How to Fit Feet For Orthotics
Orthotic shoe inserts are custom foot correction devices often used by podiatrists and other medical specialists to correct conditions such as flat feet, knock knees, poor arches, and even problems not central to the feet, such as back pain. Obtaining orthotics is not a particularly difficult process if you need them and by consulting the correct specialists you can have your feet fitted for orthotics that can help you.
Instructions
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Consider why you want orthotic inserts. If you have a condition involving pain in your feet or legs, orthotics may help. Orthotics are most commonly used for foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis (a condition involving arch and heel pain), lower leg tendonitis or Achilles' tendon problems. Orthotics are also often used to help conditions affecting the knees, such as chondromalacia patellae, iliotibial band syndrome and runner's knee. More rarely, orthotics are prescribed for people with lower back pain or walking problems. If you think you need orthotics, you should first try purchasing and wearing over-the-counter arch supports. If the over-the-counter supports do not help or if the arch support doesn't fit to your feet's arches, you should consider orthotics.
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Consult a doctor. If you already have a general practitioner, meet with him and describe your symptoms. If your general practitioner thinks you may benefit from orthotics, ask him to refer you to a reliable podiatrist (foot specialist). Consult with the podiatrist, describe your symptoms and tell her that you think you might benefit from orthotic inserts or orthotic shoes. If the podiatrist agrees, she will recommend that you get fitted for specialized orthotics.
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Get fitted for orthotics. Some podiatrists are able to fit patients for orthotics right in their own offices, however, you may be required to go to a separate location for the fitting. If you have advance notice of your fitting, be sure to wash your feet and clip your toenails before the fitting. The fitting process itself is a simple one. The podiatrist or specialist will most likely take pictures of your feet, measure the dimensions of your feet and may perform x-rays. Eventually, the specialist will take impressions of your feet by wrapping them in a plaster or fiberglass cast, allowing it to harden and carefully removing it with a special tool. After the impressions have been taken, it will take up to several weeks for the orthotics to be made available to you. The podiatrist will likely make some final adjustments to the inserts when you go to pick them up.
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Wear your orthotics. Start by purchasing a pair of shoes with completely flat soles, as shoes with arches may cause balance problems when combined with orthotic inserts. Alternately, you may choose to pull out the soft arch inserts from the inside of a shoe with arches. Make sure the shoe you choose will fit with the orthotic inserts. Start by only wearing the orthotics for an hour or a couple hours a day, avoiding prolonged use, and gradually increase the amount of time per day that you use them until you are comfortable wearing orthotics in your shoes all the time. It is also recommended that you spend a period of the day barefoot while adjusting to the orthotics to help strengthen your foot and leg muscles.
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Tips & Warnings
Orthotic inserts typically last for 5 to 10 years, but you should consult your podiatrist again if the orthotics begin to feel uncomfortable or if your feet grow by more than a size and a half.
If you have health insurance, you may be able to get orthotics on your policy.
