Your feet work hard to keep you moving. But bearing weight and walking put stress on the sensitive tissues that make up your feet. For many people, this stress shows up as heel pain, the most common ankle and foot problem in the United States.
Many people ignore heel pain, hoping it will go away on its own. But not addressing the underlying problem that’s causing your heel pain can actually make it worse.
At South Denver Podiatry, board-certified podiatrist Karolina Varnay, DPM, understands the frustration and discomfort heel pain can bring. To help you escape the pain foot problems can bring, Dr. Varnay offers effective custom orthotics to patients in Littleton, Colorado.
Read on to learn more about heel pain and how custom orthotics can help!
Several major parts make up your heel, including the calcaneus (heel bone), which serves as the rounded foundation of your foot, the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that begins at the heel and runs along the base of your foot, and your Achilles tendon, which connects your calf muscles to the heel bone.
If any part of your heel has trouble, heel pain can result. Heel pain may be chronic, or it can flare up all of a sudden and cause debilitating pain. Underlying problems can cause heel pain or it can be due to a genetic foot shape, like being flat-footed or having high arches.
Many people develop foot issues that can trigger heel pain. Some of the more common underlying causes of heel pain include:
Bursitis and stone bruises can also make your heel hurt. In addition, problems with the way you walk, run, or stand can make these conditions worse and generate your heel pain.
Custom orthotics are shoe inserts custom designed to fit your feet. They work to restore balance and distribute the pressure your feet and ankle experience more evenly.
While it’s easy to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) orthotics in supermarkets, drug stores, and shoe stores, custom orthotics provide more effective treatment and are much higher in quality. And since OTC orthotics aren’t made for your specific issue, they can actually make your condition worse.
To ensure your custom orthotics work for you, Dr. Varnay evaluates your feet and conducts a physical exam to accurately diagnose your condition, including an analysis of your gait. Once she has a diagnosis for your condition, she creates a customized treatment plan tailored to meet your unique needs.
If custom orthotics can help your symptoms, Dr. Varnay takes 3D images of your feet. A computer then creates a digital model of your feet. This model is sent to a medical lab that makes the custom orthotics
Custom orthotics correct many of the biomechanical foot issues that cause heel pain, including issues with your gait, how you stand, and trouble when you run. They achieve this by correcting the underlying conditions that can lead to chronic heel pain or foot pain.
These prescription medical devices gently reposition and support your heel, arch, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and foot bones. The result? Improvement in the way your feet function as well as increased comfort while walking, standing, or running.
Some of the key ways custom orthotics may help resolve your heel pain include:
Custom orthotics are especially beneficial for patients who are active and run, hike, or walk frequently. Since custom orthotics are specifically designed for your unique feet, they can help prevent injury and heel pain before it begins.
If you have heel pain, Dr. Varnay and the team at South Denver Podiatry can help. Contact our Littleton office by calling 720-279-8077 and get started with custom orthotics today!
