Many people that suffer with
foot pain purchased
off-the-shelf arch supports
(orthotics) only to find that
they are still have foot pain.
Why?
These off-the-shelf arch
supports are also called
accommodative orthotics or arch
supports. They may help
cushion the foot to help relieve
pain but they do not correct any
biomechanical dysfunction that
may be the root of the pain.
Any imbalance of the muscles,
ligaments and tendons that
interconnect the 26 bones of the
foot can result in abnormal foot
motion. Abnormal foot
motion, in turn, can cause
excessive rotation of the lower
leg and uneven stress
distribution of the hip, knee
and low back.
In order for an arch support
to effectively treat this foot
pain the orthotic must correct
the biomechanical dysfunction of
the foot and provide foot
balance, not merely cushion the
foot. In order for a foot
orthotic or arch support to
correct the biomechanical
dysfunction it must be
constructed from a mold of the
actual foot. These types of arch
supports cannot be purchased
off-the-shelf.
