect the position of the knees, as in genu
valgum or knock knees, which in turn can lead to early arthritis
of the knee.
Fortunately, there is sleek, stylish orthotic footwear now
available that provides the best of both worlds. Many years ago,
style had to be sacrificed in the name of orthotic support, but
now companies like Dansko, Kickers, Dr Martens, Clarks and Alpro
have changed all that. Their styles are as attractive as they
are medically appropriate for the patient with troublesome foot
conditions.